How to Make Sure You Stay True to You (Even When Life Gets Hard)
One of my personal themes is Live Epic. It means that whatever I’m doing and however it is turning out – to be fully living, fully loving and fully experiencing. It means to go with the flow and feel the ups and downs. And to rest when I need to.
One of the ways that I’ve enjoyed Living Epic is by having my 5 Live Epic guidelines. These are reminders of words and ways that I live – even when my external world is going crazy! They hang in my office by my door.
Monica’s Live Epic Guidelines
- Truth – Be honest with what you are doing and not doing.
- Laugh – Laugh once a day, even if it’s just in your head.
- Move – Move your body at least 4 times a week.
- Connect – Call family and friends at least once a week.
- Contribute – Make connections and create happiness for no reason and without expectation of return. Make the world better through philanthropy, appreciation, love, knowledge and awareness.
I created these guidelines for a variety of reasons. Some of them are areas that I need to be reminded to work on – for example, after a day of being on the phone, I can forget to call friends and family.
Some of them are essential for my wellbeing – like moving at least 4 times a week.
Some of them take me out of my comfort zone – like making the world better every day.
They remind me who I am and what my values are, no matter what is going on around me or how crazy things can get.
People often talk about money makes people evil. Or how success can make you selfish or unapproachable.
But here’s the truth. Money is an energy. Success is a state of being. In and of themselves none of these states causes anything negative.
What happens is that external circumstances, fear, pressure, shame and anxiety cause us to change our own values. And when our values change, our behaviors follow. These Live Epic Guidelines remind me of who I am and how I should behave no matter what the world is telling me. And they keep me aligned with who I am.
What are your Live Epic Guidelines? This week I encourage you to take the plunge and write them for yourself. Then read them daily. See how it helps you to stay true to you.
Here’s to knowing who we are and operating from our hearts, no matter what!
