Episode 346: Empower Your Future - Discover 5 Strategies To Rise Above Your Circumstances

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

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Episode 346: Empower Your Future - Discover 5 Strategies To Rise Above Your Circumstances

Hello, beautiful souls. I am Pascale Gibon, your host. A warm welcome to episode 346 of The Everyday Life Balance Show. Thank you for tuning in. In episode 345, I encouraged you to be bold and to make a fresh start unapologetically to fulfil your dreams.

In this episode, I would like to share a mindset shift I consider essential for creating changes in your life. The mindset shift is as follows: whatever your aspiration for change may be, do not let your circumstances dictate your future. 

I will share five tips to help you adopt this perspective. You will discover that a change of perspective aligns with a growth mindset, is more solution-focused and is at the foundation of personal development. At the top of the mountain is the principle that 'life is always happening for you and through you.'

Here are the reasons why letting our circumstances dictate our future problematic:

1st reason: Disempowerment

Being a victim of our circumstances is disempowering. The main issue with allowing our circumstances to dictate our future is that we remain stuck as if there was no way out or light at the end of the tunnel. This mindset is ok if we do not have any sense of discontent and choose the status quo. However, I would argue that things need to change when we continue to complain about our circumstances.

2nd reason: Limited awareness

Our level of awareness results from the experiences, lessons, learnings and wisdom we have acquired, which help us build resilience as we meet roadblocks. Therefore, accepting growth means acquiring another level of awareness. 

3rd reason: Disillusion

When we allow our circumstances to dictate our future, we feel disillusioned. Regrettably, a significant number of younger individuals feel disillusioned about the future. Let me present a new possibility: harnessing our ability to create at will and be the change we want to see in the world.

There are numerous accounts of individuals who have transformed their lives from poverty to wealth, suffering to joy, ill health to wellness, and hopelessness to a purposeful existence. Therefore, we know it is possible to change our circumstances. 

In this light, let me now share five principles that will help you improve any aspect of your life intentionally: 

The acclaimed thought leader and author Mary Morrissey shares in her Ted talk “ The Hidden Code For Transforming Dreams Into Reality” the time she was in hospital with a fatal kidney disease. She was given six months by the doctors and felt terrified. She believed God was punishing her for getting pregnant during her teen and that life was happening to her.  However, an encounter with a chaplain offering prayer before surgery at the hospital saved her life. Once Mary shared with her what had gone on in her life the last year or two, the chaplain said: “ Mary, everything that exists is created twice. It is first a thought before it becomes a thing. There is an infinite number of possibilities.” What the chaplain was doing was helping Mary change her thoughts by believing in the idea that she could get better. Mary Morrissey said: “She gave me a prescriptive for how to use my thinking and emotion.” If you feel disillusioned about the future, what if you could harness your creative power to create change? It is possible if we believe so. 

Principle #1: Be the change you wish to see 

We are all responsible for the kind of world we create every day, in our lives and the world at large. The world I yearn for is one of peace, love and harmony for myself, my loved ones and every human being.

• What change do you desire for yourself that would impact the world positively?

This fundamental question allows you to live your life with intention and meaning. 

Principle #2: Get back up 

We all encounter setbacks, and changing our relationship with failure is necessary. The perfectionists listening, I hear you. Please consider that failure is feedback. It indicates that something needs adjustment or abandonment to move on to something better. I remember and recognize now the time in my life as the dark night of the soul. You have probably heard my story when I suffered from existential angst and was seeking the meaning of my life. I needed to get back up and change my inner state. I received an answer to my prayer and the most powerful lesson: I was here to enhance people’s lives. This lesson gave me hope, stopped me feeling sorry for myself and got me back up. I am here to give love unconditionally.

• Can you recall similar circumstances when you got back up?
• What happened? 

Principle #3: Get better, not bitter

No matter what happens to you in life, change your state from one of resentment to one of acceptance and resilience. Let go of the things of the past that are beyond your control and start creating a bright future. Like Eckart Tolle said, suffering does not occur in the present moment. It occurs when we bring into the present moment memories of the past we have not made peace with.

Let us say, for example, that you are having a great day. However, an incident occurs that reminds you of a past trauma you have not fully healed from. Remembering this unpleasant memory changes your present happy state into one of sorrow. We need to let go of the memories that cause us suffering. This solution is central to the Hawaiian healing technique known as Ho'oponopono. You work with your inner child to let go in the present moment of all the memories that cause you suffering, pain and sorrow. 

Your circumstances are the result of particular behaviours, actions and beliefs. What if you need to change them to meet your new goals? To do so, reflect on Albert Einstein’s quote: “Without changing our pattern of thought, we will not be able to solve the problems we created with our current patterns of thought.” To improve our lives, we need to transform the habits that do not serve us and develop better thoughts, beliefs and actions to improve our results. 

Principle #4: Keep the faith, and trust

Increase your confidence and believe that you can change your circumstances. You are in the driver's seat. Do not expect anyone else to do the push-ups for you. Start believing that you can start all over again and get the support you need from professionals, friends or loved ones to clarify your next steps towards your dreams. A great way to take a leap of faith is to recount your life successes.

• What decisions did you make to succeed?
• What were your thoughts, beliefs and actions? 

Principle #5: Leap forward

Take a blank piece of paper and declare the first action you desire to initiate to change your circumstances. Once you know, act upon it and seek additional resources if and when necessary. Feel the fear and do it anyway because you are ready for growth.

Isn’t change a fascinating subject? At times, we embrace it naturally without thinking. At other times, we overthink it and resist it. However, understanding its value and the difference it can make is crucial. 

We can change our circumstances by doing things in a certain way.

Here is a recap of the five principles to help you improve any aspect of your life intentionally:

1. Be the change you wish to see: live with intention and create positive change in your world. 
2. Get back up: view failure as feedback and use setbacks as stepping stones.
3. Get better, not bitter: release past resentments and focus on building a bright future.
4. Keep the faith and trust: believe in your ability to change and take control of your destiny.
5. Leap forward: identify and act on your first step toward changing your circumstances. 

Now, I encourage you to take these principles to heart and implement them. Reflect on the change you desire and start taking steps today. Remember, you have the power to shape your future.

Have a great week of transformation, peace and fulfilment. I look forward to connecting with you next Monday. I am sending you lots of love and light.