It is inspiring to connect with so many great people keen to grow together while getting more out of 2024. It has been a really positive and enjoyable few weeks listening to amazing people giving their thoughts on how they feel about where they are today, what potential opportunities they can see, what they want from the year ahead and life more widely.
This has all been combined with us thinking about how together we can achieve more of what matters deeply to us all personally, and professionally this year by Doing Well Doing Good, growing our businesses, people and impact in society with trusted people of shared values, all delivering value.
2023 was a difficult year for many people trying to find a way to steady the ship in difficult waters, so as we move into a new year of potential opportunities let's come together, find that Strength in the Storms, and remember that no good sailors are made without the greatest of storms!
One of the themes of our discussions was about sharing experiences, life circumstances, our sense humour, our personalities and our "real" lives on LinkedIn, we all agreed that in the business world today it is genuinely important for creating connection and an essential component of digital networking.
However, and it is a BIG HOWEVER. Everyone I spoke with struggles with the fundamental paradox of social media more widely, as with roughly 9 billion people apparently living the dream on various social media platforms, we find ourselves asking how we can have a global pandemic of stress, anxiety and mental health?
Outside in the real world and to all the people who have connected with me in the last few weeks, it certainly doesn't look like what is being touted on social media gives anything like a genuine picture, most are apparently mentally stable, with solid relationships, amazing businesses, floating around on yachts with billionaires, living the dream on sunny islands, and drinking umbrella cocktails.
With all the social media attempts now to make everything look so perfect and staged, we spoke a lot about why it is so important to just share who we really are, happy, sad, good, bad, and everything between. And yes, even looking like a right miserable old git in a bathrobe while simultaneously concentrating, scaring our children with my resting bitch face, and scowling at the cat.
This is my happily focused face by the way!
Genuinely though it seems the majority of people, including myself, have a lot of challenges, a lot of mountains to climb, and by no means do we have it all figured out. I am however on a personal level very grateful to be alive and to be able to chart my own course through life, experiencing all life experiences, pushing through the storms, and enjoying the calm when it comes.
This is all about learning from every situation how to be a better sailor, while also accepting life just as it is, myself as I am, and knowing that yes, I just look entirely unapproachable most of the time, and particularly as it seems, while charting the course to be navigated that day. Yet I am very happy and very grateful to be a work in progress as I continue to navigate the changing seas of life.
And so when it comes to sailing out on those unpredictable seas of life and finding the wins, I hold a strong belief that navigating the storms and enjoying the process of becoming a better sailor in all areas of life, family, team, community, health, wealth, and self is the win. Raising our own standards and loving the process is the win. Continually looking inside ourselves with inner engineering and not at others is the win. Being ok with ourselves and our journey is the win!
I firmly believe that self growth in all forms is the process of winning and is incredibly satisfying, it gives us all the ability to enjoy the journey of who we become by Being Relentless through all our experiences, no matter what they are, what they bring, and how unexpected they may be. I always remind myself that the greatest of storms will never last yet great people do!
Ultimately the idea here is that winning is being present in the process and loving the journey, not seeking an outcome. Yes, having horizon goals that we break down every day into small steps is not just important, it is essential, the ship needs a direction and a course to maintain. Once that is set however, we are sailing out on the seas of life for adventure, excitement, and to experience fully, all our experiences.
Today I hope this little share is helpful to everyone on their journey, supporting our willingness to be ourselves, enjoy good mental health, and our ability to weather the storms as we all get more from 2024 by Being Relentless.
So on the journey today our ship mate is Eknath Easwaran, a highly respected teacher of meditation and an amazing author of many books although this particular book I really enjoy, and I hope you do too.
"Strength in the Storms".
This wonderful little book offers a wealth of insights, real-life stories, and practical suggestions to help readers try something more successful the next time stressors arise. If you haven't read it, it is very good, very short, and incredibly powerful for everyone, and importantly when taking this into action in our daily lives it is really good for our mental health.
Ultimately this is about helping us all in creating meaningful connections with other human beings, while learning more about ourselves, growing our understanding of the mind, and thriving no matter what the circumstances.
The premise of the book is ultimately that stress and anxiety are impossible to avoid while struggling with work pressures, money worries, strained relationships, and the nagging sense that life may be running out of our control. However, amidst of chaos it's possible to find balance, peace, and even wisdom if readers can learn to steady their minds.
It's a simple idea, and one that runs deep, a truly calm mind can weather any storm.
Not just weather it but thrive and grow amidst the chaos.
So the underlying message is that to really grow we must learn to embrace it all, not be afraid of who we really are, where we live, what we do, how we do it, and know that regardless of how much we have or don't have, it is irrelevant. We are all simply just human beings navigating life. And in life, real life, we are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or going into a storm. We just are. There are no perfect humans, perfect lives, or any exceptions to this fundamental truth.
In my humble opinion through some hard fought lived experience, our pain, suffering and failure are the absolute foundations of success. This is where we learn through experiences all the moments that stay firmly in our mind creating the values of understanding, empathy, compassion, resilience, strong leadership, and it is also where we forge the skills to lead ourselves first, creating the ability to serve others through their challenging times now and in the future.
And as I hope to be blessed with a long life of navigating the storms while learning and growing as a work in progress, I remind myself every day to be clam, be loving, be grateful, be supportive, be genuine, be helpful, be authentic and to always be looking for the butterflies in times of darkness.
And when I get it all wrong which I very often do, I can reset myself, say no problem, assess my position, create a new process, then give it another go leaning in to belief and gratitude which are always at the core of my personal growth.
BELIEF
The confidence that arises naturally through the process, creating self trust and removing doubts that arise through fantasy.
GRATITUDE
Letting go of desired outcomes and fully embracing the privilege of pursuing goals and dreams, loving the process of living in a moment.
A reminder of this for me every day is my favourite painting that has been travelling with me since I started my own journey of positive transformation. This powerful picture is hanging in our little hall way, of our little house, with our beautiful family who I feel so blessed by every day, reminding us all that to be more, and to get more out of life, those butterflies cultivated in the dark times, are always the most vibrant and colourful when you decide to Be Relentless Being You. And in doing so we sail through every situation no matter what storms we face, how difficult it becomes, and how much we want to quit. We never give up. We just keep going.
And by moving through the inevitable resistance of life, we give ourselves the personal agency and inner strength to navigate more storms, we even welcome them as we develop the inner power of being relentless, being real, being authentic and being open to being a human being.
We become connected in the world, growing together with others through life's storms, while helping everyone thrive and not simply survive as we all experience a unique journey, while supporting each others growth and development.
As we sail the unpredictable seas of life we come to realise that helping each other move through the darkness to find the butterflies on the other side, is the foundation of meaningful connection with others, fulfilment, growth, and happiness.
And so as you set out today remember always that no good sailors are made without storms, and the sun shines brightest after the darkest moments.
And my message to you and those I have been speaking with in January is simply this ...
Take heart and feel in your soul that we are all a work in progress. Each of us the universe perceived from a different perspective. No human is perfect and everyone stumbles, everyone falls, and yet we must allow ourselves the power to rise again on a path of love in support of others.
Our path on the journey of life is unique, and as we travel this challenging road we must always know we are never alone, we are all connected energy and a formless vibration we can experience through love, gratitude, breath and mediation.
Have a great week ahead sailing out on the seas of your life for adventure, excitement, and to experience fully, all our experiences in every day we are blessed to be given.
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