| 1- The Pillar of living consciously |
| We need to become more conscious of the things we do every day. Are we just going through the motions, sleepwalking, or disregarding the areas in which we know we are not performing to the best of our abilities? There’s a certain anxiety we experience when we know we hate our job but we don’t have the courage to change courses. Or when we like our job and we know that we are not giving our best. |
| Our level of consciousness is also expressed in the way we connect with others; are we truly present, or are we only physically present but spiritually absent the entire time? The degree of enjoyment we experience will be impacted by a daily commitment to raising our consciousness through more conscientious behaviors. |
| 2- The pillar of self-acceptance |
| The easiest to achieve but possibly the most difficult to master is self-acceptance, which means embracing every facet of your character, circumstances, flaws, and even physical characteristics you detest in yourself (yes, even your large nose and uneven eyebrows). Being uncomfortable in one’s own skin can show up as anxiety, a sense of unworthiness, and a lack of assertiveness, especially in those who have been bullied in the past. |
| Self-acceptance doesn’t mean settling and not getting better, it means accepting that you are not giving your best, that you may lack management skills, that you are not organized, feeling those emotions of inadequacy. If you don’t recognize that you are overweight, how can you begin to lose weight and make dietary changes? |
| 3- The pillar of self-responsibility |
| We must feel in charge of our life if we are to feel capable of surviving and deserving of happiness. The second we start blaming someone, the world, the government, our parents, god… we lose power, will and self-esteem. You are responsible for your happiness, the achievement of your desires, your choices and consequences, the quality of your work and relationships… |
| It can be challenging at times to think independently because of the training we experienced as children, but we must mature. Like the psychologist David Deida says, live your life like if your parents are dead if they aren’t already. Choose your values, goals and work and be responsible for what you can control to achieve them. |
Anna Godfrey 