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Are You Struggling To Keep Up?
Heading onto the highway today I noticed how many people wanted to get ahead of others. Lane changing, dangerous overtaking, horn honking; all indicators of someone in a desperate hurry to get ahead of the car in front. And oddly enough, none of them turned out to be too far ahead when we exited.
We see the same phenomena on the internet, in business, in fact everywhere we turn there’s someone who thinks another person is ahead of them in some way and so they have to catch up, or overtake, or do it better.
It’s a pointless struggle, because we always end up where we belong. Hmmm I can hear you ask, and where might that be?
Effortless success
You hear or see a success story and you decide to do the same thing. But somehow it doesn’t work out so well for you. It’s a great big flipping fail. What went wrong? Why were they hugely successful at what they did and you…well not so much.
It’s because you’re following the wrong road, with the wrong guidelines. It isn’t what they do that needs to be emulated, it’s the state of mind, the consciousness that they operate from that creates the magic.
What does this mean exactly? It means that you could do precisely what someone else did, to the letter, but unless you believe in yourself, unless you fill your mind with thoughts of success, unless you’re able to connect to the feeling of it all turning out as fabulously for you as it did for them, well it might not.
As I said recently in the comments section, we could take all the money in the world and divide it amongst every soul on the planet and before too long it would be back in the same hands from whence it came. Why? Consciousness.
Although the consciousness of the uber successful is the very same consciousness that exists in us all, the difference is in the arrangement of that consciousness. And we’re all the arrangers of our own consciousness.
Imitating others will do absolutely nothing for us, if we keep our attention on our old stuff, old obstacles, old doubts and fears.
There’s a good reason why what works for others might not work for you…you’re merely echoing someone’s actions, without having the inner foundation that makes it work. You have to arrange your consciousness to back it up.
We always end up where we belong.
Whats happening right now?
Lately I’ve been focused on being here now. Or as Thich Nhat Hanh calls it, present moment – wonderful moment.
Telling myself to ‘be here now‘ allows me to ask myself what do I want, what do I love now? Someone else being passionate and successful about what they do, no longer makes me stop and wonder if I should be doing the same, just in case I miss out on something; holy moly wouldn’t that be disastrous. 🙂
We can all stop biting our fingernails or stamping our little feet, or feeling frustrated and struggling to not be left behind because others are excited about the things they’re doing. So someone is learning something new…doesn’t mean we have to jump on that bandwagon. It might not be the right thing for us.
Knowing what you love, knowing what you want, right now, is the space where the things you love are unreservedly drawn to you. You’ve eliminated, at least in this moment, the things you don’t actually want; the things that distract, the things you don’t need to feel any concern for right now. You’re arranging your consciousness to vibrate with the successes that matter to you.
Maybe tomorrow you’ll find you love the idea of being an internet queen or king. Maybe tomorrow you’ll love the idea of floating out of a plane with nothing between you and limbo except for a relatively small piece of cloth and a few cords, or climbing the highest mountain in the world, or being a star of the silver screen or the founder of a new philosophy.
But today, you’ve decided upon what you love in this moment, because you’ve asked yourself and you’ve listened to the answer and whatever that answer is, it’s the perfect direction for the beautiful soul that you are today. Follow it.
We always end up where we belong by right of consciousness.
Oh, and don’t be afraid to let go of what isn’t working for you right now and that includes those skinny jeans from 2010. Oh yes, that’s not your issue….so it must be mine.
Bottom Line
To the young person at the beginning of their life and isn’t certain which direction to follow I say listen to your instinct, your intuition, your heart. To those mid-lifers I say take a time out and listen to your heart and then have the courage to follow. To us all I say, follow your own guidance. We have it in spades if we would but take a quiet moment or two and listen. You don’t have to imitate anyone else, unless of course your guidance is pushing or pulling you wildly in that direction.
Your own destinies await and there isn’t just one…you might tread one path for a while and be guided onto another.
What pleases you? What makes your heart leap in ecstasy?
Oh yes, playing small is not allowed. You’re too great for that.
Your own particular I AM is calling you. And it dreams big dreams.
Heed the words of Pantjali:
[success]When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be. ~ Pantjali[/success]Share in the comments below what your secret is to setting your own sails and ignoring the siren call of what everyone else is up to? How are you rearranging your consciousness to fulfill your biggest dream?
Your own particular insight could just be the one that helps others have a breakthrough.
As always thanks for reading and participating and sharing. You most definitely rock.
Encourage one another.
Love Elle
My mind transended a huge amout of imposed obstacles from others in the past three years – a horrible job from hell that almost put me into stress induced mental breakdown – sounding like a bad B spy movie; it included beligerance, jealousy,obstanance, ignorance, mystery, cutthroat cohearts, miserable people who wanted nothing better than to see the worst in others – even if they had to slander to make it up! intrigue, and was a huge drama! I resounded many a dark moment ( clinging to whatever scruples and determination I had left) to exit stage left quietly – discreetly – painfully – not regretfully and hike up my big boy undies and ride off into the nearest sunrise, to start over and allow myself to begin healing and start rebuilding the person who I once was. I find it strange that I had to leave what would come so naturally for me and cast it aside like yesterday’s bagel, and take the hell path of learning human discernemnt and listening to my gut instincts, and be respected for it, feeling accomplished everyday – fresh everyday – not critized or micromanaged – everyday! and work with people who traditionally have been rejected and cast aside, to make an ultimate difference. This is now my ministry field, becuase Lord knows I have walked through a mine field and come out on the other side – a bit unscathed. My intentions stay right, my brain stays sharp and focused, my steps stay striding straight. 🙂 Thank you, for your words everyday – I look forward to the messages.
Sincerely,
one bandaged soldier.
Thank you so much for sharing your story Jace. I love to hear that you’ve been through the mill…well no, not that…but that here you are on the other side stepping into your strength and power. A beautiful reminder to us all. 🙂
This is beautiful Elle! All over the blogosphere today I’ve found articles on overwhelm and business balance and here you offer such wisdom to console and comfort.
I’m just discovering the power of having a dream – a big big big dream – and committing to it. I know dreams come out of our uniqueness and that makes them special. I’m setting my course now – to sail into that dream!
🙂
Lori
Thanks Lori…I love the fact that you have a huge big ginormous dream and I can’t wait to see your dream fulfilled. In fact, I don’t have to wait…I’m imagining it right now and seeing the smile shining from your lovely face. 🙂
Elle, it’s sometimes scary how much we’re on the same wavelength. I’m in the middle of writing something on a very similar topic and knew I could get a new insight from you.
I’m taking this week off of work because the past six months have been crazy. I’ve had precious little time for my beloved writing or simply being. I’ve been questioning what it’s all about and where I need to focus going forward.
I’m finding it difficult to unwind, being at home with the kids, the chores, the routines and the technology.
Your words have helped me to take a few deep breaths and remember why I’m doing what I’m doing. I sometimes go back and forth between killing myself to do my best and help as many others as possible and relaxing into being OK with the present moment, just as it is. Being OK with simply doing things I love for no other purpose – like going on a nature hike with my kids yesterday.
Bringing myself back to the present moment (I say “Be here now” to myself fairly often) makes all the craziness fall away. It makes everything OK.
Isn’t it great Paige that we’re so often on the same page. Consciousness is a wonderful thing how it draws to us the very events and people that are a match to our own mindset. And it’s wonderful that you took the time to share your insights with us…sometimes it’s enough to know that someone else is not only sharing our challenges, but have techniques to move through them with some ease and grace. That’s you Paige…gracious.:-)
When I am in the zone, doing that which I am meant to do, it is not a struggle at all. Everything melts away, I am that which I am doing and what I am doing is I.
Hi Ron and welcome to the conversation. I like the way you put it, when you’re in the zone, everything else melts away and you simply rest in being I AM. Beautiful. 🙂
Hi Elle…as usual you’ve included some great reminders to help us all fulfill our dreams and experience happiness. I especially appreciated your focus on consciousness because many people don’t understand that the way to experience deep and lasting change in the world around us we must first change within. In other words, consciousness precedes form in all ways. Once we start shifting within then the world (people, events, etc.) around us will change as an effect. It’s a very simple idea but certainly took me a while to grasp. Ahhh…but once you do get it… 🙂 I also like to remind myself when I am setting an intention for something new that principle is not bound by precedence–meaning of course that it doesn’t matter what has come before–once shift happens the natural effect flows easily from the new level of consciousness. By keeping my consciousness focused on those experiences I expect to create, they always flow to me at the right and perfect time. And so it is!!! ~Kathy
Once again Kathy, you share some wonderful truths with us. What a great point, that we’re always beginning again, regardless of what’s gone before. Love it. 🙂
Found your site through Tess at the Bold Life. Mmm-mmm this one was good. So grateful I found you in perfect time. (It always is, isn’t it?)
This temptation is so strong in our world. I just finished reading Gary Zukav’s “Seat of the Soul” recently. I’ve been thinking a lot about what he calls authentic power. From that space, competition is irrelevant, only celebration of authenticity.
Holding this meditation recently helps me stay “in power”.
Hi Steve and thanks for stopping by and sharing your insights. I remember Seat of the Soul and some years ago was on a spiritual cruise where Gary Zukav was one of the speakers. It was cool stuff. I heartily agree with you about competition being unnecessary…and it always stems from lack. Once we get that all lack and limitation lie within, it’s easier to let it go and move into the natural place of our birth, which is abundance. I like your meditation Steve. 🙂
Another excellent article, Elle !
I have always enjoyed experiencing people who are totally immersed in and anointed by their passion. It doesn’t matter if that passion is photography, cellular physiology, or Olympic weightlifting. The subject of their passion is not what attracted me but rather their ability to generate and focus such powerful feelings and vibrations to fulfill their desires in a particular area at a particular moment. To paraphrase you: they are totally loving the moment they are in. And then they string those loved moments into minutes/hours/years.
It’s that, that I find so alluring and fascinating.
And you’re right, we all have that capacity to excel . . . even at merely filling each moment we are gifted with – with gratitude . . . Thank you !
Write on, Elle !
Hi there Joseph…what great insights you share with us, I especially like the view that you’re attracted not to someone’s passion but to who they needed to be to fulfill their desires. Super stuff. Thank you. 🙂
I used to be so guilty of trying to be like the successful through imitating “best methods”. Just could not understand why it worked for them and not me. I finally figured out that it wasn’t the methods that attracted the success it was the person. Authenticity and character attract, where imitation without real change repels.
Great points Dore’ and so appreciate your insights. Thanks for stopping by and sharing. 🙂
Elle,
I read your title and just thought YES! I agree if you can live in the present moment, life is pure happiness. I am a huge fan of I AM, too.
Thanks for these timely (as always) reminders!
Thanks for stopping by Betsy…I think you and I are highly aware of the power of those two little words in our life. 🙂
What I’ve found really magical in my life Elle is spending time doing what I enjoy doing – which is what my heart tells me to do. I used to do work for various reasons in areas I didn’t care about or have an interest in, simply for the sake of a job. But now I’m much more conscious about it and imagined the life I wanted first, then dreamt and found work to revolve around it. Any time we step back, reprioritize and re-evaluate what’s important to us allows us to have a more fulfilled and authentic life.
That’s the point of power Vishnu, being conscious. I’m so impressed that you imagined first and allowed that to lead the way. That’s a biggie because we’re so conditioned to do things the other way around. Kudos to you my friend. 🙂
Hi Elle,
Your focus on the consciousness part is extremely important to comprehend for anyone who wants fulfillment in any way possible.
There is a part of consciousness that i like to term as the “background static”.Very much like the electromagnetic static prevailing all around us;omnipresent.
The units of thought and background feelings join each other and adhere together,like atoms bind together in a molecule .These units of thought and feeling also bind together to form a “thought body” ,a mental body which carries a peculiar vibration .The vibration resonates with your most dominant thoughts and feelings.This vibration energy ,this power has the hidden capacity to attract similar thoughts and feelings, circumstances, events, people and results towards itself.
That is the reason why metaphysics tells you to be particular about your thoughts and feelings.Each unit of thought and feeling is potent.It gains potency as it binds with more and more thoughts and feelings of the same frequency.
Lots of successful people tap into their intuition ,or gut feeling because they have learnt the art of tapping into their background static with a specific intention.
Thanks for your focus
Mona
So true Mona, we operate our vibrational frequency via our thoughts and feelings which attract more of the same leading to all our experiences. Well said. I do check out your site and have looked for your comment section, but it seems you just have comments on google+. 🙂
Hi Elle,
I’m at a place right now, where, for whatever reason, I feel that I am meant to be. When you journey through the ebb and flow of your life, turn inward to find what is working and what is not, eventually you find your true destiny. We have to continually self assess, make new decisions and go in different directions when we are called. Thanks for the inspiration!!
I’ve always said Cathy that we have to be before we do. All our greatest doing stems from our greatest beingness and it’s so true that we have to continually assess and change course because we’re continually expanding our being. Love that thought. 🙂