When faced with challenges in life, wouldn’t it be great to be able to deal with them swiftly and elegantly? Wouldn’t it be great to be so centred in yourself that the action you take is right on target? Wouldn’t it be reassuring to know that when you step outside your comfort zone and into the void of the unknown, you’ll be able to deal with whatever comes up quickly and gracefully, because you are poised and balanced? And wouldn’t it be fabulous to build a sense of inner calm so strong that it gives you the power to face even bigger gulps in your life?
That’s why the heart of the Gulp! philosophy is the importance of being able to calm the mind and build a strong inner core. True inner power comes from your mind and body being aligned and in sync with your soul. In the face of any challenge, this combination is formidable.
Here are seven signposts to give you a boost and direction:
1 Dare yourself to step up to it and defy anything that holds you back Name the challenge and face it head on. This is an opportunity for you to learn and grow. This is your chance to create an important breakthrough in your life. This is your option to let go of those things that hold you back. This is your time to say ‘no’ to any more pain, frustration and suffering, and say ‘yes’ to a life where you feel vibrant and fully alive. This is the time to live your true life. You’ve reached a pivot point. Embrace this opportunity with both arms. And trust that you’ll get through it.
KEY WORDS: NAME THE CHALLENGE. EMBRACE IT. TRUST.
2 Break down your worries and anxieties and break through your fear It’s natural to feel afraid because you’re stepping outside your comfort zone and into the void of the unknown. The bigger the Gulp!, the greater the fear. But don’t blame the situation for your fear. Blame your mind. You created this fear. Your mind triggered it based on your thoughts, your beliefs and your interpretations. So use your mind to reverse it. Separate the reality of the situation from your perception of the situation. Then look for the positive. Focus on the benefits. Command your mind to do so. When you change your perception to a positive one, your feelings of fear will dissolve.
KEY WORDS: SEE THE REALITY. NOTICE YOUR PERCEPTION. MASTER YOUR MIND. CONCENTRATE ON THE POSITIVE.
3 Connect to your core and build a strong centre When you quieten your mind, you silence the very thoughts that create fear and worry in the first place, so you can disarm them completely. When you connect to your core, you find wu-ji, that inner place of stillness where there are no thoughts, no fears, no judgements and no worries. Here there is no ego, only your true essence. Here is your inner strength and personal power. Here is your higher wisdom. And above all, here is the space from where ‘the new’ can emerge and be created. So create space today to spend time in stillness, silence and deep reflection. Practise silencing your thoughts and managing the chit chat in your mind by simply commanding it to stop. Breathe deeply and fully. Consciously be in the present. Connect to nature and the power of music.
ACTION: STOP. GET FRESH AIR. BREATHE. SILENCE YOUR THOUGHTS.
4 Imagine new opportunities and invent new possibilities When you invent inner calm you can hear your higher wisdom. This is a powerful space for creation. What you create from this space is pure and aligned to your true nature. So don’t settle for the first solution you think of. Use this opportunity as a catalyst to really make some lasting and transformational changes to your life. Open your mind. Stretch it. Expand it. Spark your imagination. Extend your perception of what could be possible. Be brave and challenge the status quo. Don’t think of ‘what is’, ask yourself ‘what could be’? You are the creator of your own life. So what do you want to create? Imagine, dream and allow magic to happen.
KEY WORDS: SPARK. EXPAND. IMAGINE. DREAM.
5 Prepare yourself and practise, practise, practise Choose the path that inspires and motivates you. Hold the bigger vision and start moving forward. Being in the void is always an unknown quantity. Yes, you can make the leap blindly. Or you can reduce the risk by plugging the gaps and building footbridges. As you move towards your Gulp!, determine what you know, and what you don’t know. Use your centring techniques to tune into what’s really important and to guide you towards exactly the right people, places and information you need. Put aplan in place; not a rigid plan but a loose framework that you can flow with. Then start building footbridges. Practise what you need to say. Practise the big moment itself. Practise keeping cool, calm and collected. The more you practise, the less challenging it will feel. Build your physical energy reservoir and minimise energy drainers, so that when you step up you are in top form.
KEY WORDS: CHART YOUR COURSE. PLAN. PREPARE. PRACTISE. BUILD ENERGY.
6 Focus on your chosen path and go with the flow
As you move forwards towards your big Gulp!, don’t try and control every outcome. Instead, remain calm and centred in the void of the unknown and use your intuition and instinct to guide you. Look out for coincidences or examples of synchronicity that act as signposts. In fact, consciously attract them to you. When you’re faced with a decision or choice, use your energy calibrator to guide you; if your energy expands, move forward; if your energy contracts, stop and question. And decide what you need to let go of because it’s holding you back from truly being in the flow. And stay centred and in the flow. Each foot forward feels easy and graceful. It feels ‘right’. Remember, you are the creator of your life in any moment.
7 Just Gulp! and go for it You’ve done everything you can to make this Gulp! a success. You’ve calmed your mind, mastered your fear and you see your challenge from a place of possibility. You’re moving forward in the flow and you’ve prepared yourself and practised. No more waiting. No more preparing. You are ready. It is Gulp! time. So take the leap of faith. Know that it will be graceful and swift. And know that when you land on the other side it will be with both feet on the ground, balanced and poised.
KEY WORDS: YOU ARE READY. IT’S GULP! TIME. MOVE SWIFTLY AND GRACEFULLY.