I remember even as a young child thinking how weird it was that the majority of our lives are sort of mapped out for us already. Every time I would hear adults speaking about life in general, something always felt “off”, like these weren’t genuinely their own beliefs or ideas, but rather something that felt generic or even recycled.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I was right in the sense that many of us just do what is expected of us, or what our parents and teachers have instilled as being the normal stages of life; including our school years, our college years, and the years to follow we spend finding our perfect match, having babies and finding a “good” job which we are taught translates into how much it pays over whether or not we actually enjoy doing it.
I’m not suggesting we don’t educate children, not even close, but I’m very much asking all readers to consider what success really means to them on an individual level. I come to find that most people I ask just want a simple, happy life. And I always tell them, well find what makes you feel most alive and do your very best to build your life around that! No matter how strange or away from the norm it may be.
You see, it is my firm belief, even without ever having children of my own, that kids have so much more to teach us than we ever could them. Sure, it’s our responsibility to be the soil and create a positive environment for children to grow, to guide children away from harm and show them what kindness, compassion, and sharing are all about, but it’s also our responsibility to not keep pulling up what sprouts simply because it’s not the flower that we expected to bloom.
As the gardener of the initial path that children will walk, it’s best to simply sow the seeds and let nature do the rest. As the saying goes…
“Nature never hurries, and yet all is accomplished…”
When we drop the expectations of society that were laid upon us and instead focus on what brings the child joy, confidence and a sense of purpose first and foremost, we allow what will ultimately be the most gorgeous unfolding of a spirit that is not forced to carry the weight of the world, and also the baggage of their parents, well into their adulthood where they not only have no clue where these damaging beliefs came from, but most will not recognize how to overcome them.
But for those who do…and I do include myself here, we have never lost touch with that gut feeling as a child when adults told us what our futures would be like, i.e. college, marriage, work, work, and more F*&%$ing work, that it was malarkey and was only ONE path of an infinite amount WE can choose to walk!
And this, my friends, has been the key to mastering any chaos that appears in my life. Because that simple acknowledgment as a child has allowed me to question every belief I have or have ever had and this arms me with a sense of objectivity when I am about to choose what my next step is.
Allowing oneself to step back and observe rather than play into what is “happening” around you, is really the easiest way to keep it simple…in all areas of your life. This way of choosing to focus on issues allows you to also see the light at the end of the tunnel or rather the opportunity lying within the obstacle itself.
My way of looking at my life wasn’t always like this and I still struggle from time to time to “keep it simple”. However, after choosing over and over again to look for the blessing in every curse, I’ve come to master a way of honestly not losing my shit. Whereas even a few years ago something that would drive me up a wall, make me burst out in tears, or wrack my mind with guilt now has little to no effect on me. Because I know that every ounce of pain in there to point the way and once we embrace the fact it’s time to look at something new, the simplicity that naturally flows and guides the Universe, shows up in your life as less stress and more smiles.
When life gets “crappy” like it sometimes does, it’s in your best interest to not let your attitude (and your focus, of course) to start to stink as well. At the end of the day, the easiest way to keep it simple is to simply keep the passion for your purpose, do no harm, and absolutely…take no shit. 🙂
Tamara Rant is a Co-Editor/Writer for CLN as well as a Licensed Reiki Master, heart-centered Graphic Designer and a progressive voice in social media activism & awareness. She is an avid lover of all things Quantum Physics and Spirituality. Connect with Tamara by visiting Prana Paws/Healing Hearts Reiki or go to RantDesignMedia.com
Tamara posts new original articles to CLN every Saturday.
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This article was originally created and published by Conscious Life News and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Tamara Rant and ConsciousLifeNews.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this Copyright/Creative Commons statement.
