Most of us know exactly what we need and want to do in our lives and, in most cases, not knowing isn't the challenge at hand.
The real challenge is usually not having enough trust and belief in ourselves to actually go out and get started. Most people become programmed to ignore their inner knowing because they associate it with risk and potential failure. Your soul is always talking to you and guiding you, the question is whether you trust its higher wisdom or not. Even when it comes to self-improvement we will feel more inclined to seek out the most popular methods simply because that is what everyone else is doing. This is fine, and completely natural to begin with, but in order to fully grow into the potential that is unique to you, there comes a time where you need to surrender to your intuition and follow it wherever it takes you. This can be very scary because most people have been programmed to do the exact opposite and follow the herd their entire lives. They have been taught that the most stable and secure way in life is to simply do what everyone else is doing. You really need to let yourself free from the herd mentality and start disconnecting from what everyone else is doing and do what you want to do instead. In a world where the majority of people are asleep, it is simply irresponsible to look to others for instructions on how to live your life. Sure, you should listen to as many people as you can, but in the end it is up to you and you alone to make the decisions that are best for you. Just look around you with awareness and you will understand why. If you are not failing, it doesn't mean you are just THAT good, it simply means you have grown stagnant and you are not pushing yourself anymore. Never failing simply means you are playing it a little too safe. Why is it important to listen to your inner knowing? The Mind-Made Prison: Radical Self Help and Personal Transformation by Mateo Tabatabai According to Tony Schwartz, author of The Power of Full Engagement (2004) and Be Excellent at Anything (2011), the optimal learning cycle appears to be approximately ninety minutes of focused concentration. Any more, and your mind and body will naturally need a break. Use that opportunity to exercise, rest, have a meal or snack, take a nap, or do something else.
The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything . . . Fast! by Josh Kaufman "Do not fear going slowly; only fear standing still.'' Chinese Proverb
I am an avid follower of the kaizen philosophy of making small incremental changes that add up over time. These changes are not going to take huge amounts work, but once you get the momentum going, the returns will be great. It is all about getting the momentum going for you. Even though it might seem like a little work in the beginning, you have to see this process as an investment in yourself and understand that the longer you stick with it, the easier it is going to get. I am going to suggest that you implement one new activity into your life and let it build momentum. This activity will allow you to start trusting your inner knowing and move forward in life with additional courage and passion. We will get to this particular activity later in this chapter. First you need to fully understand why you need to trust your inner knowing. There is no one else here on planet earth that has had the same experiences, thoughts, emotions, struggles and success that you have had up until this point. As a meaning maker, the meanings you create are completely unique and this gives you a completely unique perspective of life. This is why the path of self-exploration is ultimately one that you have to take alone. Sure, you can have friends who support you or join a spiritual community. However, you are the only person who knows exactly what you need and when you need it. The Mind-Made Prison: Radical Self Help and Personal Transformation by Mateo Tabatabai The thesis of this book is that what ails you and me has nothing to do with being sick or being wrong. What ails us is that we are living our lives as amateurs. The solution, this book suggests, is that we turn pro.
Turning pro is free, but it's not easy. You don't need to take a course or buy a product. All you have to do is change your mind. Turning pro is free, but it's not without cost. When we turn pro, we give up a life with which we may have become extremely comfortable. We give up a self that we have come to identify with and to call our own. We may have to give up friends, lovers, even spouses. Ambition, I have come to believe, is the most primal and sacred fundament of our being. To feel ambition and to act upon it is to embrace the unique calling of our souls. Not to act upon that ambition is to turn our backs on ourselves and on the reason for our existence. Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work by Steven Pressfield |
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Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” |