Adopting the pace of nature

What does ‘adopting the pace of nature’ mean?

Quite simply put, it means:

How nature takes the shortest path with the least effort“

Deepak Chopra

If we take a closer look, we see how everything in nature “just is“. Living in the present moment. Not worrying about what happened in the past and not fearing what will happen in the future. It means enjoying what’s happening now and living for today.

Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today, but it also robs you of truly living. It is a complete waste of effort. Whereas living in the present renews our energy because it takes no effort to be open and accepting.

And that is what we are all about here at Ctrl-Alt-RENEW.

Let me start at the beginning…

For me, least effort is about me ending behaviour that complicates my life and favouring behaviour that makes my life easier. It is me letting go of what drains me.

For almost four years I have poured all of myself into this business.

If you’re a regular reader, then you’ll know that I am an open book and bear my soul whole-heartedly.

I am a huge believer that we endure our sufferings to enable us to help one another. That is what life is all about. Love and being in service of one another.

Towards the end of last year, I started having a feeling of little-to-no enthusiasm toward my life coaching. If I am to be totally honest, I’d say I felt unappreciated.

Many other coaches I know – and myself – do all our own blogging, marketing, social media, sales, admin, advertising and website. Everything from A to Z in our businesses.

Every single day I poured everything I have into C.A.R LC because I have this deep passion to help humanity in any possible way I can.

My old path…

By nature, I am a giver. I spent two years doing pro bono work. The problem with that was the calibre of client I was attracting. Sadly, the majority of people who do not actually spend their hard-earned cash on something, take it for granted. I believe it is totally unintentional, but they just don’t give it their full attention. I found myself in a position where clients messed me around, didn’t pitch, communicate or just didn’t bother to do the work properly.

**Please note that I did indeed receive the odd pro-bono client that made my heart sing!

Also, when I did paid advertising, I was inundated with messages that were;

• asking for free advice
• begging me for financial help
• pleading for a visa for job opportunities in my country
• plain filth from men wanting online profanities

I even thought ‘outside the box’ and put pleas out to collaborate with others in my network but, nothing panned out.

The reality is that the world has gone mad and many are suffering. I just wanted to help. To offer myself up to serve those who so desperately needed help. Eventually, I suffered burnout.

And lost my mojo!

My new path…

I read a post recently by a fellow Australian life coach who pretty much was going through the exact same thing! She described how she was busy exiting a two-plus year ‘Dark night of the soul‘ and felt completely unappreciated. Beth also explained how social media was poisoning her. Oh, how my heart resonated. So, I started asking myself some big, important questions.

Is this really what I want to continue doing? Is this truly my passion? How have I lost my bliss? Was I incorrect about my purpose? Surely my dharma should not be this challenging? What message was I putting out into the universe about how I valued myself? And valued this business?

I needed to question my core belief systems again. Let go of control again. Was I good enough? What am I shining my light on? Does it build my joy? What is my personal belief regarding money?

For two months I was torn. Then, one day I expressed myself to my wonderful husband – with our youngest child present. Guess what my guys advised me?

TAKE A BREAK!“

Our son is one of those ‘geeky, introverted IT’ types. His words to me were…

“Mom just take a break. Whether that is a short time, or a long time, just take a break.”

And so, I decided to walk my talk and advise myself as a coach.

What would I tell a client?

• Love myself – which means fill my own cup first and do what’s best for me
• Know my true self – build and maintain a relationship with me
• Always continue my personal growth
• If it feeds and energises me, then I’m on the right path – if it drains and depletes me, then I’m not
• Follow my intuition – gut feel is a beautiful gift given to me that I should never ignore

How do I adopt the pace of nature?

I am going to use nature as my inspiration. Things are supposed to be effortless and easy. They are supposed to just flow naturally. Everything should be simple. We, as humans, complicate things. Nature doesn’t.

This means that I am going to go against everything intellectually. I am ditching everything I have been taught in my online sales and marketing courses. All the social media tools and hacks? Throwing them away. I am going against all the advice I have been given by my business advisor. The things I have been taught by life coaching institutions are all going too!

I am going to follow my heart. Open my soul and life (and business) to receiving!

And that means:

This year…

Is a pretty big deal for me and I have this combination of excitement, sadness, fear and pure joy going on all together. Five years ago, I set a goal of moving to the ocean in 2021. Unfortunately, my partner in everything is just not ready to join me. He was fully prepared to let my son and I move alone this year. As generous as he is, that just made me feel torn in two.

I never want to create my own happiness based on the sacrifice of someone else’s!

Luckily, we managed to find a solution. My son and I will be living semi nomadically this year between my husband inland and my family 600 kilometres away at the sea. All we can do is give it a shot this year and see if it agrees with our family dynamic or not.

No big deal if it doesn’t work out. We’ll just change our minds!

This is where my attention will be going to this year. Living my true north and following my deepest desire. Life either gets stagnant or renewed. How do we renew it? Change! I am changing my life, stepping out of my comfort zones and living the life of my dreams!!!

That is what we should all be doing. This is what I would tell any client.

I will still be re-launching our website as promised this year.

The YouTube videos will still be happening at some stage in 2021.

I am just slowing things down…

Not putting pressure on myself.

And taking a break!

Yours in kindness always,

Taz