What is one thing you would change about yourself?
I’m a work in progress, just like everyone else. I’m happy with who I am, flaws and all. Sure, I procrastinate sometimes, and I could be fitter. But when I really want something, I make it happen.
We all have limitations, and some things are harder to change than others. No amount of effort will turn someone with a broad frame into a supermodel. So, if you can’t change something, embrace it! Find the humor in it or simply make the best of it. Self-acceptance and self-care bring more joy than constant striving.
My philosophy is simple: if you want to change, set your intention, build new habits, and be patient. Change takes time and effort. If you can’t change something, accept it and find a way to turn it into a strength.
Here’s a powerful tool that works both ways: visualization. When you want to change, visualize your goal as if it’s already achieved. This will energize you and propel you forward. If you can’t change something, visualize it positively. Your imagination is limitless. Don’t dwell on what you lack; instead, focus on what you want. Visualization can shift your mindset and make it easier to accept your circumstances.
A cat visualizing the wish to be a dog, chasing after the milk delivery man by Bing image creator
So, I urge you: stop chasing after what you don’t have. Either make a plan to change or accept yourself. The key to happiness in both scenarios is the power of visualization. A cat cannot become a dog but they can visualize it!
Eight years ago, I took a bold leap of faith, fundamentally reshaping my destiny. I stepped away from everything familiar into a new house, and partnership. While some paths closed, leaving cherished moments behind, new doors opened, revealing exciting possibilities. There’s no regret in the drastic shift, uprooting myself and trusting the unknown. This leap taught me a profound lesson: life isn’t set in stone. We have the power to adapt and navigate its twists and turns. We can totally shift the course of our destiny.
Today, I embrace and celebrate my role as the architect of my own life. With each action, I’m reminded that change is possible. I can transform my perspective, bringing in positive shifts if I choose. It’s all about following my true self, doing what aligns with my values, even if it involves sacrifice. After all, living a beautiful and fulfilling life is about choosing an enthusiastic mindset and making empowering decisions, each and every day. Every day is a return to my authentic self, reaching towards the best version of self.
Life’s major shifts have followed me like the persistent claws of karma, each one shaping my path and pushing me towards new horizons. These changes, born of both choice and circumstance, have almost always revolved around my career, a constant thread woven through the tapestry of my existence.
My yearning for independence first led me to Cape Town, a daring move that uprooted not just me but also my family. It was a dramatic leap into the unknown, a bold declaration of my autonomy and a testament to my unwavering desire to carve my own path.
Fueled by this same yearning, I took the plunge into entrepreneurship, throwing caution to the wind and starting my own business. For ten years, I thrived in the whirlwind of self-reliance, building a life where I was the master of my own destiny. However, the claws of fate intervened in the form of a global economic downturn, forcing me to confront the true cost of independence. My business became unsustainable, and the tax burden became overwhelming. With heavy hearts, I sought refuge in the stability of conventional employment, accepting a consultancy position.
The shift back to salaried work was nearly as momentous as venturing into entrepreneurship itself. Though I had traded some independence for security, I found solace in the values that had always guided me: independence, learning, and making a positive contribution. With less freedom to chart my own course, I channeled my energy into making a meaningful impact within the confines of my new role. The debt incurred during the economic downturn became a constant companion, a reminder of the sacrifices made and the lessons learned. While complete recovery may remain elusive, I find solace in the courage it took to chase my dream, even if it meant a temporary retreat.
My return to salaried work wasn’t without its own perks. I embraced the stability and structure it offered, utilizing its benefits to shield my family from the anxieties of uncertainty. Through it all, I held onto the tenacious spirit that had always propelled me forward, weathering both triumphs and setbacks with unwavering determination.
As I stand at the precipice of another turning point, the year ahead demands a renewed focus on frugality. It’s time to simplify my life and prepare emotionally for the day retirement beckons. Whether I possess the skills and resources to navigate that phase remains to be seen, but I face it with a cautious optimism. While I don’t foresee any major career shifts on the horizon, I hope to cultivate my writing skills and build a stronger online presence, resources that may prove invaluable in the years to come.
Life’s claws may have carved their marks, but they have also sculpted me into the resilient individual I am today. I embrace the journey, the lessons learned, and the uncertainties that lie ahead, knowing that with each step, I continue to write my own story, one filled with the courage to chase dreams, the wisdom to adapt, and the unwavering spirit to carve my own path.
I’m changing my mind. I have always seen control as being an illusion, since there are so many unpredictable things that can happen in life. I cannot even remember what caused this belief within me.
In my quiet time today, I took out again the idea of control. As a fresh monad, I had to consider and challenge my perceptions and conclusions on the topic. I realized how much the technology that surrounds me is dependent on control to ensure a more predictable outcome. I realized that my health is in a similar way dependent on how I control my everyday life: my breathing, my eating, my sleeping.
Control requires a feedback loop, called. cybernetics. I should bring mindfulness into my life as a means of cybernetics. Right now, after every action or thought, I should ask myself, “Was it beneficial or uplifting?” Is healthy for my mind, body, and spirit? Too often, we just do without consciously closing the loop to ask if the action just completed, the word just spoken, or the thought just thought has taken us towards our destiny or what we want to become.
I must not miss the value of applying cybernetics into my live. Sure, things will go wrong and unexpected things will happen, but then it is the conscious awareness of the feedback loop that will assist me to return to my original call or destiny, enabling me to correct my actions and words, and redirect myself into the direction I need to go. The more regular the feedback loop, the more frequent the correction and less traumatic the action.
Today I realized that I can change my mind on the concept of control and it is liberating!
zeal4living