Day 262/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
Bigger, bolder, brighter, seems to be the goal of the ambitious. But is it a realistic goal for most of us?
Somehow, somewhere in my, in our, acculturation we've become enamoured with the idea that to be ambitious is to strive for things that are bigger than, brighter than. I've certainly fallen into that pit and been mesmerised by the promise of the bright lights of success.
Yet there's a part of me that definitely wants to fly below the radar.
Does that mean that I'm not ambitious? I'm revisiting that idea.
I want to say I'm ambitious for small, compact and creative.
When I awoke to the path that I was on some 20 years ago, I downsized my home from a 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom monstrosity to a 2 bedroom compact home in a sought-after suburb. That meant that I could give it a complete do-over and achieve the look and feel exactly how I wanted it, with quality furnishings and fixtures, an inviting entrance and a magnificent outlook.
I'm applying that logic to my life. With a new direction in my career being considered, I'm liking the idea of local, intimate and exquisite.
My planning will begin soon, and as I invite ambition to the table I'll be sure that she sheds her conditioning and reaches into the recesses of my heart to find the perfect form, the perfect shape to hold me in good stead for the years to come.
By getting really intimate with your own ambition you may find that it's not all about being big and bold and bright. That idea may certainly suit some people. Does it fit for you?
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.