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.