1. Pretending to be something you’re not.

What does it mean to truly be yourself? It’s speaking from the heart and having the awareness that lets you know when to engage and when to listen. If you’ve ever held back something you wanted to say because you’re scared the reaction; you’re still not being your self fully.

Think about the energy you let off in your interactions and see how it’s effecting your peers. The point is to allow your expressions to flow while still having the awareness of knowing what to say and how to say it.

2. Letting others choose your life for you.

This is a big one we all need to understand, especially if you’re a parent! We are our own teachers, guiders and mentors. This can look like a lot of different scenarios from your friend who is a bit too pushy to parents who make you go to university. Communication is key, expressing what you want in the moment is so important to make sure everyone understands where you are coming from.

3. Being unaware.

Our world is filled to the brim with unconsciousness; and it manifests in so many different ways.

When we can practice awareness on the smallest scale, like picking up after ourselves, seeing what needs doing and just doing it; having that knowing of what needs to get done.

Cooking for a group when you see everyones hungry, knowing you’ll need something ahead of time and preparing it; just being aware. When this is practiced enough, it becomes habit and translates over onto a global scale!

 4. Keeping negative company around.

This can be a tricky one, and as always, communication is key to understanding. If there’s someone in your life who is causing you distress and you are able to talk to them about it, do it! If the lines for communication aren’t secure enough, don’t feel bad about ejecting yourself from someones life. If they are mistreating you, being unaware or even simply not engaging with you, they might not see it. You can choose to be a facilitator of growth for this person if they will allow for that transformation.

5. Avoiding personal growth.

This is something we’ve all been guilty of; perhaps some more than others. What does this look like? It’s specific to you and your life, the choices you make and the lessons you choose to learn.

When you make a mistake and get called out for it, don’t defend it, just listen and grow from it. Defending, denying or ignoring the problems you create does not facilitate growth.

Seeing what you’ve created and being able to see a solution and how not repeat your mistakes is the greatest recipe for growth.

6. Giving up.

Don’t do this! There is a difference between giving up on something and taking a break from it. When you’re working hard and you need to stop for the night, great job! You deserve that relaxation. When you set a goal for something and don’t complete it – that’s okay, you can continue it later. When you refuse to continue working on something wether its work, relationships, a hobby, etc, that is giving up. Finish what you start because it always feels better.

7. Overthinking everything.

In the design of our society, it’s almost impossible to not overthink things.

There is so much stimulation, a never ending stream of thoughts is always flowing through our brains.

Take a breath, use this moment to slow down and focus on your breathing, the physical environment and your physical body.

This is grounding and will help take you out of your head and into your body.

 8. Not speaking from the heart.

At the end of the day, if you’ve worked hard to make people feel good, you usually feel just as good. When you speak truthfully, from a space of acceptance and true understanding; everything you say resonates with everyone.

Truth is universal and everyone will understand where you’re coming from when it’s from the heart.

9. Waiting for the next day.

Bring yourself back to the present. Focus on your breathing again, focus on what needs to get done this moment.

If you’re constantly wanting the day to end, to be somewhere else or dying to crawl back into bed, evaluate what you’re doing with your life.

Where is your attention going, do you enjoy the jobs or tasks you preform each day? We have a lot more freedom than we realize; do what you love. 

10. Being unproductive.

What are you bringing to the world? Create from your soul! What brings you the most joy, makes you the most excited and inspires you immensely? The world needs creations from the heart, ideas that shift us into the next stages of consciousness. What are you bringing to the table?

Most of us aren’t in our purpose so navigating life can leave us feeling lost. Follow what brings you joy, that thing that you want to share with the world.