The Happiness Hunter Podcast Fiona Redding

​As Marcus Aurelius put it: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

Too often we don't take action, because we are scared it will be messy.

We don't start, because we are worried that the action we are going to take is not perfect.

But what we want to do instead is begin to embrace the mess and the imperfection, understanding that whatever we do is perfect in its imperfection, and it is in our messy, imperfect action that we learn to overcome the obstacles standing in our way.

In fact, it is the only way.

It’s messy at the beginning and in the middle and sometimes at the end, and that is perfectly okay.

If you think about an area of your life you are struggling with at the moment - chances are you are struggling because your behaviour in relation to that area does not reflect your values.

The challenge we mostly face with this is that we are either:

a) not clear on our values or

b) are not living our values (consistently) through our behaviour (eg do as I say, not as I do- in other words our actions do not reflect what we say is important)

Following on from the recent episode with Dr John Demartini on Honouring Your Core Values, in this episode of the podcast we are going to be talking about how you can get clear on your values and understand the behaviours that align with them, to help you see your way through your struggle.

Get clear on your values (what you have determined is important).

And understand what that means in terms of your action (in actually living your values).

And from that place of alignment, you can begin to turn the ship around.

One of the most challenging concepts for people to accept (including those deep into the practice of self improvement and personal development) is that the world around us reflects our inner world.

The relationships, the bank balance, the number on the scales, the environment (be it toxic or healthy), the experiences – is a reflection and mirror of what is happening within.

This is big, and at times, quite an uncomfortable truth to be reminded of.

Yet, it is liberating in the sense of recognising what it reveals about ourselves.

Even better is that the solution to changing all of it for the better is within us.

In this episode of the podcast, we are talking about our ability to change our view of the outside world by turning the lens inwards, and I'm sharing with you some questions to help guide your reflection.

The way we speak to ourselves about ourselves says a lot about the relationship we have with ourselves.

When you speak to yourself - are you kind or are you mean?

Do you lift yourself up, encourage yourself, motivate yourself, challenge yourself (in a positive way), show yourself grace, forgiveness and compassion?

Or do you beat yourself up, berate yourself, talk down to yourself, take yourself down at every single opportunity you get? 

Imagine if we were talking about a friend or a person outside of you.

Which one would you want to be friends with?

The question for today is this - how kind are you to yourself... and how can you be kinder and nicer friend to your very own self?

If you weren't your story, who would you be?

Who are we, if we are not the story?

How is that story relevant to today and the life we want to be experiencing?

How does telling that story match up with the new story we are writing for our life?

Pretty much, I can guarantee it doesn't.

But it's an old, familiar story, and we are comfortable telling it.

When we hold on to that story, constantly identifying with the self of old... breathing life into that story every time we remember it, every time we tell it, every time we emotionally connect with it. How that keeps us stuck in the old story. Even as we are trying to move forward.

We need to let go of the story.

We need to let go of all the stories we have around the story.

It's time to start telling the new story, and only telling that one.

With a nod and a wave to the story of old, but that's it. Sure, the old story is what got us to here.

But when we keep telling it?

We keep the story alive here.

Let's start telling all the new stories. Being willing to let go. To become.

Make sure you listen to this week's episode and see what comes up for you!

Most of our stress and overwhelm comes from too much busy in our head, too many choices, too many decisions- and lots of flapping, huffing and puffing (shallow breathing, not enough oxygen to our brain) and spinning our wheels with all the stuff we have to do RIGHT NOW.

In this episode of the podcast, you'll discover a simple strategy to help you get out of overwhelm and trying to do all the things (and probably not doing any of them well - if at all).

We get things done best when we are present and focusing on one thing at a time.

Focusing solely on the task at hand, before moving on to the next thing.

What is the thing that will move the needle for you right now in the most meaningful way?

Work out what that is.

And then go do it.