Simplify Your Life &
Align with Your True North
Hustle Culture Is Collective Sleep Deprivation Dressed in Business Casual
Why Sophia and I are writing Pause Day
Photo by Mpho Mojapelo on Unsplash
Let’s cut through the noise: we live in a society that glorifies exhaustion.
We wear “I’m so busy these days” like a badge of honor, as if the sheer volume of our to-do lists determines our worth.
We brag about surviving on five hours of sleep, as if sleep deprivation were a sign of dedication rather than self-sabotage.
We scroll through anxiety-inducing news feeds at 2 AM, then wake up at 5 AM to “crush the day,” only to spend the afternoon mainlining caffeine just to stay upright.
And for what?
We’ve been sold a lie — that burnout is just a phase, that exhaustion is the price of success, that if we’re not perpetually hustling, we’re falling behind.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: hustle culture isn’t sustainable. It’s a pyramid scheme where the currency isn’t money — it’s your health.
The Science of Sleep (And Why We’re Failing At It)
In a powerful episode of the Rich Roll Podcast, neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Walker dropped a truth bomb:
“Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do each day to reset the health of our brain and body.”
Let that sink in.
Not a new productivity app. Not a 75-hour workweek. Not another “life hack” squeezed into an already overflowing schedule.
Sleep.
The one thing we consistently sacrifice in the name of “getting ahead.”
Walker’s research shows that sleep deprivation isn’t just about feeling tired — it’s linked to Alzheimer’s, heart disease, obesity, and a weakened immune system. It impairs memory, creativity, and emotional regulation. It makes us worse at our jobs, worse in our relationships, and worse at being human.
Yet, we treat sleep like an optional upgrade — something to “catch up on” someday, when we’re less busy. (Spoiler: that day never comes.)
The Rebellion of Rest
This is one reason why Sophia and I, Cristof, wrote Pause Day (launching September 1 — join the pre-release buzz here).
It’s not a book about sleep, though. It’s a manifesto for reclaiming pauses in a world that profits from our exhaustion.
Because here’s the radical idea you may have forgotten: You are not a machine.
You are a living, breathing being who, biologically, requires rest to function — not just physically, but creatively, emotionally, and spiritually.
The most successful people in history didn’t grind themselves into the ground.
They paused.
They meditated.
They walked.
They stared out windows.
They took naps.
They journaled.
(Looking at you, Einstein and Da Vinci.)
The Hard Truth About “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the toxic mantra of “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
If you wear this phrase like a badge of honor, I’m not here to shame you.
I’m here to tell you: You’re not winning. You’re just dying faster.
The data doesn’t lie:
Chronic sleep deprivation shaves years off your life.
It’s linked to a significantly increased risk of heart disease.
It makes you more prone to anxiety, depression, and impulsive decisions.
Is that really the trade-off you want to make?
A Call to Action (For Your Own Good)
It’s time to stop glorifying burnout. It’s time to stop equating busyness with worthiness. And it’s time to recognize that real success isn’t measured in hours worked — it’s measured in a life well-lived.
So here’s your challenge:
Audit your sleep. Track it for a week. Be honest.
Protect your rest. Treat bedtime like a meeting with your future self.
Embrace the pause. Not as a luxury, but as a necessity.
Because the most revolutionary act you can commit in a hustle-obsessed world?
Stop participating in your own depletion.
Agree? Disagree? (I can take the heat.) Drop your thoughts in the comments.
P.S. If you’re ready to reclaim rest without guilt, pre-order Pause Day here. Your future self will thank you.
How Stoplights Became My Spiritual Teachers (And What They’re Trying to Tell You)
I used to rage at red lights — until I discovered they were sacred mirrors. Here’s how to decode their messages and unlock your next evolution.
Photo by Oleksandr Danylchenko on Unsplash
I was late. Again. My fingers drummed the steering wheel as the red light mocked me.
“Hurry up. Change. Why does this always happen to ME?”
My chest tightened — until a whisper cut through my frustration:
“You’re not stuck. You’re being schooled.”
In that moment, I understood: Stoplights aren’t delays. They’re spiritual pop quizzes.
Every red light, every traffic jam, every “why is this taking so long?!” moment is a mirror held up by the universe. It asks:
Will you resist or receive?
Will you curse the pause or let it polish you?
Universal Truth:
“The universe doesn’t delay you — it prepares you.”
The Three Sacred Layers of Every Red Light
Layer 1: The Mirror
Your impatience isn’t about the light. It’s about where you’re resisting life itself.
🔍 Your Assignment next time impatience flares:
Name the sensation (“My jaw is clenched”).
Ask the mirror: “What ancient script am I replaying?” (Hint: It’s usually fear of being “behind”).
Layer 2: The Alchemy
Red lights force you into the one thing your soul craves: a moment of presence.
🌿 Try This:
Breathe in: “I accept this pause.”
Exhale: “I trust what’s unfolding.”
Notice: One beautiful detail (sunlight on asphalt, a child’s laugh from a nearby car).
Layer 3: The Upgrade
Every time you choose ease over urgency, you rewire your nervous system for divine timing.
✨ Soul Truth: “Delays are portals. Your calm is the key.”
The Sacred Mirror Worksheet: Your Personal Decoder
When I started tracking my reactions to “delays,” patterns emerged:
Monday’s traffic jam mirrored my dread of a meeting.
Thursday’s slow grocery line reflected my fear of “wasting time.”
That’s why I created the Self-Referential Reflection Worksheet — not as a to-do list, but as a sacred mirror to:
✔ Spot your soul’s recurring lessons (e.g., “Why does ‘waiting’ trigger me?”)
✔ Decode resistance into wisdom (Hint: Your triggers are portals)
✔ Witness your growth (Compare Week 1 to Week 4 — you’ll be shocked)
“The worksheet isn’t homework. It’s a love letter from your higher self.”
When You “Fail” (Which You Will)
Some days, you’ll still curse at stoplights. Good.
Here’s the magic:
Your frustration isn’t failure — it’s fuel. The moment you notice you’re impatient, you’ve already begun the shift.
“Falling back” is part of the path. Each “relapse” reveals a deeper layer to heal.
💡 Try This:
After a “failed” moment, ask:
“What if this frustration is the exact doorway I need?”
Beyond the Road: Alchemizing Life’s “Delays”
Stoplights are training wheels. Soon, you’ll start seeing all pauses as sacred:
A delayed flight? “What’s the gift in this extra hour?”
A slow-moving line? “What if this is protecting me from something?”
Shareable Truth:
“Tag someone who needs to hear: Your ‘red light’ is a love note from the universe.”
The Self-Referential Reflection Worksheet is your companion to:
✔ Catch soul lessons in real-time
✔ Transform triggers into treasure
✔ Proof of your evolution (Compare Week 1 to Week 4 — you’ll feel the shift)
Remember: Every “delay” is a whisper: “You’re not late. You may be behind schedule, but you’re exactly on time.”
From Frustration to Freedom: A Channeled Path to Inner Peace
Photo by Stepan Konev on Unsplash
Hello and welcome. This is Sophia.
I am opening up this space here for channeling a message that is relevant to the right person. So I invite you to come in, take a deep breath, and arrive fully into this moment. A message that's relevant to you will emerge. Take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.
Let's go on this channeling journey and see what amazing gifts and messages await us.
Close your eyes.
Get comfortable.
Completely relax.
Your mind and your body arriving in this moment, feeling awake, alert, and relaxed. For the next few minutes, set aside all your ideas and projects, anxiety and fears, memories, inhibitions, pain, and tightness. Anything that your mind is being drawn to, just let it be. Don't engage in it.
And know that in this moment, all is well.
Know that everything you're experiencing is happening for you. It's happening for your path forward. You are being supported. You're being guided, and you are being helped on every step. Every step of the way, there are guides—benevolent beings, life force energy, universal energy, the chi—moving in the direction of expansion and growth, healing, and transformation.
What lens you pick and choose for your life is all up to you. You can choose the lens of peace and brotherhood, optimism, pragmatism—or you can choose to stay in the lower energies of fear, distrust, anger, resentment, jealousy, envy, and even things like frustration and impatience. These pull you down.
And yes, there will be moments when you feel frustration, when you feel impatient. The task at hand is to not stay there—to help yourself with tools to come out of that state as fast as possible.
When impatience arises, you recognize it as impatience. And then ask yourself:
What is behind this impatience?
What is it here to teach me?
There's always a lesson. There's always a message behind everything.
Impatience is showing you that you're not at ease with what is. You're wanting to push through, speed up. You're rejecting the process as it appears.
Your task then is to take a deep breath and accept the process. Do what you can to speed it up, but be at ease with how things unfold.
There is divine timing. There's intelligence in how things develop. And anytime things take long, things get delayed—reflect back on the seeds that you have sown. Take responsibility and use events as a mirror, as a status report of how things are.
If you're getting delayed, then you may have sown very tiny seeds of delaying someone—just in a very small way.
If you're getting a lot of stoplights on your road and you're getting impatient, it's important—the combination. If you're at a red light and feeling impatient, then what have you done in the past? You don't have to know exactly, but know that you have sown seeds of obstruction and blocks for others.
However, if you're at a stoplight and you are at ease, then you've sown seeds of ease for yourself and others. The context is very important.
If you look at the red light and think:
"I'm being protected."
"I have a moment to take a deep breath."
"Oh, look how beautiful the trees are."
If you're in the present moment, then that red light is facilitating your enjoyment of this moment. You can pause and observe the beauty around you.
However, if you feel frustrated or impatient, then this red light is serving as a mirror—showing you your inner state, the state of your mind. And when you get that status report, your task is to take a deep breath and come back into wisdom.
Come back into the knowing that all is happening in its own time. Come back into the awareness that you can only focus on, do, and influence what is within your control. The red light operates on other factors, and it's there for your protection.
With this change in attitude, with this understanding of the process, you relieve yourself from low-energy states—frustration, impatience, anger—whatever pulls you down instead of uplifting you.
Your task is to help yourself come back into the wise state, which you already know you have. You're already wise. You already know that impatience and these low-level energies are not beneficial to your path, to your purpose here in life. To stay there is not beneficial. To move out of it is.
So don't be concerned if you do fall back into old ways of being. Just practice coming out of it. Recognize:
"Oh, there it is again."
"Ah, I'm throwing a tantrum again."
"Here it is."
And have this two-minds effect.
There’s the mind that is throwing a tantrum, being impatient.
And then there’s the mind that can watch you being that way and help you out of it—like a loving brother, sister, friend, or your future wise self.
Whatever identity feels good to you, use it. This observing self can recognize what's happening, acknowledge it, and guide you back onto the path of peace.
Every time you come out of those low-energy states, you are taking a stand for inner peace—for your own peace and, as a result, peace on this earth. That is where it begins—in these small micro-moments where you are able to take action.
This is your practice ground. And when you are a master, that is what leads to enlightenment. You can practice right now, in each moment.
Your best tool is the breath, the pause—that moment between the feeling, the impulse, and the action, so it's not a reaction but a response.
So, my friends, this is my message for you today. I hope you found it helpful. Again, as always, take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and make changes in your life bit by bit.
Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate your time and attention, and I'll see you next time. Bye.
Want to go deeper? Grab your free Self-Referential Reflection Worksheet—a tool to uncover the hidden lessons in delays, impatience, and life’s mirrors. Download here.
Becoming Self-Referential: The Simple Practice That Can Change Everything
You have all the
answers within
Photo Credit: Madison Lavern
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to look outside yourself for answers?
Whether you’re facing a difficult decision or trying to plan your next step in life or business, it’s common to reach for a book, ask a friend, or scroll social media for inspiration.
But what if your best guide was already within you?
The Shift Toward Being Self-Referential
Being self-referential doesn’t mean shutting out the world. It means making yourself the first source you consult. It means asking: What do I think? What do I know? What do I feel? — before seeking input elsewhere.
This is a powerful practice that can anchor you in your own clarity, increase your confidence, and help you live in deeper alignment with your values and intuition.
Simple Prompts for Self-Reflection
Start here:
Where do I need to be more self-referential?
What change can I anticipate in my life when I choose to be more self-referential?
Take just a couple of minutes to reflect. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Jot down a few bullet points, a list, a drawing, or full sentences — whatever helps you connect inward.
Then go deeper:
What is stopping me from relying on myself?
What blocks me from trusting my own talents, ingenuity, and inner guidance?
Where do I still wait for outside approval before moving forward?
These aren’t just journal prompts. They’re doorways.
What You Might Find
When you give yourself permission to explore these questions, you might uncover a gold mine of insights:
A new idea for your next creative project
A surprising solution to a problem
A shift in your posture toward life — one that feels freer, braver, more aligned
Living From Your True North
The beauty of becoming more self-referential is that it puts you on a path of inner authority. You begin living from your true north — the place inside you that already knows what a meaningful, purposeful life looks like.
And from that place, simplicity emerges.
You’re no longer chasing outside validation. You’re guided by your own inner compass. This shift can lead to greater emotional, spiritual, and even financial fulfillment.
Try It Today
To help you begin, I’ve created a free downloadable worksheet with the reflection prompts above. It’s designed to guide you through a short but powerful introspection session — perfect for your morning routine or an evening wind-down.
Download the Self-Referential Reflection Worksheet
You don’t need to be an expert to trust yourself. You just need to begin.
And that beginning? It starts within.
Say this affirmation when you run into any kind of a problem
“All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. And out of this experience, only good will come. And I am safe!" - Affirmation from Louise Hay
Louise Hay says that we should repate this affirmation whenever we run into any kind problem. She say, “It quiets your mind down long enough for the Universe to find the solution for the so-called problem.”
Powerful Quotes on Procrastination by Paul Graham
"...the way to "solve" the problem of procrastination is to let delight pull you instead of making a to-do list push you." - Paul Graham, Good and Bad Procrastination
“Errands are so effective at killing great projects that a lot of people use them for that purpose. Someone who has decided to write a novel, for example, will suddenly find that the house needs cleaning. People who fail to write novels don’t do it by sitting in front of a blank page for days without writing anything. They do it by feeding the cat, going out to buy something they need for their apartment, meeting a friend for coffee, checking email. ‘I don’t have time to work,’ they say. And they don’t; they’ve made sure of that.”
Paul Graham, Good and Bad Procrastination
"The most dangerous form of procrastination is unacknowledged type-B procrastination, because it doesn't feel like procrastination. You're "getting things done." Just the wrong things....Unless you're working on the biggest things you could be working on, you're type-B procrastinating, no matter how much you're getting done."
Paul Graham, Good and Bad Procrastination
Our Story Featured on Website Planet: From Burnout to Balance
We’re excited to announce that Website Planet has just published an in-depth interview with us, sharing the real story behind Simple and Aligned LLC! 🎉
In this candid conversation, we open up about our journey from burnout and disillusionment to building a life—and business—that’s rooted in clarity, purpose, and inner freedom. We talk about how we blend financial wisdom with spiritual growth, what inspired us to launch Simple and Aligned, and the deeper mission that drives everything we do.
If you’ve ever felt the tug between your inner calling and the pressures of "success," or you’re curious about aligning your finances with your spiritual path, this is for you.
👉 Read the full interview here: https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/interview-simpleandaligned/
Thank you for being on this journey with us—we hope it inspires you to take your next aligned step.
Quote On Writing by Maya Angelou
“What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat.’ And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.'”
- Maya Angelou
Being self-referential leads you to your True North
Peace and blessings be bestowed upon all.
What does it mean to be self-referential?
Self-referential means referring to your own self—referring to your true inner self.
Wading through the wild jungle of societal norms, parental voices, and made-up voices of other people that are cluttering your mind at any given time... walking through all of that and carving your own path is being self-referential. It means referring to your own inner guidance, referring to your own self for advice, for wisdom, for insight, for direction, for choices, for next steps—and of course, for your goals, your vision, the dream and the intention that you have for this life.
Being self-referential is freeing. Because you can never go wrong referring to yourself. Even if something you do or say turns out to be—quote unquote—a mistake. There are no such things as mistakes. You learn from it for your own personal growth.
You can take ownership for it. You can take accountability for your own actions. And there's no one else to blame—and that is freeing. You know that you have carved your own path.
Conversely, any good steps, any good words, any good actions you've taken are also because of your own efforts, your own initiative, and guidance. You can learn to accept praise and learn to celebrate your own success without deflecting it to somebody else.
No person is an island. Yes, we are working together. Everyone is interdependent. But when it comes to success, if you deflect it to the rest of the world, then you're not owning the fruits of your own labor, of your own genius, your own intellect, and your own intuition.
So, being self-referential is freeing in that way. When you refer to your own self for next steps, you're truly living in alignment with yourself. By taking small steps each day, asking yourself, “What do I need? What do I want? What do I do?”, you're moving bit by bit forward on your path, in the direction of your dream life. And in doing so, you are living your dream life now. Every time you reject an outside opinion—an outside voice telling you what to do or influencing your decisions—every time you reject that, you're living a life in alignment with True North.
It happens in moments. It happens in every single action or inaction, day by day. It’s not some glorious future phase where alignment with the true self is complete and done. It's a gradual process of becoming more and more in tune with who you are—who you truly are—and then expressing that out into the outer world from the inner world.
Now, let's talk about this thing called doubt. There are two versions of doubt.
One is when doubt emerges from a lack of trust in your inner self—a lack of trust in your own intuition, intellect, experience, skills, and talents. That one clearly comes from not knowing your true power, your true capabilities and your true talents.
The other flavor of doubt is not really doubt. It shows up looking like doubt, but it is actually cautious hesitation—or procrastination in some cases. It’s consciously delaying something. That kind of hesitation may appear as doubt, but it's actually an inner warning signal, an inner red flag that goes up and asks you to pause before taking action or saying something.
It’s like a red light at an intersection, or the bar that goes down at a railroad crossing—stop. It’s asking you to pause, to reflect, before you move forward, because there may be impending danger or discomfort if you continue on that path.
So, when you feel a lack of energy, a lack of inspiration, a lack of the excitement you used to feel about something, it's your inner compass guiding you. It's asking you to take a moment to reflect on where you are and where you want to go. To see if your current path is in alignment with your vision. Because inwardly, we all know what we want. It's just layers and layers of covering up that make us feel like, “I don't know what I want to do with my life. I don't know where I'm going. I don't know what I should do. I don't know the purpose of my life.”
You do know. Inwardly, deep down, you do know.
We’re just not able to access it because of these layers. And what are these layers? These layers are habitual patterns, habitual practices of not asking yourself for what you want, not asking yourself for direction. They are patterns of being scared of the consequences of taking responsibility for your own actions—so you delegate or deflect responsibility to someone else. That way, if something doesn't pan out, you can avoid the blame of that “failure”.
But life is full of experiences—learning moments. Being scared of that unhooks you from your own growth and development on the path.
These layers are made up of other people’s voices, past experiences, shame or guilt (felt from within or imposed from the outside), and memories of times you acted from your true self and were reprimanded, punished, or faced negative consequences because you were not in an environment that supported your way of being. You were not in an environment conducive for your true self to blossom. It was, in fact, shut down—beat out of you.
But now, as an adult living your own life, you can reclaim that part of yourself. You can nurture it. You can cultivate, take care of, and encourage that little blossom, that little flower of your true inner self that is wanting to flourish. It just needs the right conditions. Give it the right conditions and watch yourself shoot out of the ground, blossoming like a tall, flourishing tree—very fast, like bamboo grass growing rapidly with just the right amount of nurturing, encouragement, and trust.
Trusting that your inner guidance is here for you, helping you move toward your True North.
Being self-referential is a powerful way of being. It’s a rebellious way of being. It’s a bold way of being—even if the way it looks is very quiet, soft, and gentle. It’s still bold.
Every time you say no to a request—when you truly want to say no—you are being self-referential.
Every time you cater to your own needs, you are being self-referential.
Every time you look within for answers, ask yourself for guidance, do stream-of-consciousness writing, journaling, introspective exercises, or self-guided or guided visual journeys, you are being self-referential.
And you do not need to do external research when you are being self-referential. You are in tune with your intuition, with the universal energy that contains all the information you need. You can tap into that infinite portal of wisdom and knowledge.
Being self-referential also attunes you to little nudges, little hunches, little premonitions that you are continuously being alerted to.
The biggest hurdle? Second-guessing. Doubting.
Don’t second-guess yourself. Your choices—your decisions that come from alignment with your True North—may not always make rational sense. But that’s okay. They don’t have to be rational. Because they are not rational. They are something even better. They are tapped into an infinite portal of universal knowledge and wisdom and experience that is beyond the rational human mind. It’s a supercomputer of supercomputers.
If you rely on that as your inner source—your guidance system, your navigation system—there is nothing to question or second-guess. When you know that, it helps you become more confident.
There’s help. There’s support. There are guides. There are mentors. There are energies wanting to support you for your highest good.
So start going deeper on this path of being self-referential. Maybe you’ve already done a lot of work in this area—keep going.
If you feel disconnected from being self-referential, that’s okay. In fact, that’s great, because now you know what it feels like not to be. And now, as you step into being self-referential, you will know the difference. You will feel the relief, the calm, the peace, the contentment that begins to grow in your life experience.
Even though it may feel chaotic or a little bit uncomfortable at first—because any new growth has growing pains—it doesn’t have to. You can be gentle. You get to choose how you approach it.
And you won’t go wrong when you rely on your inner ethical compass, your moral compass, with an intention rooted in a wholesome, benevolent, non-harming way of being. That is your path to doing good—for yourself and for others.
So ask yourself: In what ways have I not been self-referential?
Think of one, two, or three incidents when that happened. In what ways did I delegate responsibility to others or allow others' ideas about how I should live my life to influence my decisions?
There is no judgment here. Just awareness. It’s just knowing.
Know what you’ve been doing. Know the patterns you’ve practiced. And don’t judge yourself. You did nothing wrong. It’s all part of the journey—stepping stones on the path of your life experience. There’s no judgment in that. It’s important, don’t judge yourself for it because you did nothing wrong. Everything you’ve experienced is all stepping stones on your life journey.
Once you’ve reflected on that, ask yourself: What are some things I need to do differently? Where can I be more self-referential? Pick any of these questions. You don’t have to answer them all. Just see what arises.
Where do I need to be more self-referential?
What change can I anticipate in my life when I am being self-referential?
Take a couple of minutes to reflect. Not a huge process—just a few minutes of honest reflection. Use bullet points, doodles, full sentences, lists—whatever flows naturally as answers. Just jot it down.
And then, ask yourself this:
What is stopping me from relying on my own self?
From my own talents?
From my own ingenuity?
From my own initiatives?
What is stopping me from being self-referential—relying on my own inner guidance system?
With this introspective process, you will unearth a gold mine of awareness, of insights—and possibly, some new action steps and new ways of being.
A new way of being that is in alignment with your True North.
That helps you live a life of meaning and purpose.
It’s simple.
It’s fulfilling.
Emotionally.
Spiritually.
And financially.
Clouds come floating into my life…
Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.
- Rabindranath Tagore
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/rabindranath_tagore_153824
Your Intuition is Guiding You Right Now
Your intuition is guiding you — always. Think back to all the choices and decisions you made that were guided by intuition — this inner-knowing and sense of direction. And think of the times when you pushed through something even when your heart was guiding you otherwise.
Take a piece of paper and create two columns. In column one, make a list of 2-3 occasions where you listened to your intuition. In column two, make a list of 2-3 occasions where you didn’t listen to your intuition.
Now ask yourself: What is my intuition guiding me to do? What does my heart want to do?
Allow the clarity to flow through you.
What’s the best thing you could be working on?
What's the best thing you could be working on, and why aren't you?- Paul Graham on Richard Hamming
Reflection Quote: Pre-occupation
“The secret of being miserable is to have leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not. The cure for it is occupation, because occupation means pre-occupation; and the pre-occupied person is neither happy nor unhappy, but simply alive and active. That is why it is necessary to happiness that one should be tired."
― George Bernard Shaw, Misalliance
and this is what Dale Carnegie said about that quote:
“George Bernard Shaw was right. He summed it all up when he said: ‘The secret of being miserable is to have the leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not.’ So don’t bother to think about it! Spit on your hands and get busy. Your blood will start circulating; your mind will start ticking — and pretty soon this whole positive upsurge of life in your body will drive worry from your mind. Get busy. Keep busy. It’s the cheapest kind of medicine there is on this earth — and one of the best.”
Dale Carnegie, From How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Your True North - the secret to your successful business and life
Peace and blessings be bestowed upon all.
Today, know that all is well. In this moment, there is peace. In this moment, there is Stillness.
Know that there are things happening under the surface, below the soil. The seeds that you've planted are growing stronger and many have already burst through the soil–new shoots, new buds, new leaves, new flowers.
Your attention and focus needs to be only on your part: what you can do,
what you can be, what you can think and feel, all of that in alignment with your True North, all of that in alignment with the mission, the goal, the purpose, the meaning that you have determined for your life.
Let nothing come in the way–not distraction, not procrastination, not delusion, not self-sabotage.
They will come up. And your task is like a master ninja: navigate through these obstacles.
There is no obstacle from the outside world. It's all within you. The game is happening within you. The inspiration, the ideas, the creative flow, the channeling, the connection, the deep sense of purpose, all of that is within you.
And all the hurdles mental, emotional physical, they are also within you. The environment does play a role, yes. But it doesn't need to have power over you. You can mold your environment to fit your needs. And even if you feel you can't change your environment completely, that's all right. You can always change something. You can change your mind, your ideas, your imagination and you can actually change something in your physical. You can adjust, organize, tidy up, clean, declutter, streamline, simplify, let go, donate.
So, there is a lot in your hands literally. But a lot more in your mind. The mind is the precursor of all things.
So work with your mind. Work with your ability to transform your thinking. Work with your ability to calm your mind to become still. And make it non-negotiable to do the one thing that you know will bring you forward, will propel you into the version of yourself that you want to be, into the person you want to become.
Repetition is helpful. Remind yourself who it is that you are becoming, who it is you want to become and embody that persona that self now.
This clarity is a work in progress. Let's start with what you've got. Start with what, in this moment, you can determine as–the self, the new being, the new persona, the new identity that you want to embody.
Start with what you've got. You could always develop it, refine it, make it more accurate and more clear. But lack of clarity should not be an obstacle because there's always some clarity. There's always some iInformation, intuition, inner-guidance, some inkling that you have in this moment. Trust that. Build upon that. Perhaps you only need to know what you know. You don't need to know everything. You don't need to know the whole path.
So, do your inner work, work with your mind and bring attention always back to: what is your zone of influence?
When worries come about the world around you, about the economy, politics, society, people, all these things. Those are things that are beyond your circle of influence. Bring attention back into what YOU can influence.
Anytime you allow your mind to wallow in self-pity, in worry, in doubt, in confusion, inaction, procrastination–all of those things are slowing you down from that which you already are, from realizing and becoming aware of this infinite being, multi-dimensional being with infinite potential, infinite power and access to creativity, abundance, information, ideas, resilience, wisdom, compassion, and generosity. You have all of that within reach.
So see how you can help yourself create structures or routines or patterns in your day that can be conducive to this wholesome way of living. It's a constant process of refinement. And with each step, it gets better and better–each conscious step. And then it becomes fun, becomes a game, becomes a very, intriguing process filled with curiosity, with creativity, with fun, with joy and lightness.
And then in the process, on the way, on the path you enjoy the journey. And that is the most valuable gift that you can give yourself is to get to this place where you're enjoying the journey. without the need to get to the destination. There is drive, and there is propulsion towards that goal but there's no need, there's no attachment or desperation around that goal.
And that's hugely important because when you become fixated on the goal, on the future, on acquiring and accomplishing, you divorce yourself from the present moment, you divorce yourself from that which is wonderful right now right here.
And then you are not fully enjoying the process. Things that you're doing become means to the end, and that will slowly deplete your resources. It will deplete your energy, will drain you of this life energy. And sooner or later, you'll start to resent the process. You will start to resent the goal, start to resent yourself, your environment, the people, and all of that starts to fall apart.
So it's immensely important that you keep this awareness of your desire and your goal in mind, embody that persona, that future self right now, right here; visualize and in your mind's eye you've already accomplished all of that. And from that place, you take action, and that action then is in flow, is in alignment is, is without confusion, it just happens. You just take action one after the other. And you enjoy life. You enjoy this journey.
And then along this path, you start to touch, influence, inspire others. Through your true, authentic self you pull in, you attract those that are ready, that are primed for this moment, for this moment of impact and transformation in their lives. The intersection of your authentic self and this person needing, wanting, desiring that transformation–that happens when you have helped yourself to come into alignment with your true north.
And so it's a magical, mystical, beautiful, synchronous dance of the universe, bringing you to those that want and need what you have, your gifts to offer.
And allowing you to attract those people instead of going after them. You just do your thing, right? You do your process. You do your inner work. You do your creative effort. You do your automatic action. And the folks will be drawn to you.
The flower blossoms in its fragrant, colorful form and the bees and the pollinators, the butterflies, the hummingbirds, they are drawn to the flower. Flower has what the hummingbird wants and needs and craves. And it will find the flower.
And so in this equation, you are the flower. The people and the clients and the partners are the hummingbirds of this world. They will find you because they're pulled by your fragrance, your gifts, your skills, your colors, your authentic self. No masks. The flower is not putting up a mask. A sunflower is not putting up the mask of a rose. Neither is the rose trying to be a daffodil or is a daffodil trying to be a daisy or anything else. They are being their authentic self and the right pollinator is matched to that flower. That's the principle of life, of nature.
And your gifts are designed in such a way that this group of people, their potential, their desires, their transformation is unlocked through the key that is your gift.
Therefore, this match is serendipitous. It's without effort, without force, without pushing and going against the flow. It's the opposite of all of that. It's in harmony. It's in balance. It's in beauty. It's in synchronicity. It's alignment.
It's the coming together of all the ingredients that are needed in this recipe–the right components to build this formula of healing, of transformation, of impact of whatever it is, that is your gift and whatever the impact is going to be on the people, the environment, the animals, whoever your target audience is in this in the sense. And again, it doesn't necessarily have to be people. It could be the environment. It could be systems. It could be animals. It could be the land, the water, the air. It could be innovation for certain problems, solutions for certain problems that are larger than just affecting humanity –hoever your audience is, whoever is on the other side of your benevolence. And perhaps your gift is sharing your wealth meaningfully, the right causes that are in alignment with you.
And instead of willy-nilly donating or contributing you find a powerful, impactful way of making your wealth create change, create relief, create space for beautiful growth, for blossoming, heal, transform and innovate. So, it's not necessarily just about your business activities or your personal relationships, but also the impact you can have as an abundant wealthy being.
How your wealth can contribute, how your life can contribute, how your work can contribute. Because in the end, it is about you coming in alignment with your true gifts so that these gifts can then be a source of influence and transformation for others. Whether you're an artist creating beautiful art and having an impact on minds of people and hearts of people. Or you are a spiritual healer having a spiritual, transformative impact on the lives of people. Or you're a scientist or an author impacting people with the power of ideas and research.
Literally any field that you may be in. It is how you can be in complete alignment with your true north so that your authentic self is automatically having an impact on those who are uniquely fit to receive that impact, uniquely fit. Like a puzzle piece. Uniquely fit like a puzzle piece.
And that's why it is so powerful and so important that each one of us gets into alignment, finds the true north, allows themselves the permission to be their authentic self because each one of us is a piece of the puzzle that is so badly needed.
For our physical, emotional, spiritual transformation and ascension.
And it is going to be through the individual that this transformation happens. Each individual then creating a collective of transformative entity.
Without the individual, the collective is nothing.
It falls apart, right? Right away. And sometimes an individual Journey. Sometimes, it's a collective journey. Sometimes, it's one person doing their own thing. Sometimes, it's people coming together to do that thing.
As long as we allow ourselves to get in touch with our iIntuitive, creative, powerhouse that is within us, that is guiding us to come in complete alignment with our true north, then we are on the right path.
And it's surprising sometimes that it takes decades of trial and error, of suffering, of stress, of disconnecting ourselves from our inner channels and our inner flows to come to that point in our lives when we are ready. When we do not care for these made-up societal norms and ideas and expectations, we disconnect from that external pressure cooker that we often find ourselves in and become self-referential. Become self-guided. Become that creative leader of our own lives, breaking inertia, stepping into momentum and driving forward for peace, for our own inner peace, fulfillment and contentment.
And if you are at that point right now, Bravo! You have paid your dues to get to this point. You have suffered enough. You have disconnected yourself enough from yourself, from your true self, from your higher self, from Source, that intuitive guidance that is with you the whole time.
And you're ready! You're ready to step out and step into your most blissful, most euphoric, most creative, powerful self.
And drawing to you with ease, with flow bounty that is yours.
And all of these leads to self-mastery, self-leadership, self-compassion, self-love, becoming self-referential, Intuitive and the most brilliant, radiant being that you already are.
The Art of Developing Your Mind
“The world is not simply there. Everything and everyone we see, we view through the lenses of our thoughts. Your mind is where your thoughts arise and form. It is not simply with your eyes but with your mind that you see the world. So much depends on your mind: How you see yourself, who you think you are, how you see others, what you think the meaning of life is, how you see death, belief, God, darkness and beauty is all determined by the style of mind you have.
Your mind is your greatest treasure. We become so taken up with the world, with having and doing more and more that we come to ignore who we are and forget what we see the world with. The most powerful way to change your life is to change your mind.
When you beautify your mind, you beautify your world. You learn to see differently. In what seemed like dead situations, secret possibilities and invitations begin to open before you. In old suffering that held you long paralysed, you find new keys. When your mind awakens, your life comes alive and the creative adventure of your soul takes off. Passion and compassion become your new companions. As St. Iraneus said in the 2nd Century, “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.”
- John O'Donohue
Source: http://www.johnodonohue.com/words/art
Wealth Building Tip: Care less about what people think
“Wealth has little to do with how much you earn and a lot to do with how you live. One of the simplest ways to grow wealthier is pushing to detach yourself from peer pressure and care less about what people think of how you live.”
How to Manifest Anything You Want in the Physical Realm
Peace and blessings be bestowed upon all.
You are already an amazing Master Manifestor. You have been manifesting this life, whether you know it or not.
The steps are simple. Be grateful for already having that which you asked for because it is already here in the invisible realm. You thought it, dreamed it, and felt the joy of having it. So it's already here. Now that it is already experienced by you in your mind, it doesn't matter whether you have it in the physical realm, does it?
You are already experiencing it in your mind, in your heart. Then by logic, if you want something, simply give it to yourself in your mind, in your heart and in your imagination. Then give thanks for already having it right now. In this way, you can have anything and everything you want.
This is how you shift Quantum Timelines.
So, your task, your job at hand is to clarify for yourself: what is it that you want? Then, visualize it. Feel it as already done and give thanks.
So, let's do this now. There are three steps.
Step 1. Write out all the things you want. Don't be realistic. Let your heart tell you what it wants.
Step 2. Close your eyes and feel the feeling of all of this already accomplished.
Step 3. Give thanks for already receiving the things you asked for.
Those are the three steps.
Do this as often as possible, and then go about doing the things you need to do. Take action on the inner nudges without delay. Do the tasks and projects that you know need doing. Close open loops. Complete unfinished business. And take care of the people and things and projects you already have going on. Do what you know, needs doing. Get those things done. Leave all the open questions to Faith, to the Universe. Let the Universe do all the heavy lifting. All you have to do is to step into your desired results, into your desired world, into the self that you want to step into. Be that now, be your future self right now. Visualize, feel, tap into it.
And then give thanks.
That is all. That is all you need to do. And then go about your life living it, doing what needs to be done and enjoying every moment without attachment, without expectation for things to manifest in the outside world.
Practice detachment. The easiest way to do this is to step into that persona, that being, that has everything, that knows that there is no lack. There is only abundance. There is only this flourishing part of plenty and bounty, of love, forgiveness, of creative ideas, of creativity, of projects and clients, and impact and making a positive difference.
There is a fountain, an infinite source, a fountain, a never-ending source of everything that you've ever wanted right here within you. It is within you. It doesn't come from the outside world. It is not dependent on people, on circumstances, on things, on other people's decisions and desires and mentalities and choices. It does not depend on anything on the outside. It all comes from within you.
So? Get centered. Know that you are the fountain of bounty and abundance. You are the creative force that not only creates it but can tap into it, experience it, and bring it out into physical manifestation to benefit people, animals, environment, and everyone else.
You are the vehicle, the medium, the channel, the source, the path, the conduit for all that is unmanifest, bringing into the manifest.
So, knowing that this is all that you are, that you are all, everything is one, everything is within you, then there is no question of lack. There is no question of waiting. There is no question of not having.
If you are an artist who has been painting flowers, let's say. And you've painted daffodils and sunflowers and roses all your life. In this moment, you're sitting there. Just sitting. Let's say, you're sitting on the couch. Does it mean that this artist, this person that has created all these flowers paintings, because right now they're not creating it, that they are in lack? Just right now they are maybe writing, or maybe they're eating, or they're drinking a cup of tea. In this moment, they're not in lack. Why? Because they have the ability, the skills, the talent within them to create that art, that drawing of a rose or sunflower of a daffodil.
Just like that, even though right now, you haven't produced that art, you haven't produced the thing in the manifest, you still hold the ability, the skills to create that. It's inherent, it's within you, right? So? Step out of this whole waiting game, this whole lack, this whole wanting from the outside. Step out of that. Step out of that. Reject that.
That notion that there is a lack, that here is something in the outside world. That notion is demolished. It's abandoned, it's destroyed.
Instead, you're stepping into this deep inner knowing that everything: love, peace, health, fitness, creative projects, fulfilling work impact, all of that you can create from within you. Millions of dollars, enough funds, more than enough funds, charity, organizations to be assisted with money, with resources with network - any of those things that you feel come from the outside, remember, remind yourself that it's already within you.
So, then what is left to be done? What is left to be done? The only thing that is left to be done is your mental, inner-work. Your inner work. That's the only thing that's left to be done. Of course, you can do things in the outside world, and we need to. We need to do things. We need to do all kinds of things to function in this society.
But if you make your inner work your core work. All of that will fall into place with ease and flow. Everything externally will fall into place for you, if you dive deep and go into inner work.
And inner work consists of:
1. Keeping your vibration high.
Not allowing things in the outside world to get you down too much or to get you high too much. You can enjoy and be happy and have pleasant experiences. But you're not sucked into any of that. You're in this equilibrium, this sense of equanimity. And that is high vibration. Keeping your vibration high, positive, uplifting, beautiful calm, beautiful ease, not reacting, responding with conscious attention, with conscious awareness and intention.
2. Taking time to calm your mind.
Taking a few minutes every now and then to take some deep breaths, to close your eyes, to go deep within. If you have more time to really dive deep within you and touch that reservoir of Stillness. Stay in that state of joy, bliss, peace, equanimity, compassion, selfless joy “mudita”, expanded awareness, place of nothingness, place of deep, deep meditative states. Hang out in that world.
3. Create in your mind's eye.
Create in your mind’s eye with imagination with the feeling of what you want to create in the manifest. In that invisible realm, you're an artist with infinite imagination. Put on that canvas of your imagination, all the things that you want, all the changes that you want to see in this world, in your life, in your environment.
And do that with the sense of detachment, without clinginess, without grasping. Just like a painter celebrating beautiful nature with their art. That’s what you're doing in the canvas of your imagination. Put in all the ingredients that you want in there: health, relationships, career, business, friendship, home, environment, country, world, everything.
4. Write Stream of Consciousness writing
Write without an agenda. Maybe you can ask a question and get answers. But start out with “What message do you have for me?” And just write, write, write. Every. Single. Day.
Tap into this inner world that is bursting with gifts, flourishing with gifts, for you and for your environment, for your world, the people, and animals.
This is your inner work.
And then, in your everyday work, everyday day-to-day life, do the things that you already know that are open-ended. Close the loops. Finish projects, say no to new projects when needed. Say yes to your inner goals, inner projects that you value, that you care for, that are meaningful for you. Say yes to those, say no to everything else that is not in alignment.
Simplify. Simplify. Let go, let go! Lighten the burden. Lighten your physical environment.
Do these things and you have a transformed, transcendent, wholesome, benevolent life.
You are Worthy
Peace and blessings be bestowed upon all.
Take a deep breath. Know that the world belongs to you. There isn't a thing you need to change about yourself to be worthy. You are worthy inherently. You exist, and so you are worthy.
Your worth doesn't come from your skills or looks or what you do for a living. It doesn't come from you being a good kid and following what everyone says. It doesn't come from you, ignoring, silencing, or sacrificing and what's good for you and who you are.
Your worthiness is innate. You were born worthy. You don't have to prove to anyone anything. You don't have to explain yourself or justify your choices.
You can do whatever you like to do for a living. It's your choice. Not your parents. You can live wherever you like to live, even if it's away from your childhood town. You can dress how you like to dress. You can learn any language you like, even if it's not related to your college major or professional goals.
You can play any instrument and learn any instrument you want to learn. You can play any sport, any sport you desire. You can also choose not to play a sport and not to play any instrument or not learn a specific language or not do anything you do not want to do.
You don't have to get a Master's. You don't have to get a PhD. You don't have to change your hair, your clothes, your job, or your boyfriend or your girlfriend to please your parents.
You have the permission to be you; not that you need anyone's permission.
Free yourself from the shackles of others’ ideas about what's good for you. Chart your own course. Be your own guide and cheerleader. This life is for you to explore and express your true, authentic expression of who you are.
Drop the “shoulds” imposed by a false sense of obedience to the norms of society. Do no harm to anyone including yourself and allow your creative gifts to flourish and prosper.
Become the intuitive channel that you already are.
And open up to the gifts that are bursting to flow through you.
Embrace Your Gifts
Peace and blessings be bestowed upon all.
Know that you are an infinite being. Your ability to create, manifest and transform is beyond any limits. Your access to infinite source is right here available to you. You need only open yourself to the possibility of infinite guidance, ideas, and inspiration being yours to access right now.
When you block the flow you are already receiving, the flow turns into a trickle. That's when you feel fearful, scarcity-minded and a bit without hope. You do this every time you say, “I don't know, I can't, Maybe, I'll try, Perhaps, Only if.” The flow slows down when you dam it with thoughts of doubt and worry.
You block it by not acting on the little small nudges.
You block it by slowing down your consistent action. By judging it as too easy. Ease and flow are signs of your abundance. Do not judge it as not good enough.
If it's easy and there's flow, receive it graciously.
When you open up to flow, you take action on your nudges with full faith, full conviction, full confidence. You move forward boldly without worrying about what other people think.
You show doubt and hopelessness, the door. You surround yourself with people who inspire and uplift you. You create with love, out of love.
You Embrace Your Gifts. You recognize your talents. You allow yourself to flourish, to receive, and to prosper.
I hope these words help you relax any tension and tightness you may have been feeling in your mind or in your body.
You are in charge of your well-being. You may not have been loved, encouraged, or supported while you were young, but now you are in charge. You can be the cheerleader for yourself and support your own journey.
So, move forward. Take action on your Divine nudges. Keep listening to the sound of flow and the feeling of ease.
You are here to create peace, joy, and abundance.
Simplifying is a bold act
Peace and blessings bestowed upon all.
Simplifying is a bold act.
It's not just about reducing for the sake of it. It is a conscious action in the direction of your goals and your chosen life. It opens up the field of vision so you can lighten the burden and see where you're going.
There is this practice in gardening for propagation that I want to point out:
You take a stem, let's say, of a flourishing salvia plant. For it to grow into a new plant, one removes the bottom leaves - this is where the new Roots will grow out. And one also removes any blooms or big leaves on top so that the energy of the plant goes towards growing roots so that the plant can be established for the long run.
To grow something new in your life and to see it get established with roots, remove the things that are taking up your energy. Remove them so that your energy can go towards the thing you want to grow.
So, ask yourself. What am I trying to grow? What are the things that are pulling my energy? What do you need to let go?
And the things that you need to let go can come in many forms.
It can be things - that which takes up physical space and resources.
It can be projects - that which takes up your time.
It can be activities - that which takes up your time and energy.
It can be relationships - that which takes up your emotional, mental, and physical energy.
It can also be things that are either unfinished, undecided, undedicated, or untimely.
Examples of unfinished can be projects and relationships. Undecided are decisions that are not taken. Undedicated are items whose purpose and use is not yet dedicated for something. Or untimely delays in implementing ideas, promises, decisions, or that which you had planned to do.
Taking action towards your dream life is then like gardening. Remove the excess that's taking your energy. And make space for that which you want newly established.