February 7, 2014

ISIQ-0376

“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” – Emily Dickinson

The key word in this quote, for me, is “ready”. It’s been on my mind for a few days now, about how when we are ready, things seem to start happening to bring about whatever we want/need in life.

I mentioned that I went for my first run in 2 months, and did a personal best time over 5km. While I was running and noticing my faster-than-usual splits, I noticed how much I was enjoying the, and how ready I was for the run. If I’d tried to do a 5km PB at any stage before that day, I probably wouldn’t have run as well.

I was ready.

In the same way, I just spent most of the past 12 work hours redesigning our portrait pricelist and brochure, and now it’s finished, done, ready to send out to the world. (Email me if you’d like to see a copy!) This task involved the whole gamut of the design process – layout, choosing images, redesigning prices, writing copy, shooting specific product images, retouching those images, assembling in InDesign, and finally exporting and proofreading the PDF. In previous years this set of tasks might’ve taken me anywhere from two days to two weeks. So what made it all happen, so swiftly?

I was ready.

I’d been thinking about this task for the better part of six months. But finally, all the planets aligned, and the work just flowed out of me.

I set out earlier in the year how I’m focussing on three key words for this year – Habits, Light, Flow.

I’m pleased to report that I’ve built a good habit of the ability to get up and start my day at 5am. I’m also pleased to report that over the past week, I’ve been the happiest, friendliest husband and Dad I’ve been in a while. And lastly, this experience of Flow has been coming into my life more and more. Today’s work on the brochure was one of those Flow experiences, as was my run earlier this week.

Finally, my wife and I published Module 1 of her first-ever eCourse for The Root Cause – the 5 Minute Healthy Lunch Box System – which is an exciting first step into the world of online business. Churning out that piece of work was yet another example of being in Flow, and it all came together quite easily. Not quickly, but easily. Why?

We were ready.

It could be suggested that our souls have been standing ajar, ready to welcome these ecstatic experiences. If my name was Emily Dickinson, I probably would have said just that.

Over to you: I’d love to hear similar examples of when you’ve been ready for things in your own life, and how things have flowed for you. 

And lastly: Are you ready? 

With love,
Israel. xo

PS This photo was taken from the top balcony of my old apartment earlier this week. We’re selling the apartment – details here – and it goes to auction on 22 Feb. Just in case you’re in the market for a beautiful, well-maintained, fully-refurbished, loft-style split-level apartment, only 20mins by public transport to the most beautiful city in the world. ;)

 

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