How do we get into a cage in the first place?
We get into our cage with limited thinking, with beliefs that are doubtful, with BS rules and overthinking. Fearing the things that haven't even happened, not trying things because we talk ourselves out of them. We cage ourselves because of our limited beliefs in ourselves and our conscious and subconscious fears. Waiting to break free, longing to go get what is out there for us.
We often believe our confinement is involuntary, but as they say in many of our failures in life, it takes two.
I voluntarily stepped into my cage and at the same time entrapped myself working hard making the bars of my cage look golden with success, intelligence whilst looking like I had all my shit together. Then again regardless of how we spin it a cage is a cage. I was miserable, frustrated and anxious, all the time. The very opposite of freedom, life and wholeness.
I was afraid to do what I knew I had to do.
I remember having enough to retire, sell my business and do whatever I wanted.
But I stayed there in my cage of security and comfort telling myself Not yet, and What about if? Who do you think you are? and Maybe this is just a phase I am going through.
I had caged myself in safety, comfort and numbness.
A cage that while looked like success, was weakening me, undermining my authenticity and effecting not only me but those important to me.
All the time we all self induce and entrap ourselves in cages.
When we're not prepared to risk. When we're not prepared to follow through. When we're not prepared to take the hard road.
Escaping our cage is simple, but not easy.
Others in their own cages will try to stop you.
You will have to lean into the unknown and distance yourself from the comfort of what you know. You will have to go all in, or nothing at all.
Just like any successful escape one must plan, practice and only then act.
However when it comes to our own escape and in life, we often get in the way of our own success. So too help, here are the three things I needed to do, and gave me the confidence to escape. And hopefully can help you too.
Number one. Have awareness. Acknowledge where you are, what you have and what you are doing or not doing is hurting you, and not or is no longer helping you.
Number two. Have acceptance. Be it your relationships, your career, your finances or your health. As in golf, play the ball where it lays. Sure we all have our little pity parties because our shot/choices have put into the rough, the water, the sand or completely lost and we may have to drop a shot and take a penalty in life. But ultimately, we need to stop being a victims and suck it up.
Where we are is where we are!
Heighten your probability of success, accept that where you are sucks and not where you may want to be, then get your eye back focusing on your flag and play your next shot.
Number three. Take action. In the famous words of Homer Simpson "Doh!" An inch of action will always take you further than miles of good intentions. Otherwise you are stuck!
For me number three was the scariest. In fact for five years I knew my number one and two, but I never acted on number three.
It was like I was waiting for the water to warm up, before I dived in.
Accepting that this (the water is warm) rarely ever happens and regardless of waiting for the perfect time that I was going to get wet anyway, did I finally decide to act and dive in.
So if you are feeling frustrated, off, lost, overwhelmed, constantly anxious. Or constantly thinking that there is more to live and/or you are not being true to yourself.
Take a good long look of yourself in your mirror and ask yourself.
"Is there a cage around me?" and then get really honest with yourself, "What is the something (fear) that is holding me back?" and "What would my ideal life look like if I knew I couldn't fail?"
And finally, if the door was open and nothing was holding you back, Where would you go? What would you do? Who would you be with? and How fast would it take you to get there?
I won't lie to you, yes the water is cold at first and yes you will get wet.
But then again isn't diving in and getting on with it, better than staying there on the edge, wondering, waiting, overthinking.
Or to put it another way use the wings we have been born with to fly, rather than to be found dead in our nest of comfort because we never tried💪
August Goals
Finish booking Europe adventure. 2 months, 4 countries 🌍✈️🥖🍕🍷🚢
Finish preparing for winter ski season in Japan 2025⛷️🗾
Progress book (minimum 2 chapters) Goal carried over from February and March goal 😫😫
Learning how to slow cook food 🍲and make home brew beers 🍻
What am I reading/watching/listening?
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. By Tim Ferris
Watching? Rookie, Netflix movies
Japanese Disco, Funk & Soul 1972-1987. Spotify Play List. Again!!! for the six straight month😆 because its good for my practicing Japanese and well I'm an old school 80's dag 😆
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