Looking back since I started living more ‘consciously’ I notice that when I think I have reached a peak, a new level opens up.
It all started with a thought back in 2007 in Thailand. I was travelling at the time with friends from South Africa whom I met in México. My friends sister joined us for most of the trip and she lent me a book to read. The book was called ‘The Monk who Sold his Ferrari’ by Robin Sharma.
This book cracked open my mind and helped change my thinking.
It is the simplest book to read but one analogy in particular stood out to me and affected me profoundly. The author used the analogy of a well tended garden being like the mind (and us the gardeners of it). When this garden is looked after and feed ‘good thoughts’, it can thrive and flourish. However, if weeds (a.k.a. negative thoughts) are not plucked out and tended too, they would take control and turn the garden from a beautiful sight to an unruly mess, hiding all the glory beneath.
This is the gist of how I remember his analogy anyway but it totally blew my mind. It made it apparent to me that as the gardeners, we have control of what we choose to put in and take out of our minds. Up until this point, I don’t think I had ever really stopped to think about my mind in this way. I don’t think I ever considered that I had some control over this.
From there a journey of exploration and curiosity started.
I became so fascinated and obsessed with this notion. I devoured book after book on topics around health, self-development, self-care, the power of the mind, the mind/body connection, spirituality, business, leadership, food and the role it plays in our health, cancer (since my Dad passed away of cancer in 2011), among a multitude of other topics and articles.
Then my curiosity just continued to grow from there. I practised gratitude, meditation, affirmations, prayer, deep belly breathing, yoga and journaling. I explored different healing modalities like Kinesiology, Reiki, sound baths, chanting, tapping, reflexology, angel therapy, bio-quantum feedback, energy medicine, shamanic work, chiropractic care etc. I kept travelling on and off and the people I met both at home and abroad fascinated me. My interest would be piqued and I would go read and learn some more.
The importance of self-care and the reality that every part of us is inter-connected (mind, body and soul) became so apparent to me. No part of us works in isolation. Our bodies are incredible machines but we need to nurture and look after them properly. We are also connected to a higher life force and although it may seem hard to understand at times; there is a reason and a divine timing to everything, and trusting the process is extremely important. The learning was exciting and invigorating. It all happened like a natural progression. Once I thought I had reached a new level of expansion or enlightenment, another level would open up.
Since that day in 2007, I feel like I have been on a journey. One of curiosity and learning. A journey that has led to a natural ‘up-levelling’ of my life. Things happened instinctively and there are always new levels to go – out with the old that no longer serves me and in with the new so to speak.
Realising the power of our mind, the importance of self-care, the reality that we only get one life to live, the connection between our mind, body and soul, and the ever increasing presence of illness, stress and disease has pushed me forward in my quest to live more consciously.
Living more consciously for me means (among other things) – always trying to live in the present moment, giving thanks, being aware of my thoughts, treating myself with compassion and love, investing in my personal wellbeing, reading more, getting up early, exercising, eating real foods, buying all natural/organic food and products where possible, journaling, prayer work, omitting TV, listening to TED talks, avoiding as much processed food/goods as possible, meditating, seeing the good in every situation, not taking things personally, not making assumptions, helping others, acting with integrity, always doing my best, living by my gut and intuition, avoiding drama, experimenting with different healing modalities, helping others, constantly expanding and learning, and being true to myself.
I’m saying all this just to ‘show off’ or to pretend how great I am! At the end of the day, I’m human just like everyone else. I go through things, just like everyone else but by allowing my life to expand in this way, now the awareness comes in sooner. The lag time is less before I take take charge or change the situation. It’s not perfect, I’m not perfect but I’m constantly evolving.
I’m ready to embark on the next level of my life now. I feel my journey so far has been preparing me for this. Every good or bad experience to date has helped mould me to the person I was meant to become.
Once the penny drops, when something you read, hear or learn makes you question your thinking to date, a world of infinite learning, growth and possibilities opens up, and once this crack is opened, you will never go back to the way you once thought.
Remember, “It always seems impossible until it’s done”, Nelson Mandela.
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari on Amazon
