“If you always do what you’ve always done, you always get what you’ve always gotten.”
​– Jessie Potter (counsellor, relationships and sexuality educator)

Hello friends,

In our relentless pursuit of solutions, it’s easy to fall into the trap of using the same methods that created our problems in the first place. How often have you heard someone declare, “I’ll work harder at it this time,” only to find themselves stuck in the same cycle of struggle? It’s a familiar refrain, particularly among high-achievers who excel in many aspects of their lives. But if more hard work were the answer, wouldn’t you have solved it by now?

Society teaches us that hard work, financial success, or material consumption hold the key to our problems. Yet, when we continuously employ these methods to address our challenges, we overlook a fundamental truth: we are whole and complete beings, inherently capable of navigating life’s complexities.

The flaw lies in our perceiving of problems through the lens of our parts, or in other words – our ego. When we view ourselves or the world through this lens of separation, our solutions only serve to reinforce the problem’s framing, and we get equally fragmented solutions. This is why “a problem well-stated is a problem half-solved.”​

This is what a good coach or mentor does for us. They challenge our framing, encouraging us to adopt a more expansive perspective. By transcending the limitations of our individual parts, we begin to recognize our inherent wholeness and capability.

However, the journey towards self-improvement often starts from a place of deficiency. We convince ourselves that we are not enough as we are, perpetuating a cycle of striving for external validation and fulfillment. As Alan Watts astutely observed, “the person who’s going to do the improving is the one who needs to be improved.”

But what if we approached our goals from a different vantage point? What if, instead of striving to fill perceived voids, we embraced a mindset of abundance and sufficiency? Don’t get me wrong – it can be challenging and uncomfortable to do on one’s own. We all need some help getting there at times! To embark on this journey of self-discovery and transformation, we must break free from the confines of our habitual thinking patterns.

Here are some simple yet powerful practices to facilitate this shift:

1. Come back to your body: Cultivate awareness of your physical sensations and reconnect with your body’s wisdom.
   
2. Feel your emotions: Allow yourself to fully experience and process your emotions without judgment or suppression.

3. Stop looking for an answer – live the question instead: Embrace uncertainty and curiosity, allowing space for new insights and possibilities to emerge.

4. Consult an advisor: Seek guidance from mentors, coaches, or trusted confidants who can offer fresh perspectives and support.

5. Rest and rejuvenate: Prioritize self-care and downtime, recognizing the importance of rest in fostering creativity and insight.

By incorporating these practices into our daily lives, we can transcend the limitations of our conditioned minds and tap into the boundless reservoir of our inner wisdom. As we journey towards balance, ease, passion, and freedom, let us remember that the path to fulfillment begins not with striving, but with surrendering to the inherent wholeness that resides within each of us.

With warmth and encouragement,

Gabriel