Be The Hero In Your Own Life’s Journey

Meet Joshua. He is the new breed of superhero – tenacious, courageous, brave, bold, adventurous, confident, happy, funny, sensitive, loving and kind.

I had the privilege of having Joshy stay with us for 4 days. He is my great-nephew. It was a beautiful reminder of seeing the world through the eyes of a child….simply living in the moment, no hang-ups, no regrets, no anxieties, no baggage, being open, being vulnerable and trusting that all needs will be met.

These sacred moments with Joshy, reminded me of the story of the Golden Buddha. Centuries ago, a magnificent Buddha constructed from gold was built in a monastery in Thailand. Word came, that a Burmese army was about to invade. The monks covered the golden Buddha in mud and concrete, so that when the army came through, they would see nothing but a stone statue with no value. It worked. But unfortunately all of the monks were killed.

Years passed. In 1957 the Golden Buddha had to be relocated to make room for the development of a highway. As the crane attempted to lift the giant statue it began to crack. One young monk saw something shiny through the cracks. With picks and shovels in hand, the monks removed the outer layer of concrete to reveal the magnificent Golden Buddha.

Why am I telling you this story?

This story is a metaphor for our own transformational process. Each of us is ‘golden’ by nature. We are all born perfect, whole and complete. Just like Joshy. We are all born connected to our bliss.

Then over the years, we are introduced to society’s rules:

…this is what girls wear…this is what boys wear…

…this is what girls play with…this is what boys play with…

…this is what girls do…this is what boys do…

…she has black skin…he has white skin…

…you should go to this school…

…you should be married by now…

…you should study this degree…

We develop a casing of ‘stone’ (just like the statue) over our true nature. We come to believe we are the stone Buddha, not the golden one. This happens between the ages of 2 and 9 years.

It is very easy to lose sight of your soul – your passions, your creativity, your bliss, your unique skills. In yoga we say, the body whispers to us, then talks and then screams. Do not wait for the screams. Do not wait to be hit by the mack truck.

When you know and fully understand that you are in control of your life, it can be one of the most scariest and also the most empowering moments. There is no one else to blame – parents, friends, society, genes……..The power lies within you.

This is when true transformation in your life can begin.

Joseph Campbell says to” follow your bliss”. What does this actually mean?

To me, bliss is:

· Listening to your heart;

· Finding your own authentic journey;

· Trusting yourself;

· Believing in yourself;

· Doing what makes you feel most alive.

Where is the Universe asking you to step up today? Is it:

· In your working environment?

· In your relationships?

· In your own health? – lose weight, have more energy, build your immunity, not feel so tired…

· To be more present with your family – your children and partner

· To cook healthy meals?

· To drink less wine, less coffee?

· To create better time management?

Bronnie Mare is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies and the number 1 regret was, I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

Don’t let this be your number 1 regret.

Ask yourself now, are you ready to be the hero in your own life’s journey? I don't mean that you have to save the world. Being a hero happens in the small choices that you make on a daily basis.

And just like Joshy, you can access that beautiful, divine ‘golden’ nature that lives inside of you, and re-connect to your own internal bliss.

What one small step can you take today to bring you closer to your bliss?

With love and blessings,

Cate