Some Darn Good Advice.
I recently received an inspiring email from Reid Tracy, the CEO of Hay House. Hay House is a publishing company created by Louise Hay, a motivational speaker who authored many self-help books. If you are into the metaphysical and writings about self-care, you will find a delightful smorgasbord on Hay House’s website.
In his email, Reid Tracy shares three pieces of profound advice that he has found the most helpful. It’s advice that I’ve heard many times, and I try to incorporate it into my life. His email provided a welcomed reminder, and I want to share this valuable wisdom.
It’s only a thought, and a thought can be changed.
This is a Louise Hay quote and is the essence of her teachings. Thoughts become things. Negative experiences will consistently be presented to you if you always think negatively. If you think more positive thoughts, you will have more positive experiences.
If your default is to view the world through a negative lens, you can shift this if you understand that you have the power to change your thoughts. If this destructive way of thinking is something that you’ve been doing for a long time, it will take time, but you will be successful if you are patient and consistent. Throughout your day, pause to notice your thoughts. What is your worldview? How do you respond to events in your life? If thinking positively is new to you, start with gratitude. End each day in a moment of reflection; write down 3 things you are grateful for. If you do this consistently, you will train your mind to look for things to appreciate instead of resenting things. We have about 10,000 thoughts a day, and if the majority are negative, commit to changing this, and you will see the positive outcomes of this shift.
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
This is a quote from Wayne Dyer, another famous writer, and speaker, on how to live your best life.
This saying is similar to Louise Hay’s quote but is more about a general life attitude. If you look at the world as the enemy and everyone is out to get you, you will continue to have that experience. Do you think the worse of yourself and others? The world can be challenging and painful, and it’s essential to be informed, but it’s also important not to dwell and get stuck in a doom and gloom head space.
Are you going through a rough time? Unfortunately, this is going to happen from time to time. Do your best to take care of yourself, ask yourself what you can learn from the experience, and focus on knowing that it will pass, and you will be ok. Look at circumstances in your life from a different, more hopeful perspective, and you will be pleasantly surprised on how your life will change.
Do what you love but call it work.
The third bit of advice is from a country song called “Buy Dirt” by Jordan Davis. A lyric in the song says, “Do what you love but call it work.” How fabulous would it be to do what you love daily and get paid for it? Pure bliss.
Both Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer had very challenging childhoods, and they took these experiences and turned them into teachings that have impacted millions of people. Louise Hay founded Hay House at age 60 and spent 30 years doing what she loved daily. Wayne Dyer spent 40 years writing books, giving speeches, and teaching, and he loved it. They both found so much joy and meaning in their “work.”
Finding a way to make a good living doing what you love is challenging if you depend on your current job that you don’t love. If this sounds familiar, can you find ways to appreciate that you have your current job or work on your attitude about it? This shift can open you up to opportunities. Can you carve out time to do what you love every week; singing, painting, or writing?
I worked in community mental health for 32 years before we moved to Picton, Ontario. I was passionate about my job for decades, dedicated to the work, and loved it until I reached an expiration date in 2019 and found myself completely burnt out. We decided to move to Picton 2 years earlier than planned, which is one of the best decisions we have ever made.
I taught yoga and meditation part-time and had a cool writing job with a CBC show during these 32 years. Now that I’m semi-retired, I’m teaching yoga and meditation, writing this weekly blog, and doing community engagement work. I feel fortunate to be doing what I love.
I hope you find some inspiration from this advice that you can apply in your life.
Be well.
Anita
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