Big Idea #1: Learn Where Your Edge Is By Crossing It

Just like we don’t know that fire hurts us until we get burned, we’ll never know our edge until we cross it. Wisdom is an experiential thing; you have to go through things to really take the wisdom from the experience. In order to really understand the best things to do in our lives, we have to get out there and try different things!

Letting go of attachment to our plans and outcomes is important. But many of us are a step or two before that point, afraid to take action because “what if we choose the wrong action?” This paralysis prevents us from ever learning where we want to go. We have to take some action in order to be able to recalibrate ourselves to the right direction. If we start moving forward and it doesn’t feel quite right, we can course correct to get back on track.

But if we stay in place for fear of making the wrong choice, we’re not going to get anywhere, ever.

“Regret is wishing that you knew the future before it happened.”

When you think of it this way, it seems quite crazy! How could you ever expect yourself to predict the future? Think of all the adventures and experiences you never would have had if you had insisted on knowing how things would end up before you jumped in. Living with uncertainty allows new possibilities to open up in your life, as long as you maintain the mindset that whatever comes up, you can handle it.

Big Idea #2: SERVING, Not Pleasing

How can we support each other in a deep way? How do you create a life that you love where you have the freedom and resources to live how you want? A life where you are constantly evolving to the next level of your being and contributing in a meaningful way?

It all comes back to service. Fulfillment comes from service. From using your strengths and skills and giving without expectation of return.

If you want to create your ideal life, pay attention to:

“How can I serve?”

But watch out, because there’s a huge difference between pleasing and serving.

Serving is about making a difference in someone’s life.

Pleasing is about manipulating people so that you can get them to like you.

The reason that most of us don’t have what we want is because we’re focusing on getting people to like us. We learned this as children. As a child, how do you get what you want? We had to get the approval of adults.

Most of us still walk around with this child-like belief and approach to creating our life. “I need to get people to like me in order to get what I want in life.”

Serving is NOT about getting people to like you. In serving, you’re gonna piss some people off! In fact, you MUST be willing to piss some people off in order to truly serve! Serving does not mean sacrificing yourself or your well-being… it means doing what it takes to truly change someone’s life, regardless of whether they like you for it in the moment. Chances are, they’ll thank you for it in the end.

Big Idea #3: Our Mind is a Crazy Drunk Monkey!

Setting goals is great, but often we get caught up in “when-then” thinking; “When ______ happens, then I’ll feel happy/free/successful/fulfilled.”

We need to remember that the purpose of a good goal is to enjoy life more, and all of it- the journey, just as much if not more than the destination!

But what can you do when your mind just won’t stop? Maybe you’re not happy where you are, and can’t stop thinking about the future. Or maybe your mind is just constantly running so much that you find it hard to focus and find clarity about your purpose.

Buddhists say that our mind is like a crazy monkey, swinging from thought to thought like a monkey swings from vine to vine. And not only is he crazy, he’s drunk! And not only is he crazy and drunk swinging around, but he’s been stung by a scorpion!

So imagine it: you’ve got this crazy drunk monkey who’s been stung by a scorpion, swinging around from vine to vine, and this is what you’ve got to deal with while trying to create and live a happy and fulfilled life. Sounds kinda hard, huh? Well the Buddhists say that this is the natural state of the mind when we’re not taking care of it properly.

So what can be done? What is the antidote to this crazy monkey’s issues?

Meditation.

It’s one of the most powerful ways to tame the “monkey” in your mind, and beginning a daily meditation practice is the number one suggestion to take away from this call.

Meditation is how we can calm our mind and find clarity in the space between our thoughts. This is how we can consciously take care of our mind to achieve the results we want to see in our life.

If we want to see results on the outside, we need to work on the inside first. We need to address the root if we want to develop a healthy fruit! Beginning a daily meditation practice is the way to address the root of ourselves and cultivate the healthy and beautiful “fruits” on the outside.

HW + Action Steps!

As always, we’d love for you to share your personal favorite takeaways in the private Facebook group.