Conditioned

We all have conditioned minds and therefore, an idea of how things should be: what is right vs. wrong, beautiful vs. ugly, successful vs. unsuccessful. Everything we say, do, or come into contact with goes through this filter. Our minds act like a voice coach: reassuring us that we are fitting in or sounding the alarm that we aren't good enough. In order to grow, we must come to terms with the fact that all of these things might be A. untrue B. holding you back or C. making you depressed (not meeting your own expectations for the world). We have got to quit the mindset that if we were just a little different, smarter, taller, thinner, richer- our lives would be better. Because, "Says who?"

Creating a new conditioned mind that knows that you are enough is quite transformational. To practice this, I have been writing down my ideas of success and status and just overall well-being as they occur to me; some of which are spot on while others express shame and guilt. I then go through the list and really sit down with each item to ask myself if it's actually important to me and my soul or just something I've been hearing or reading all of my life. Here's an example:

Thought: I'm browsing through Instagram and find an amazingly creative individual that is becoming wildly popular and who is an outdoor photographer (something I enjoy doing, but not something I take seriously whatsoever). Wow! I should be outside more and taking more pictures. If I had better photos, people would like me more. I'm not that creative- why bother. 

Sitting down with that thought: Really, Taylor? Social media should not be a platform for comparison, but rather inspiration. Also, is an aesthetic profile a sign of an honest, hard-working, and positive individual? Because that's what is really important to you.  Lift others up! 

What a cheesy, surface-level example, right? But seriously, self-love doesn't always come easy. We all know that and I believe it's time to think critically about our critiques.

 "Compassionate self-discipline is simply allowing the intelligence and generosity that is your authentic nature to guide you in every moment."

Momentum

Every once in a while we are gifted with a chance to start anew. It might materialize through a new career, newfound knowledge, an influential relationship, or perhaps just a change in your day to day perspective. How special is that? Is there any better feeling than having a clean slate and a fresh place to make dreams come true? We owe it to ourselves to make the most of these moments and really take advantage of our energy and aspirations.

The key is to take hold of your momentum and hang on to it tight. We all set New Year's resolutions and let them fail. We all hope to have better work-outs, relationships, eating habits, etc. and we still find ourselves falling back on our old habits. Moving to Lake Vermilion has taught me that 'the perfect time' will never find us to make change. It has taught me that new opportunities in life can transform you if only you allow them to. That big results start with a first step and that nobody else can do the hard work for you. 

Now that I've mastered my work life here, it's time to transform my personal life from good to great. Time to get back on track as far as eating healthy, implementing a meditation routine, and writing regularly. Setting goals and transforming them into reality.

"Choice making is difficult, even when it comes to small daily decisions, and so instead of getting better at it, approaching it as a skill, we behave haphazardly. Between knowing what's good for you and doing it there's a gap. In this gap is where the skill of choice making is learned.. Yet if you could just make one significant change a week, your progress toward radical well-being would be hugely accelerated. After a month you would feel some real benefits; after a year the transformation would be complete. Reduced to a steady string of easy choices, the problem of noncompliance would disappear." -Deepak Chopra, M.D. & Rudolph Tanzi, Ph.D. in "Super Genes"

 

Belated

Hopefully you understand my sarcasm here.....