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“It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.”
– From the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley
A few days ago I was on a small boat, surrounded by the breathtaking waters of Sardinia. The colours were so vibrant, and the sea was teeming with life. It was pure magic!
But then, as the day went on, a bunch of clouds decided to gatecrash the party. Suddenly, the sun disappeared, and everything changed. The once dazzling turquoise waters turned dull, and the fish that were visible moments before vanished into obscurity. It was the same environment, yet the experience was completely different.
And it hit me that our inner worlds, how we are inside ourselves, works in much the same way.
When our minds are at ease, it’s like the sun shining brightly, allowing our true potential to radiate. We are naturally upbeat, optimistic and energised. But when our thoughts get agitated, it’s as if those pesky clouds of negativity and self-doubt roll in, blocking our clarity, dampening our mood.
But here’s something priceless that I’ve learned: We are not our minds, and we are not our thoughts. We are the ones observing them from ‘the boat’ of our consciousness.
So perhaps this is an important reminder today not to get caught up with what your inner narrator is saying.
Maybe it’s having a pity party because of your circumstances. Perhaps it’s bummed just because it’s a Monday. Or possibly you’re tired and grumpy, making the week ahead feel like an uphill battle.
Whatever it is, remember that you have the power to ignore that inner commentary and navigate the waters of your day and the week ahead much more effectively.
I’ve noticed that the more I adopt this approach, the more the right opportunities seem to emerge, and most importantly, the more joy I squeeze out of this precious gift called life.
So the challenge this week is to take the weather as it comes, to not get distracted by the clouds of our thinking and to stay focused on where we are and where we are sailing to.
Let’s navigate the inner seas of our minds and uncover the hidden treasures that await us.
Best,
Shane
P.S. To help with that inner navigation a little for a limited period I am giving away free physical copies of my book Inspire Me – all I ask is that you pay the shipping fee. No gimmicks, just a genuine offer. Get your free copy here.
New Podcast Episode: This week’s episode is out today: The Trap Of Dependency.
Every Monday I share short, bite-sized audio nuggets designed to give you motivation and plenty of inspirational food for thought. Listen on my website here or on all major podcasting platforms.
