If you had the opportunity to go back in time and give your 20-year- old self some poignant words of advice, what would they be?
The one thing I would say to myself is “Lighten up!” Life is too short to take yourself seriously, so be kinder to yourself and those that you love.
At times I am my own world’s worst critic, with unrealistic and high expectations, which I erroneously projected onto others. Fortunately I have the guidance, love, honesty and patience of my friends and family to show me the ‘light’, reminding me to focus on the important things and stop wasting my time worrying about all the little things out of my control.
We have all heard “only control the controllable.” Honestly, the only things we can actually control are the 6 inches between our ears. Our thoughts are expansive because what we focus on expands. Where do you place your awareness? Do you think about what you don’t want? Or do you think about what you do want? Do you even know what you want?
Ultimately, through the power of thought you can create the life you were born to live, but do you believe you can? Do you believe you deserve it? Do you believe in infinite possibility? You don’t manifest what you want, you manifest what you believe and your daily actions demonstrate what you believe to be true. Accepting accountability is a fast track to creating the life you truly want.
As Dr John Demartini says, “ The person that takes accountability and responsibility for their misconceptions and current perceptions becomes a leader.” Surfing has certainly taught me a lot about being in the present moment and going with the flow. The ocean is much more powerful than I am and being a self confessed control freak on land, the water has provided me some of the most wonderful life lessons. It demands me to surrender control, go with the flow and allow Mother Nature to nurture and protect me. Being submerged in water cleanses my mind, body and soul. It brings me to life, gives me mental clarity and energises me.
If judgment is the source of pain and pain is the resistance to feeling, what is one thing in your life that you can choose to stop resisting? Can you free yourself of the judgment and return to a state of flow? Is there one place, person or experience that inspires you to connect with your authentic self, creating a sense of perspective and greater life balance? Or do you prefer paddling upstream against the current all of the time? What do you do that enables you to reconnect with your true self? How do you maintain perspective? What makes you happy?
Do you commit the time to make yourself happy on a daily basis?
The quality of the questions you ask, complemented by the people you surround yourself with and the choices you make ultimately determines the quality of your life. Until you value you or invest in you, don’t expect anyone else to.
Extracted from The World We See by The Dream Collective (out now, $34.95).
