Growing up, my brothers and I played a lot. We would adopt different characters based on our interests at the time. If we were playing soccer, we'd pretend to be Ronaldo or Messi. When facing off in Yu-Gi-Oh, we'd become Seto Kiba or Yugi. We honed our skills at mimicking others and embodying the characters we admired.
These moments were pure fun, as we lived in the present, experiencing what it might feel like to be someone else. It didn't matter if we pretended to be professional soccer players one day and completely fictional characters the next. That's the beauty of childhood, you have infinite potential. When you're young, the world is your oyster.
Lost Potential
As children, we dreamt of becoming astronauts, soccer players, or movie stars.
Our innocence was preserved because the world hadn't yet imposed its expectations on us.
But, why do we lose that sense of wonder and awe as we grow older?
Life hits us hard. We graduate from school, then either enter the workforce or attend university. Unsure of our true desires, we know we must fit into the system society has planned for us:
Leave school
Get a job
Work for 40 years
Retire
Live off the pension
Die
The limitless potential and endless possibilities we had during childhood, seem to disappear.
We are like birds with beautiful wings, born to soar and explore the sky. But instead, we are being used as messengers, always flying someone else's course, not our own.
Regrets and Longing
This conformity leads to misery. Many people's greatest regret, as they grow older and look back on their lives, is not taking risks. They lived comfortably, playing the roles society assigned to them.
They neglected their inner child's potential. They never started that business, learned to play an instrument, or explored the world.
The result: a life not lived to its fullest.
Yet our potential doesn't die when we neglect it. Picture it as a dimly lit candle at your heart's center. The feelings, urges, and desires are still there, guiding you daily if you just take the time to listen.
Embrace Your Creative Self
You're not meant to conform to a box. You're a creator. You need a job that taps into your innate creativity.
A place where you can invest your attention, time, and energy to create value and improve your life and the lives of others. That's where you find meaning and purpose.
Having work you love is your birthright, not a privilege.
Earning an income from your passion isn't a fantasy, it's your life's task.
To achieve this, you must reconnect with your child-like self and tap into that world of unlimited potential and pure possibility.
My Journey
I spent a good part of 10 years trying to reach that moment. Thankfully, I'm now living my purpose and earning a handsome income doing so.
I'm free to:
Work the hours I choose
Travel the world
Explore my creativity
Create meaningful work that impacts others
Live life on my terms
It doesn't come easy, though. If it were, then everyone would be doing it.
It's an unwavering faith that if you keep showing up, over time you will reap the rewards.
It's taking action, even when you have an unbearable amount of doubt nagging away inside you.
You will make a lot of mistakes on the way, but they will guide your path.
Take comfort in making mistakes, it is the only way to propel yourself forward towards your dream.
Now that I am living a life in true alignment with what I want, I need to share it with others.
It's my duty to give back, share my insights, and inspire others to do the same.
This isn't a distant reality. I promise you.
You're one choice away from completely changing your life's trajectory.
If I could go back 10 years and do it all again, here is what I would do:
1) Ruthlessly spend time solving your own problems in life.
This is a big one. Most people spend time running away from their problems as opposed to tackling them head-on.
I was a big culprit of this. I would rather play video games so that I could avoid dealing with the problem at hand.
Unfortunately, this doesn't remove your problem. It only prolongs the impact it has on your life and prevents you from moving forward.
It wasn't until I realised that solving your own problems actually opens doorways for you.
When you overcome a problem, it demands a different level of thinking.
This different level of thinking gives you a broader perception.
Your perception is the 'lens' through which you see the world.
As you solve problems, you deepen not only your understanding of what got you stuck. But you also develop a new set of skills that you will have for the rest of your life.
Skills that will benefit you when you encounter more problems.
Picture a caterpillar in its cocoon. The caterpillar needs to break out of the cocoon, but when it does, it leaves as a butterfly.
Free to explore new heights and to go to places it has never been before.
2) Schedule time to be off the grid.
Attention is the new currency.
Where your attention goes, your energy flows.
Your energy is your life force. If something wants to grow, it needs energy.
Flowers need the sun.
Muscles need protein.
Relationships need love.
Everyone is after your energy, and they are targeting it through your attention.
When you watch the news or scroll on social media, you need to realise that they are pushing a narrative.
Because if they have your attention, they can influence where you put your time and energy.
You need to protect this at all costs.
The only way you can do this is by having time 'off the grid.'
Schedule time out of your day when you are not connected.
This frees your brain to think for itself instead of having other people think for you.
It's time when you get to bond with the most important person in the world.
Yourself.
This is when the candle's flame inside you starts to grow larger.
You develop a stronger sense of self. You gain clarity around the direction you wish to go and reconnect with your internal guidance system.
3) Surround yourself with like-minded people.
The people you spend your time with have a significant impact on your mindset, beliefs, and actions.
Surround yourself with individuals who share similar aspirations and values.
These connections will support you, challenge you, and hold you accountable as you pursue your goals.
I'm grateful in my life that I have had a good network of friends. Some of which I have known since kindergarten.
Although, I have also seen the impact of what can happen if you don't have a good friend group around you.
Your friends are the people you talk to and share the most with, even more than your family.
You need to have friends in your life who support your life's goals.
Friends that don't celebrate your losses or try to bring you down when you share your wins.
Be selective of who you allow in your inner circle.
4) Invest in your future self
Investing in yourself is the key to personal growth and development.
I confess that as a student, I disliked reading; English was my least favorite subject. The value in it eluded me, leaving me to deem it boring and unproductive.
My frustration with school didn't stem from a dislike for education. I was a good student, and I even pursued higher studies at university.
The problem was I didn't enjoy what I was being taught.
Being forced to learn about topics that held no interest to me tainted my perception of learning entirely.
However, everything changed when I discovered topics that ignited a fire within me.
For me, those topics revolved around human behavior, psychology, philosophy, and spirituality.
My fascination with these subjects is boundless. I find myself watching videos, reading books by influential thinkers, and listening to podcasts that delve into these topics.
Feeding and nourishing your mind with knowledge you genuinely enjoy is a powerful tool. When learning is fueled by passion, motivation comes naturally.
This passion is your spark, your inner genius, guiding you towards your path.
Follow this path, consume everything you can about the subjects you love.
Over time, you'll become an authority in your field. You'll be able to share your knowledge with others and provide meaningful value.
This knowledge and passion could be your gateway to a job that aligns with your interests.
Final Words
Life is a journey of self-discovery and growth. It's never too late to tap into your child-like potential and live a life that's meaningful and fulfilling.
All it takes is a conscious decision to move away from societal norms, embrace your creative self, and take the necessary steps to manifest your dreams into reality.
Remember, the only limits that exist are the ones we place on ourselves. Free yourself from these self-imposed barriers and rediscover the infinite potential that lies within you.
No matter where you are in life, remember: it's never too late to be who you might have been.
I hope that my journey and the lessons I've learned along the way can serve as a source of inspiration for you.
I want you to know that you're not alone on this journey, and I'm here to support you every step of the way.
Together, let's redefine what it means to live a successful and fulfilling life.
See you next week,
Stefan
P.S. If you want some help in being able to discover your genius and finding the right path in life then keep an eye out for the Live Your Purpose Program.
This is something I have been building and I can't wait to share it with you all.
Comments