I’ve never met a human being who didn’t want his or her life to matter.
Otherwise, what’s the point? Yet there’s that gap between our biggest goals and where we find ourselves today. We care deeply about our New Year’s Resolutions, yet as the old proverb goes,
There’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip.
What stops us?
I know of no other stress that amounts to a hill of beans compared to the disparity between the goals that matter most and the obstacles that stop us from achieving them. Here are the blocks I’ve observed over the years ~ in people like you and me ~ the ones that bury our inner wisdom, and true self.
Level 1: Internal Fears Worries about not being good enough or a victim of circumstances beyond your control . . . or whatever your hidden fears.
Level 2: External Behaviors Procrastination, avoidance, giving in to excuses and reasons you give yourself for not doing what matters. . . or whatever keeps you from doing what’s most important to you.
The cost of putting these issues in control is heart-breaking. One of my primary goals is to write a new book called Your Best Life Yet. After recovering from West Nile Virus earlier this year, I was ready to get back to writing! However, although some progress has been made, I could have achieved so much more.
What stops me?
My internal fears are that I won’t get back in the groove, that I’ve forgotten most of what I planned to write, and doubt that I can write well enough to find a publisher.
My external behavior is procrastination ~ rushing around doing less important things, spending more time on them than they deserve, and then finding myself ‘too tired to write’.
What the Tibetan Buddha Guru Rinpoche said many centuries ago is the best wisdom I know for dealing with these issues.
“Your parroting of the teachings seems learned, but you haven’t yet invited the words into your mind.”
In other words, walk the talk, connect to your passion ~ be an inspiration. I have a candle on my desk, given to me by John O’Leary, a bright light in the world and a good friend. I’ve lit the candle now, and on the front are his words, which have inspired me to put my fingers back on the keys today.
Be the spark that ignites the world.
These internal and external layers keep us from accessing the essence of who we are. You may call it your soul, heart, inner wisdom, Buddha Nature ~ but whatever you call it, you know what I mean. Here is where you find clarity, compassion, and purpose ~ all the good within you.
And it’s indestructible. No matter what you do or have done, you cannot destroy it.
How to break out?
1. Although years of therapy can help to dissolve the layers, most of us don’t have the time. What it takes is commitment, purpose and inspiration ~ like my candle. Again just do it ~ the less important stuff always gets done or didn’t need to be done in the first place!
2. I would strongly recommend making a Best Year Yet plan because when you answer its 10 questions, your answers come directly from who you are. And in the process you experience transformation while creating a one-page plan for the next year of your life. Your plan, your lessons, your new outlook, and your top 10 goals for 2018 ~ and you’re on the way to a year that matters!
Remember every moment you access your true self is a moment of transformation.
Click here to get started with the Best Year Yet online program ~ or click here to read Your Best Year Yet!, which includes the 10-question workbook.