To Inspire: Invest In Yourself

Invest in yourself.

Not because everyone will let you down. Some won't.

Not because it's hard to hope. It really can be done.

Not because the world is cruel. It is, but it is also wonderful.

And not because there is nothing else worth investing in. There are many things worth your efforts.

But invest in yourself, too, because we say that the only constant in life is change. But the other constant is you. As long as you are alive, you have yourself. Invest in yourself because you will change, whether you mean to or not. And when you see these changes, you will need to have faith in order to face yourself again and again as you grow. Learn about yourself, know yourself, and grow yourself, because it is possible. And because you will need to know your constants in life, especially when everything changes.

Adventure #15: Meditation for Intuition

I have to be honest, this is probably the hardest thing that I've ever done...

I'm a very analytical person. It used to be that I refused to feel certain emotions if I didn't understand why they had arisen. If I was ever unable to make sense of my feelings, I chose not to feel them. I often had trouble ever letting my mind take a break because my self confidence was so wrapped up in my intelligence. I'm a math person, an arguer (arguments don't need to be fights, look it up), and a thinker.

So I always used to joke that I don't actually have intuition. Turns out, that's not quite true... My counselor explained to me the value of intuition and how in can work in cooperation with the analytical mind. I'd never seen a point to getting touch with my intuition because it was rare that my thinking through something didn't lead me anywhere, especially once I'd become more secure in myself and didn't feel stressed all the time.

But, finally ran into something that I couldn't solve or understand from my current perspective, and now I am working on choosing what to do from this thing inside me that knows what's right for me. It's all an exercise in trust and letting go of control and being patient, all things I'd long avoided practicing by approaching everything analytically first.

So I've been meditating every day for 5 days now, usually twice a day. I sit outside on a rug and eat my yogurt and cereal to just kind of sit and get used to being there... I do some yoga for a few minutes to help relax and focus. And then I meditate, and usually it lasts at least an hour which feels good. Yesterday it was almost an hour and a half where I was actually in meditation and it felt really great.

As for the things I've understood so far, there are just a few small pieces of wisdom that have come to my attention and I don't know how they all fit together, yet, but there's been something new everyday and it all feels like progress.

So I've learned that it is kind to surround yourself with others who are kind. Honestly, it seems so simple, but I'd never thought of it. And it makes so much sense! To surround yourself with people who are kind is to understand that you are worthy of kindness, and to understand that acts of kindness feed more acts of kindness. So this applies well to me right now because I'm in the process of defining for myself what it means for me to be kind.

The second awareness that I remember (I should have been writing these down...) was about rejection. It was just some clarity about the forms that rejection can take and what it means for me.

And the third awareness that I can recall was about a fear that I've been struggling with. I'm afraid to do what is right for me out of fear of hurting other people. Through metaphor, I understood it as this: The tree does not stop growing for fear of casting a shadow. That is to say, I don't need to be afraid anymore of hurting others through my own growth. There is light everywhere, and anyone in growth can choose not to stand in my shadow.

Thank you, as always, to anyone who reads these posts. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. <3

Adventure #2: A Plea for Vulnerability

A friend of mine recently posted on his blog a statement on kindness and the way he chooses to live his life. It was really pertinent and heartfelt, and it really inspired me to say something on the topic, as well. (His blog is very witty and entertaining, and I absolutely suggest checking it out. He discusses and analyzes current NFL news as well as shares his many wonderful musings on life, the universe, and everything.)

So what I'd like to talk about it vulnerability and how it relates to kindness. I know a lot of you have probably heard all about what it means to be vulnerable and why it's good for you, but a side that we rarely talk about is how it's good for other people when we're vulnerable, too.

Think about it this way: If you remain closed off because of fear, worry, pessimism, whatever your ail, then nobody else gets to experience you... By cutting other people out of your life, keeping things surface level, or being afraid of intimacy, you're taking away a chance for you and someone else to share something. It's not just that you'll be unhappy if you don't let people in. It's that you're refusing to share yourself with the world. You're being selfish. You keep your story and your wisdom and whatever you are supposed to do while you're placed on this earth all to yourself. Fear of vulnerability will keep you from fulfilling your purpose in life, whatever it may be.

My favorite perspective on this topic is from C.S. Lewis. (I'll probably write a "To Inspire" post about it as well because it really means so much to me.) He says:

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Until some recent thought, I hadn't really understood why closing yourself off to people is a selfish act, but now I understand. You have a gift to share with the world. You have love to give, wisdom to share, kindness to express, and sympathy to feel.

So I ask you. Please find it within yourself to take risks, be vulnerable, and love freely. I am a fierce optimist, and with determination, we all can be. There is no limit to strength of will, so no matter how you have been hurt, let down, or confused, please choose to live outside of the fear for your sake and everyone else's. This world is lucky to have you <3

To Inspire: G.K. Chesterton

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." - G.K. Chesterton

To Inspire: Wishing Wells

This song cheers me up no matter what. It really is in line with what I'm trying to learn, as it talks about following your heart, taking risks, and just embracing the journey through the unknowns in life.

Adventure #1: The Blog

Here goes! My first blog post ever.

Oh my goodness this is so crazy  what am I doing  why did I think this was a good idea

Okay, those thoughts successfully acknowledged and ignored: Hi! My name is Cora Lee. And I'm planning an adventure that will last for the rest of my life.

I've just graduated high school and have left said institution with a long-indulged fear of making mistakes. This is something I want to unlearn as I teach myself to live. You see, at this point in my life, I'm working to change my perspective and become more open to new experiences, ideas, and even mistakes. So for me, this blog is a tool to help me to practice living with a new perspective.

So here's to: new beginnings, living life, and becoming adventuresome.