Are you caught up in your society’s definition of success?

In NYC, where I live and work, this can imply never-ending work days and weeks and being constantly available to work. The trouble with this version of success is that you’ll ‘burn out’, ‘freak out’ and very likely, cause some sort of damage to your emotional, mental, physical and/or spiritual health in the process.

Like most everything else, it all starts with discovering and understanding:

1)      your wants, desires and dreams. Then, these must be prioritized and made into

2)      your intentions, then

3)      your more specific goals and then, it’s time for you to

4)      take action!

 

Even before these 4 steps, it’s important to discover and create your larger, overarching view of what you really want your life and lifestyle to be (your intentions). In other words, it’s vital to create YOUR own version of success, both personally and professionally. You must define what SUCCESS means, is and looks like, for YOU! To figure this out, it’s a good idea to understand:

1) WHO you truly, authentically are

2) WHY you’re here: your purpose, passions and priorities and

3) WHAT you were born to be and meant to do here.

 

Recently, several clients have been saying that they feel ‘burnt out,’ overwhelmed, isolated, particularly as it pertains to their work life (and Covid).

The question to ask yourself: Who made the ‘rules’ that you’re living with and by? Even if 90% of our present society lives by these particular ‘rules,’ and some of these folks are satisfied, what’s the point if they don’t suit you and your real dreams and desires?

If you look throughout history, you won’t find much about the people who followed ‘society’s standards’ but you will hear and learn lots about the unique souls (ie: leaders, inventors, creators) who found or created their OWN way…..their own unique version of success and what they wanted their lives and lifestyles to look like. Think Michelangelo, Picasso, Cezanne, Emile Zola, Colette and even Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. None of these amazing people followed their society’s ‘rules’. They forged ahead and made their own paths and opportunities!

As Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it MY way……..”

 

HINT:

If you’re feeling that things are too much for you right now, whether personally and professionally, then it’s time to: STOP, PAUSE and LISTEN.

1)STOP what you’re presently believing and thinking, which will stop you from doing what you’re now doing. In other words, change your thought patterns, which will change your behaviors and actions.

2)PAUSE: take a break (it’s just fine to do this……….)

3)LISTEN. Calm and silence your mind, body and spirit, to be able to ‘listen’ to your inner voice (intuition).

 

There are many ways to do this: practicing mindfulness, yoga, meditation, being in nature, being creative in some way and ‘in the flow.’ If you’re not sure how, then find someone to help or mentor you: a coach, hypnotherapist or other professional practitioner.

 

When WHO you really are inside is not aligned with how you are and/or what you do in the outer world, you can find yourself in internal conflict. I know because I felt like this for years. I’m part of the baby boomer generation and the way ‘society’ then told girls how to be and what to do and not do, was way different than what my insides were telling me, through anxiety, sadness, suffering and through body hints, sensations and illness. If/when you get ‘hit on the head’ with these hints enough (ie:  like the negative emotions and feelings above), you know it’s time to CHANGE:

First, to change your beliefs and thought patterns (mind/brain) and your mind-body connection awareness and then, your subsequent behaviors, actions and your life and destiny will change.

You have to do the work…….. and it’s simpler than you think, though not always easy.

 

CREATE your own version of SUCCESS: Some Questions to ask Yourself:

1)Is work/life balance important to you? There is no law that says that you must work 60 or 80 hours/week, even as an entrepreneur or to be available at all hours to your boss or colleagues. This lack of boundaries is not a good idea………..for humans.

 

2)What are your priorities and values? Some may include: health, balance, family, money, relationships, helping others, saving the planet, painting, writing…………etc. You must figure these out…….

 

3)What are your passions (aligned with your purpose)? These will give you some hints as to what lights you up, gives you joy and causes you to be in the flow. These are the ones to pay attention to!

 

Personally, when I was working (for over 30 years) as a dentist, running my dental practice and raising my son, pretty much on my own, I intentionally chose not to work the 5-6 days/week that I had been working previously but instead, to work 3-4 days/week, which I was able to do financially. This allowed me to spend more time with my son, and to do what I really enjoyed (ie: self-care, writing, reading). I learned a lot about finances, how to be frugal, a word I consider positive and helpful, and to live below my means. I still lived quite well and was fine, financially. My son and I were able to travel around the world. I was able to send him to sleep-away camp. I lived in a smaller house (by American standards) and had a good car but not a luxury one. Being the daughter of immigrants helped; I already knew a bit about how to live frugally and nicely. This has allowed me to be able to do the work I’m doing now, the work I really love, as a Mindset/Trauma healing Coach, Hypnotherapist and Speaker, and allows me to learn and continue as a painter and writer, while spending time with those I want and choose to.

The rule I follow is the Golden Rule; essentially, to treat others the way I (and everyone else) wants to be treated (in all ways).

Beyond this, just keep listening and connecting to the authentic YOU and go ahead and live and CREATE the unique, best life you want to and are meant to, whether others appreciate or approve of it or not. I’m here for you---to help you get there………

 

With smiles and love,

Dr Gigi

 

PS: Sign up NOW for your FREE Discovery session before the special summer discount ends @www.gigiarnaud.com or DM me at Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @drgigiarnaud.

Change your Mind to Change your Life!