Every now and then I come out with a pearl of wisdom, and, I often wonder where it came from. I’m guessing it’s because I spend so much time putting positive words and ideas into my head through reading positive books, listening to empowering audios and attending inspiring events. Eventually something has to sink in, and then, pop out, right? Well, it happened and that’s why I’m writing this week's blog.
I was talking on the phone to a friend who is a talented writer, and, who wants to be a published author. We were talking about his book, and, an event I have coming up that I believe would be great value for him to attend. We spoke for a few more minutes, and, as the book conversation was coming to an end, we asked about each others New Year festivities. He asked me if I’d had a holiday over the Christmas and New Year period. I thought about his question, smiled on the inside and then said genuinely and gratefully, 'My whole life is a holiday!' He then said, 'You are lucky, you have it easy.'This is when the wisdom just flew out of my mouth. I said, 'I agree, but, I had to work very hard to make it easy.'
The second I hung up the phone, I thought about that message and now I am sharing it with you in this week’s blog. If an easy life is what you want, you need to work hard to make it happen. I don’t want an easy life, necessarily, but I do want a life I love and one which flows with ease. I want a life that makes a difference to other people, and a life that provides me with everything I need to make the choices I want to make, and, when I want to make them. I don’t know if that’s easy or not, but I do know it’s fulfilling and purpose driven. Either way, there is work to do before you can take it easy, or, flow with ease.
Work hard at the right things!
The word ‘work’ conjures up an image in your head, doesn’t it? For many it’s not a fun picture, instead, one that is often perceived has having to push against a significant resistance. Most people resist getting up in the morning. Many people resist going to their job or business. It’s common to resist exercise, chores, confrontation, budgeting, writing and many other things we file in the ‘hard-work’ basket. Well, if I were to tell you, all of those things become easy when you learn to work on the right things, would you believe me?
Work hard at gaining clarity. When you are clear about what you want, what it looks like, why you want it and when you want it, you will remove one of the barriers of resistance. It is said that with clarity comes a sense of urgency. In other words, when you are clear about being healthier, and how it looks and feels for you, you will be far more motivated to take the appropriate action to make it happen. When you can visualise yourself holding your published book, imagine how you will feel and understand the amazing benefits it will bring you, all of a sudden you just want to get it done. You’ll stop negotiating the price to write and just do it. Gaining clarity is not as easy as it seems, it will take work. There is work required to dream it. There is work required to see it. There is work required to describe it in detail. There is definitely work and courage required to set a date for its achievement. This is the work you need to do, if you want it easy.
Work hard at building belief. Clarity will only get you so far, it’s belief that will take you to the next level. Belief is a tricky one because 90% of what you believe is not even conscious to you, but, is determining what you achieve in life. No matter how clear you are about your health goals, if you doubt yourself and don’t believe you can achieve it, you won’t. You need to work very hard at putting positive beliefs, ideas, affirmations and feelings into your conscious and then unconscious mind. This is daily, hourly and even moment by moment requirement. What you say to yourself, who you associate with, what you read, what you watch and what you listen to will all determine your belief system. This is definitely work you need to do, if you want it easy.
Work hard at developing habits. Clarity is essential, belief is critical, but nothing happens without the power of positive habits. The actions aren’t hard, focusing on doing them every day is the challenge. Eating breakfast is no big deal, but doing it every day can be some people’s Achilles heel. Writing a few words is easy, doing it every day is the challenges. Going for a walk or jog is simple, doing it every day, without making a myriad of excuses, is what trips most people up. Make no mistake about it, however, once the habit is created, the results will be predictable and automatic, and, life will be easy! When exercise is a habit, you’ll be fit. When breakfast is a habit, you’ll be leaner and have more energy. When writing is a habit, you’ll be an author. When saving money is a habit, you’ll have security. Work hard at creating good habits, if you want it easy.
Life can be easy, and, it can flow with ease, but make no mistake, there’s work to do to make that happen. Not the work you are thinking it will take, but the work to get your head in the game, and, to make the required actions the fun and easy part. When you are clear and focussed on good health, when you believe that you can create it and when you have developed great habits, every; healthy meal, litre of purified water and sweat session is an exciting step in the process of making it a reality. If you want it to be easy for you, then get to work to make it happen.
