— a compelling primer on how to overcome self-doubt and establish personal freedom.
“Why having been endowed with the courageous heart of a lion, why do we live as mice?
We must look squarely into our own tired eyes and examine why we waste so much time sniffing at every distraction, why we cower at the thought of revealing our true selves to the world, why we scurry so quickly from conflict, and why we consent to play small. We must ask why we participate so humbly in society’s frantic race, allowing our- selves into its mazes of mediocrity and settling for scraps of reward when nature has offered unlimited freedom, power, and abundance to the bold, the determined, the creative, the independent—to each of us. We must ask if our desires to feel safe and accepted are in fact enslaving us to popular opinion—and to boredom. We must ask: When will we be ready to ascend to another level of existence?”
1. “We are not slave to our history. We can be freed by our conscious thoughts and disciplined habits.”
A new level of awareness occurs when you begin to actively train your mind and develop better habits. The practice is key.
2. “If we are not vigilant, being around constant worry can quickly limit who we are and what we might be capable of.” & “Be aware of the information entering your mind. Seek to empower information that moves your life forward.”
These quotes speak to all those moments that we ruin with negativity. Mind your social media feeds and time. Turn the distractions off and go do something more positive and inspiring with your time.
Be mindful of what you watch, listen to and speak about. Choose to surround yourself with activities and people who are positive and purposeful.
3. “If yesterday’s hardships are stealing our aliveness today then we must seek another level of consciousness.”
If you’re still living in the past and letting outdated thoughts, beliefs, and memories drive your present, wake up and recognize that you’re sabotaging yourself.
4. “What can I focus on in my life this exact moment to sense some peace, gratitude, or enthusiasm?”
Begin by inhaling long and slow. Fill up. Exhale slowly, while relaxing your jaw and shoulders. Repeat 2x. You may find yourself in the present moment. You have the power to choose your next thought. Choose a good one.
5. “Am I feeling this life?”
This question, like many others posed by Brendon, asks the reader to get in touch with their underlying feelings. Conceptual questions are great journaling prompts.
6. “Avoidance is the best long-term strategy to ensure suffering.”
Oh my, are you feeling this one? Stop procrastinating — even on the stuff that scares the shit out of you. Start by doing a quick 5 min or less task to get warmed up. What’s next? Face it. Get it done. “The solution to your fear lies in the middle of your action.”
7. “Be a guardian of your own mind, body, and soul.”
This quote speaks to a deeper level of self-care. Honor your boundaries, Practice regular self-care by staying connected to your thoughts, feelings body and soul, the wisdom and depth of you. Then you can care for your innerscape.
8. Take positive, meaningful action.
You can create your own definition of "meaningful." And when you combine it with positivity and purpose, you have a magic wand in your hands.
How many actions do you take every day that aren’t meaningful, positive, or purposeful? When you realize all the opportunities to shift your purpose, you may get excited.
9. Love is the divine essence or thread that connects us all.
Brendon does a lovely job talking about the energy of love. My question to you is: What does Love mean to you? When you realize that Love is a never-ending source of clarity, you’ll wake up to the fact that you're either getting in the way of its flow or are actively seeking to align with its flow. Open yourself up to giving and receiving love.
10. “Don’t limit your vision based on the number of people who nod.”
Don’t make your dream smaller because you’re waiting for someone else's approval. Is it your vision, or theirs? Feel it, believe it, move with it.
11. Revive the magic.
This is very big for me. Remember when you were a child and the world was a magical, mysterious place? Filled with possibilities and imagination? Connect to your inner child and see through the eyes of wonder and awe. That is magic. The power to see and feel alive in the realm of the possible.
Brendon encourages readers to revive that feeling inside and look for magic everywhere.
12. “Don’t become a catastrophe of energetic conformity.”
The War of Art is another book that warns the reader of getting carried away in other people's energy. And to be mindful of the energy vampires in your life that thrive on chaos and drama. Don’t let the energy of other people waste yours. Be vigilant about this. This doesn’t mean to care for those in your life who need some of your attention. But be mindful how much time you spend giving to others at the expense of your own goals and dreams.
13. Make enthusiasm a practice.
Whatever way you want to feel, make it a practice.
14. “Meet struggle with intense and spirited joy.”
I love this one. It’s so easy to meet struggle with anxiety, sadness, resignation, doubt, or fear. We’ve practiced that too much — let’s try something different.
15. “Struggle does not always have to equal suffering.”
We are all conditioned to believe that the struggles and problems we face are against us, but what if they are here to teach us how to grow and evolve? What if they are just exercising for our soul’s evolution?