Once upon a time about 10 years ago, I was an early university student lapping up every leadership and personal development book I would come across. Between classes, on the train home, in the gym, and late at night on my laptop, I was reading/listening to something to do with growing my professional & personal self.
I had an understanding of leadership that was to help me push through to rankings amongst thousands of students, and into the selection of undergraduate internships with big-name companies that would seal the deal for a 'secure' future.
It was soooooo obvious that in the first month of an investment banking internship I dedicated two years to getting into, the cubicle was not for me.
Dressing to impress was not for me, and walking in heels with the anxiety of being let go if I wasn't good enough every day, was not good enough for me.
So when school finished, I left for the global scale. I'd go and see what life actually had to offer me, from the deep desires of my soul, to why I felt never an attachment to material things let alone money.
What I discovered was the kind of leadership that should be taught in schools. Emotional, spiritual, mental, and self-directive leadership.
Things like forgiveness, compassion, self-love, kindness, and a graceful relationship with our birth-given gifts of eating, sleeping, breathing, and drinking.
Before I left Sydney two days ago, my cousin jokingly suggested I get into real estate. "That's where the money is! .. If you make good money with real estate you'll be happy".
My response: "And then what?" After you've earned the money, and then what? It felt true and aligned when I said I am happy exactly where I am..
In a couple of days I move to an island off the coast of Australia to work with some awesome folks. It never would have came to this if I didn't walk out on that internship offer 10 years ago.
What's more - I never would be this 'awake' to my own inner intelligence, what happiness means to me, and how I go about securing waking up to the feeling every day.
That's why when I heard Mark Silverman in a conversation with my coach say, "If you’re not using your life to wake up what’s the point?" - I knew what he meant, and I absolutely love that I will be in the progress of doing so until the day I die.
Achieving your peace and happiness isn't a short-term, A-to-B journey. It's a dedication and lifestyle you choose.
'Using your life to wake up' means being intentional about every commitment and investment you make going toward the deeply happy, soul-led version of you, because that's the way you want to leave this earth.
If you want to hear Mark Silverman speak and benefit from the energy of some very loving people, here is the podcast conversation between my coach Phil Goddard and Mark Silverman :)
https://www.philg.com/CoachingLifePodcast/?post=113-mark-j-silverman-revisited
Much love from the sunny side,
Jules
