In discovering what life we want to live, and how we go about creating the life we want to live, the focus is often on the doing.
Doing more. Doing better.
In the process of doing I don’t think we focus enough on being.
Being who we are and not who we wish we could be.
It’s a subtle difference in words but actually a total shift in perspective.
I’m sure we can remember a time where we’ve met someone, and who they are just shines.
They don’t have to do anything for us in a material sense. Them just simply being kind, listening, or being present makes them radiant.
I want to return to a sentiment I wrote about in an earlier post. And that is that we are already worthy just the way we are.
Now of course we each have our own list of things that we are working on, but essentially, we are still worthy. Still valuable.
I love how simple this truth actually is. But it’s the simple truths that can be forgotten easily or complicated unnecessarily.
My mind travels back to when I was staying in the North of Ghana. I was so far north that I was almost in a bordering country. There, my doing had no use.
What was actually useful was the essentials - values, character and integrity.
Your values, your character and your integrity will help you find your bearings. They will help you assess which direction you need to go in.
I believe these essentials are found in being and not doing.
I’m sure we can remember a time where we’ve met someone, and who they are just shines.
They don’t have to do anything for us in a material sense. Them just simply being kind, listening, or being present makes them radiant.
The life you want to live …
How you are going to create that life?
How are you going to get there?
You need a map.
Your values, your character and your integrity are the intricate and intentional lines that make up this map.
Your values, your character and your integrity will help you find your bearings. They will help you assess which direction you need to go in.
Your values, your character and your integrity will determine your destination. They will follow you into your future life.
What does that look like?
I ask myself these questions.
If you feel lost, get back to basics and remember that the essentials required to carry you into the life you want to live are available to you here, right now.
If you feel discontent with the direction you are going in, get back to basics and remember contentment cannot be found in doing more. It is found in the living and embodying of who you are. The being.
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Let’s reflect …
🌿 What are my essential values?
🌿 Is my character today the character I would want for my tomorrow?
🌿 Am I living my life in alignment with my essential values? If not, what changes would I need to make to align my life with my values?
🌿 Am I lost? Why or why not?
🌿 Am I content? Why or why not?
Ask the adjoainghana community anonymously series 💬
If you are a paid member of the adjoainghana community, you are now able to listen to August’s episode here as well as access August’s monthly advice page here. This month we consider whether Ghanaian food is healthy, discuss the importance of knowing who you are & more!
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