I have a different kind of message for you today compared to the other ones you’ve seen recently. And, by the way, thank you so much for the total outpouring of praise over recent emails and the content I’ve been sharing. That feedback keeps me going! 🙂
I was up in the middle of the night the other day (don’tcha hate that when you can’t fall back asleep? lol).
I was intensely feeling the loss of one of our clients who passed away and also reflecting on extreme gratitude for my life. My mind kept circling around 3 life lessons, so that’s what I’d like to share with you today.
Life Lesson #1: Don’t take life too seriously.
I can be a bit of a control freak at times, and I take my actions and decisions extremely seriously. As adults, we have so much responsibility and pressure that we sometimes forget to not take everything so seriously.
One of the reasons I adore my husband is because he lets me absolutely FLAUNT my silly side in front of him. And believe me… I can get a little nuts… lol! But that’s a good thing. Find an outlet, loosen up, give yourself permission to have more fun, take more risks, and take an afternoon break sometimes from the seriousness of life. Do this especially for the sake of improving your relationships and how you feel about yourself.
Life Lesson #2: Communicate openly and honestly.
When I was 24, I experienced the extremity of this life lesson. Without communicating fully, openly, and honestly, the quality of your relationships with others are so far less than what they could be. Open yourself fully to others. I know this can be hard as an adult, but if you are closed off in any way, then you can’t really wonder why your relationships have issues.
It’s not about being right or wrong or winning an argument. Whether I have to communicate the truth of how I’m feeling with a family member, or client, or friend… it’s never easy. But the reward is always huge. Don’t bottle in your feelings. Own and honor your feelings. Don’t justify them away or hide from them. You are JUST as deserving and amazing as anyone else on this Earth. Remember that.
Life Lesson #3: Surprise (and act in kindness to) others.
No brainer? Well, hang on. I’m talking about going beyond the thought of kindness to others. We often think about others and how much they mean to us, but it’s rare to take time to actually express that in meaningful ways that create lasting impact.
Prove your compassion. Cultivate awareness, strengthen your intuition, and really listen to the details of what people choose to share with you. Always consider how others may be feeling, and then surprise them with acts of kindness. Buy someone flowers, send a hand-written card, make a video and send it to a friend, show up for the events you’d rather skip for another Netflix episode. Taking care of others gives you more energy and vibrancy, and is also a great way to take care of your basic human needs… to love.
Of course, there are so many more insights packed into my experience, and I’ll continue to share them with you. For now, these hopefully added a spark to your day.
Feel free to comment below this post and let me know any of YOUR life lessons – I always want to learn!!!
With love and respect for you.
xoxo
Amber Vilhauer
