The secret path from ashamed to appreciation
Why life is a pendulum and it's time to enjoy the ride
It was my second day back in paradise, here in Costa Rica, but I didn’t feel ecstatic.
In fact, I felt something way on the other end of the spectrum…
Shame.
Surrounded by suntans and six-packs, I immediately felt out of shape, overweight, and unattractive.
I didn’t even want to walk on the beach shirtless (side note: check out “Hey Fatso!” to learn where some of these insecurities stem from).
But then I was able to turn that shame around into that magical and powerful emotion, appreciation.
And since then, life just keeps getting better and better.
~
So how did I do it? In a word… AWARENESS.
Awareness is a very special gift, and it’s within each and every one of us when we know how to tap into it.
Life without it is nothing; a shallow, dead existence.
Therefore, life without awareness can hardly be called life at all.
And that awareness reminded me of a few things:
For starters…I’m in Costa-fucking-Rica! And this isn’t a one or two-week vacation…this is our life for the next several months (or more).
I also realized this: Everyone wants to live an aligned life (a life that is enjoyable, authentic, and just feels right), however, alignment is elusive.
It’s like walking a tightrope…we sway to one side and then back to the other. And rarely do we stay aligned for too long. We have new realizations, relationships, and dreams that reorient our alignment time after time.
Alignment is a pendulum.
And the ONLY way to know when we’re out of alignment is with awareness!
~
So, perhaps the key to happiness in life is not constant alignment, but instead…constant awareness.
It’s how I was able to remind myself that I spent the past several months confined to a small living space, enduring colder weather, and traveling a lot too.
I also reminded myself that I’ve been grieving more than ever in my life, as I lost my best friend, my son, and my faithful sidekick, Rocky, just three months ago.
With this awareness, I am able to let so much of the negativity fade away as I show myself grace instead of disappointment or, worse yet, disgust.
Awareness also allowed me to make some immediate changes: I have begun eating healthier, spending more time outdoors, and even hired a fitness and nutrition coach to really help me and hold me accountable.
Being easier on myself and having patience is already allowing me to enjoy the journey as I ease back into alignment effortlessly.
And perhaps this is what is meant by the term “life is a journey.” We journey into and out of alignment constantly.
But with awareness, we can enjoy the so-called “highs” (being IN alignment) along with the so-called “lows” (being OUT OF alignment)…because they are ALL part of this experience we call life.
So if you’re dealing with those low-vibe emotions like shame, disempowerment, unworthiness, fear, depression, etc., perhaps you can turn it around too.
Find appreciation simply for your awareness of being out-of-alignment, and then enjoy the journey of recalibrating and realigning with who you want to be.
And when the pendulum swings again, which it will, perhaps we can catch it a little bit quicker than last time.
That feels like growth and enlightenment.
That makes life an expansive spiral, and not a “haven’t I been here before” circle.
And that makes life a journey, and quite an enjoyable one at that.
Want more AWARENESS in your life? The entire first phase of my coaching program, “The Transformation”, is dedicated to helping my clients become more aware and present in their lives (and results are obvious in just a few short weeks). Book a call and let’s see if it’s a great fit to work together…or forward this email to someone you care about!
Want more TIME in your life? Check out my 10-day course called “The Art of Time Mastery”. Receive one short email every day for 10 days and completely change everything …and right now, it’s still free.
Mike’s quote of the week:
“Either we all learn to have a little more fun…or we watch the world go to hell in a handbasket.” - MM
Things I’ve shared recently:
Turn your Midlife Crisis into a “Midlife Crossroads”
Who are YOUR best friends…and why?
The key to world peace?
It’s time to get what’s coming to you…here’s how:
Do you find value in these stories? Consider sharing this with your friends, family, and coworkers. I truly appreciate you!
Enjoy the journey,
Mike