“Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.
“Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!”
Very motivated by the boss’ words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.
“I must be losing my strength,” the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.
“When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked.
“Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”
-Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Sometimes, our lives can look like that if we’re too busy to take the time to replenish our bodies and nourish our souls. Working harder doesn’t always necessarily mean we’re working better – it’s about working smarter without sacrificing our health and happiness. If we neglect ourselves, overtime, we’ll become less effective to those around us and wear ourselves out. Right now, we may not see the importance of slowing down but our state of mind, heart, and body will eventually catch up to us.
I encourage you to dedicate at least 1 day during the week to replenish yourself by doing something you love to do. This can be anything that gives you joy, happiness, and a sense of freedom. It’s something that gives you a mental break from your work or connects you with others (and nature). Overtime, you’ll learn to keep this 1 day sacred as it’ll be your life line to your overall well-being. By resting and playing, you’ll find you have more energy, focus, strength, and emotional stamina for the rest of the week. And who doesn’t need more of that?
©2013 Susie Lee
In our ever-rapid changing world, sometimes, it’s good for us to slow down – to disconnect ourselves from electronic gadgets, social media, and even from the people around us. This’ll help unclutter our minds from the distractions that bombard us, still our bodies from the anxieties within us and give full attention to the moments before us. This may mean, leaving the phone at home, going for a nature walk, journaling, being gadget-less for a day, or taking a break from social media. Stillness has a way of awakening our souls, enlightening our minds, and reviving our bodies – creating more space for growth, discovery, and renewal.
So take a break today, in a beautiful place, alone. And in your journey, may you find rest, life, and wholeness.
©2013 Susie Lee
Being happy is all relative. What makes me happy might not make another person happy. So do something that brings you life, joy and makes you feels energized. It’s important to incorporate things into your life that makes you happy because it keeps you in the moment and takes you out of your head. Feeling this way will give you a natural high, a mental and emotional break from the necessarily mundane daily tasks of your life. It’s also very therapeutic as it helps you to cope and conquer the battles you fight within and out of yourself. Whatever it is that makes you happy, may it draw you closer to embrace the fullness of life and to those around you.
©2013 Susie Lee
Whether you’re a spouse, friend, parent or child, you may sometimes feels as though you’re not good enough because of how they treat you or how they say things to you. As a result you may feel insecure, insignificant or inadequate when you’re around them. And eventually fear will slowly begin to set in and you’ll try everything in your power to be ‘enough’ for them. But unfortunately your actions, motives, and thoughts will be driven by fear instead of coming from a place of love, freedom, and security. You wonder if you’re enough, you wonder if you’re making them happy, and overtime, you subconsciously begin to hide your true identity for fear of rejection or conflict. Often, you’ll feel like a hamster spinning frantically on its wheel but not going anywhere. At the end of it you’re exhausted, frustrated, and discouraged. And you bitterly realize your efforts are still not enough. You’re not enough.
The hard reality is you can be perfect and meet all their expectations but there’ll always be something that’s lacking in the eyes of the beholder because they’ll always find something else to be unhappy about. So stop trying. I repeat, s-t-o-p! You’re efforts are commendably futile.
Sometimes, people have a way of making you feel small or unimportant because it’s a reflection of what they feel about themselves or what lies within their own hearts. Perhaps they feel insecure or they have trouble loving and accepting themselves or maybe it’s just simply their expectations being placed on you. So remember, how they treat you is NOT a reflection of who you are but rather a reflection of who they are. Unconsciously, it’s how they see themselves and unfortunately they’re projecting this reality onto others, especially those closest to them.
You can’t live for others, at some point you have to start living and loving yourself. Once you begin to love and accept yourself, your confidence and strength will naturally diminish your fear and insecurity of not being good enough. Nothing or nobody will be able to bruise your self-confidence and make you feel unworthy. You’ll be in control of your feelings and you’ll empower your own life choices. You’ll no longer be dictated by what others think, say or do to you. You’ll be immune to their self-destructive ways because you see yourself through your eyes rather than through the eyes of what others think of you. Once you let go of pleasing people, you’ll begin to operate from a place of abundant joy and freedom.
The truth is you ARE enough, more than enough. You’re a beautiful, bright, brilliant and awe-inspiring human being. And yes you’re flawed but in your own perfect way it’s what makes you unique, unmatched and unparalleled to anyone in the history of mankind. Remember, believe and live as though you’re always enough… more than enough. Always.
© 2013 Susie Lee
It’s never too late. It’s never to late to start the career you’ve always dreamed of. It’s never too late to confess your love to the one who got away. It’s never too late to make changes in your current relationship(s). It’s never to late to try something new. It’s never to late to pursue, dream, or imagine. For life is full of surprises everyday. And, I believe, miracles still happen today. But we have to be willing to go out of a limb and take hold of the unknown. We need to be proactive rather than passive. We need to be bold, courageous, and take the chance. Sure, there’s no guarantee how life will turn out but at least you were willing to embrace all life had to offer without regrets. Here’s to beautiful beginnings and surprise endings. Fulfill the destiny you were meant to live.
©2013 Susie Lee
Sometimes in order to move on, we need to let go of people (or things) in our lives. Occasionally, we have to let go for the sake of the other person so they can carry on with theirs. I’ve found letting go is hard but holding on is even harder. This painful process will tear your heart out and you’ll experience you’re not the same again. Life has a funny way of shaping us through our experiences, people and circumstances. Allow it to change you and reveal the next path before you.
Overtime, the act of letting go will restore your soul, re-balance your life and release your spirit. And the heart-strings that once used to tug so tight are now set free. So throw yourself into the wind and let go. Fall into the arms of emptiness and see what catches you. Close your eyes, walk away and take only the beautiful memories with you. Yes, your heart will ache, long and be desolate but ride out the wave of emotions and see where it carries you.
Trust that life will work out. Have faith that the days ahead of you will look brighter. And have the courage to face a new day. Open your palms and let go… and then wait to see what lands in your hands.
©2013 Susie Lee
I can almost guarantee there will be people and experiences that will break your heart. It’ll ache with loss or it’ll be broken by betrayal. Our hearts are full of contradictory emotions – it expands with thumping beats when it’s elated and contracts with stings of death when it’s sad. At times, the unbearable searing pain of sorrow rips our hearts apart and leaves emptiness deep within our souls. And so we begin to carry the heavy weight of our hearts into isolation and despair.
We can respond to heartbreaks in two ways, we can make a vow to never give our hearts away or we can risk being vulnerable again – to simply be human. It takes courage to choose the latter.
Let life not harden your heart or let people break your trust in humanity. Let your heartache not paint the canvas of your life with protectiveness, fear and disillusionment – for this isn’t truly living life to the fullest. Rather acknowledge the pain, take time to mourn the loss and have the courage to open yourself up again because life is beautiful, yes, even in the painful moments. I’ve learned that beauty is born out of our struggles, our losses and the excruciating pain in life. It’s what makes us beautiful, sensitive and compassionate.
Allow your heartache to transform you. Let your sorrow enlighten you. And use the pain to make you stronger, not in the sense of being unbreakable but being malleable. Trust me, in time your heart will heal…
Stay open. Be vulnerable.
©2013 Susie Lee
living your best 