Own Your Thoughts And Emotions
“A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with the realization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences. You are responsible for your life, and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make.” — Denis Waitley
Whilst we’re not always in control of the currents of life, we have the power to direct our reaction to what unfolds by greeting life’s changes with openness. While there is limited control over certain aspects of life, by casting the arrow as it were, we surrender to the forces of life and the unfolding of events — that is where the arrow will land. This simple metaphor reminds us of our role as co-creators of our life’s events, although in a number of ways we ultimately surrender control to a greater universal intelligence which takes care of the details. You might call it source, the universe, God or a higher power.
In order to accept control of our life, it’s essential we inhabit our body by aligning with our mental and emotional self. We must be present by owning our thoughts and emotions and not dismiss them as an inconsequential facet of our being. You are the director and producer of your life’s narrative. When I discuss inhabiting your body, I am referring to a state of ownership and connection of your mind and body. That is, being present and grounded in the moment, not at the mercy of your past or future thoughts or any runaway emotions which vie for your attention. When you inhabit your body you do not require stimulants to create an ideal physical state. Being in your body means honouring your natural gene expression as nature intended. Does this idea resonate with you? I hope you can see that it is about being in command of your life’s story instead of succumbing to the forces of life. You are in command of your thoughts and emotions more than you realise.
Release The Past
“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”― Stephen Richards
It is said we coach others how to treat us. If we frequently play the victim role of: “He/she is responsible for the way I act or feel” we deprive ourselves of our potential to enjoy life since we are at the mercy of others. We yield power to others and lose sight of our self-worth. As we surrender our power, others will use it according to their level of awareness. That is, we bind ourselves to others by assuming control of the relationship rather than being a balanced union. In many ways, we must release past mistakes and regrets so as not to carry them into the future. The present is our gateway to the future. What occurred in the past resides merely as a memory. To replay the past by inviting it into the present moment is not conducive to living a remarkable life. This is because we are held captive by our thoughts and emotions when we habitually replay past memories. Can you relate to handing your power to others? If so, recall whether they used that power against you.
Thoughts and emotions create a kaleidoscope of chemical reactions within our body which influence our genetic destiny. Releasing the past entails making peace with it and learning from the wisdom gained from our experiences. It invites us to bring love to the situation and letting go of hurt or anger or other untoward emotional states. The lessons from our experience served its part in our soul’s journey toward personal growth. The present moment contains the seed of opportunity which invites us into the future. If we re-live the past through toxic thoughts, we deny the future from making its way into our life, since our frame of reference is stuck in the past.
Our mind cannot dwell in two places at the same time. It cannot live with past regrets and strive toward future happiness. We mus liberate ourselves of one and subsequently another door opens to transport us into our future. The mental and emotional energy required to live in the past is lost on opportunities that are better served for our future. Similarly, assuming control of our life by getting out of our own way invites us to accept what shows up, despite our perception of how life should unfold. Roll with the punches calls for accepting the perfection of what is currently unfolding and owning the moment.
Roll With The Punches
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”― Haruki Murakami
Stepping out of our way represents dropping the resistance brought to each moment. Through our resisting to life, we block the goodness unveiling itself through us. Many struggle with the concept of universal intelligence working in their favour, since they focus purely on the negative aspects of life’s events. Our perception creates and colours our reality. What we focus and dwell upon becomes our focal point; irrespective of whether it is good or bad.As we relinquish the need to control outcomes, we accept what permeates through our life as valuable lessons contained within each experience. Our lessons become the experience we are having right now. Like it or hate it, the universe brings us this experience for our personal growth and is vested in the expansion of our connection to the deepest aspect of our nature.
How we respond to the experience serves as our lesson. Equally, our lesson may not be packaged in the form we might expect. For example if it is in our interest to learn the value of friendship, we may find ourselves in opposition with a close friend whom we do not share the same outlook. In such a way universal intelligence assumes this experience as vital to help us accept our personal power within the friendship. We may be bestowed the opposite experience of what we expect it to be. The boxing metaphor, rolling with the punches encompasses accepting what shows up in our life as a valuable lesson which serves our highest growth. Wisdom has taught me that every time I refused an important life lesson, I’ll be given a new one disguised in different form.
It is worth appreciating as we create a remarkable future, we expend less energy toward material possessions, people or circumstances which do not matter. If it does not feel right, we ought to let it go and follow the wisdom of our heart by feeling our way in to the experience. It involves courage to go against the crowd and stand for something different. People will influence our decisions advising us of our inability to achieve a certain goal or dream. We mustn’t waste time validating ourselves by succumbing to this way of being. The energy required to validate ourselves stems from resistance and is futile to living a compelling future. Rather, we must pursue that which brings us joy. This means letting go of material possessions and relationships which do not enhance our personal evolution so as to usher in the new. We learn to think with our heart which asks us to feel the world instead of think of the world.
Move In A New Direction
“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
We learn to connect with our feelings often and feel our way toward a fulfilling job, career, relationship, life etc. How does it feel when you consider each of these scenarios? Your feelings are accurate representations of your call to action. As you assume control of your life while seeking to create an extraordinary future, employ the habit of consistent persistence — be unrelenting in your pursuit of the ultimate experience that is. Do not accept no for an answer. Know when to back down and when to advance forward. Create your set of rules and abide by them. Do not subjugate yourself to other people’s way of life assuming it is the accepted model or simply because others have always done it that way in the past.
We must be consistent in our pursuit of the truth and a way of life that serves our potential. If you desire to be the best in your chosen field, practice daily or as Malcolm Gladwell advises in Outliers — embrace the 10,000 hour rule while focussing on deliberate practice in order to be world class. Do not give up at the slightest hint of failure. You are frequently being tested to determine your courage and tenacity. You will be presented with more challenges along the way, each time you conquer a new one. Refuse to accept anything less than your best. Find a way; create a new path if none exists. Recognising when a pursuit is futile is equally important.
Sometimes it may be vital to relinquish our current path in order to follow a new path. This simply means we have ventured down the path as far as it will lead us and it is now time to move in a new direction. Life may pull us away from what seems like a futile cause in order to provide us with a valuable skill to use in another area. An unexpected U-turn may pose as a blessing in disguise and does not imply that all is lost. It is upon reflection and with the passing of time that we see the value of the experience. Create the life you deserve with enthusiasm — create it with unbridled passion towards the process of life. Be inspired in your pursuit of your ideal future, since motivation alone is insufficient to create a compelling and powerful dream. Motivation wanes as the going gets tough. Inspired people harness the power of infinite creativity as the source of their wisdom, often with less effort and greater reward. Create the life you dare possible. It exists on the other side of your fears, doubts and anxieties — be so bold and approach life with vigour and enthusiasm.
Call To Action
Do you want to lead a remarkable life? Are you committed to taking action despite your fears and doubts? Have you had enough of not achieving the success you seek? If so, download your FREE copy of my eBook NAVIGATE LIFE right now, and start your amazing journey of greatness today!
Originally published at Medium