Freedom from Striving

In the midst of the great depression Napoleon Hill captured Americans imagination with his book Think and Grow Rich. He introduced the self actualization movement by asking his readers to "be receptive to ideas, thoughts, and knowledge"which reaches us through our sixth sense, intuition.

Some people awaken to these possibilities when they are in their late twenties. They live their lives with purpose and ambition. Relationships and major life decisions are often the focal points at this stage in life.

I just turned 59, the age that marks the transition to mature adulthood. The job before me now is to do what I really want to do and grasp the lifestyle I really want, no matter what changes and disruptions I have to go through. I am revisiting reception to ideas. I am becoming more thoughtful. I am definitely seeking knowledge...

Millions of Boomer women are joining me on my quest to clear out old baggage from the past so we can lighten our load for the center stage. I find myself letting go of all the things I strived for to make me happy, such as the house, the car, the trips; superficial things. I am moving toward a more basic lifestyle. I'm leaving behind faded ideas that no longer serve me and work that puts too much strain on my physical and mental health.

The good news is I feel a sense of freedom from having to struggle for validation and approval I thought I needed as a young adult. I am consciously practicing  relaxing my mind, body and soul from an attitude of striving.

Rather than giving up, I am searching for a more authentic way of being. One can still work, achieve, and excel at their profession, but the motives for doing so change from duty and demand to personal satisfaction. I am finding my own inner authority. I find I have much more outer assurance without the stress on accomplishment as proof of existence or self worth.

Intuition is not a new idea. But when we become conscious of the structural changes necessary to compel us to live our best life now, it is much easier to embrace the change, let go of stress from striving and get in touch with the real you.

The Power of Patience

One of the most important life lessons I am currently working on is the power of patience. I am one who typically has many irons in the fire. That way I can be working toward one goal while the others are percolating.

But what happens when all of the activities you have worked on are incubating at the same time?

You learn to be patient!

I am grand kid sitting. I am also sitting ten newly hatched chicks. I am amazed at how fast they are growing. The period of incubation is over. If the eggs were not allowed to hatch on their own, the picture might have been painted differently. We had to be patient and let the chicks develop on their own. Try keeping six children under the age of twelve from helping the chicks along. It required more than a little patience!

I have found myself working my rear off the first six months of this year. I wanted to take advantage of the saturn return. I just turned 59 August 30th.

Now, as we enter the second half of 2013 I am finding I am moving into a more socially aware period. I find myself in situations where I am encouraged to improve my skills in social media, networking and to venture out and encourage and greet new friendships upon invitation.

The dictionary defines the word patience as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay without getting angry or upset. 

Being a worker, I find idle hands a bit of abnormal. However, it is an opportunity to practice the art of allowance, where I do not have to be specifically involved making things happen. Yes, I am still extremely goal oriented. However, I am finding that patience is an area I wish to embrace instead of rebel against. I want to practice being in the now and instead of trying to control the future, I want to practice patience, which many say is a virtue...  a hard won, and rewarding virtue at that!