I'm on a mission to help more people find and live their authentic life. Check out my Daily Notes where I write a short note each day about the connection of spirit, mind, body and money on the Pursuit of your authentic life.
learning to surf
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“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
- Jon Kabat-Zinn
It’s fitting that this quote showed up on my Open app (meditation and breathwork app) this morning; tomorrow, we head to Jamaica for New Year's in what will be our last warm New Year’s trip for a while—next year, Roman will be in high school and his basketball season will keep us homebound for at least the following four years. I’m excited for this next week—this time two years ago that I started writing the Daily Note while down in Marco Island, Florida. It’s crazy to reflect on that decision to start writing to process my morning meditations and then the random decision to publish them on my website. Looking back, I realize it was an intuitive decision to start writing, and while I had no idea at the time what the Daily Notes would lead to, it just felt right. Fast forward to today, over 2,000 people are getting my Daily Notes via email and LinkedIn, and 200 are getting the Weekly Notes via email. Those numbers blow my mind because I haven’t promoted my writing–I just write, hit publish, share it in the morning, and let the Universe handle the rest. It’s been so cool to read the replies that come in when a Note resonates with someone–I’ve shared this before, but the Notes have evolved into writing to my Self (either to tell my Self something I need to remember or to process what I’m learning) and hope that they might resonate with someone else from time to time. I’m excited to have a little more time for the Notes while we’re away—there will be no morning rush, I’ll be able to meditate by the ocean, and hopefully will be able to share some really insightful thoughts with you. I didn’t intend for today’s Note to become a trip down memory lane and a little celebration, but that happened when I started writing. As I get back to Jon Kabat-Zinn’s quote, it’s important to keep in mind that your Pursuit is going to provide challenges, surprises, and obstacles along the way, but if you can keep the perspective that each of those is merely a wave and that you’re going to use them to learn to surf, you’ll be able to eventually smoothly ride any wave that comes your way. I’ve tried surfing in California a number of times and have never stood up on a wave; I’ve been beaten up by the ocean, and yet, I’m excited to go out and try every chance I get because I know I’m eventually going to figure it out. Waves are going to come. Don’t let them beat you up, or if they do beat you up a little, at least let it be as you are learning how to use the wave to help you back to safe waters. JC |
connect spirit, mind, body, and money w/ Justin Castelli
I'm on a mission to help more people find and live their authentic life. Check out my Daily Notes where I write a short note each day about the connection of spirit, mind, body and money on the Pursuit of your authentic life.
Last night I finally went to see Project Hail Mary. I read the book last year in just a few days and couldn’t wait for the movie once I heard one was coming out. I figured I’d go to a late show by myself since Roman would be hanging out at the hotel with his teammates, and I’d just be up in my room by myself—I might as well be by myself at the movies seeing a movie I know none of my family would enjoy. A quick side note: a younger version of my Self would have never imagined going to the...
Letting go of the things we can’t control was the theme of my meditation yesterday. This morning, after Roman’s first AAU game, I asked him how he felt about his game. He said he was happy with his defense and energy, which I’ll agree were both good, but that he wished he had made a couple of the threes he missed—he’s been shooting this AAU season very efficiently, so he hasn’t missed much. “I’m going to make my threes in the next game.” I told him that’s the wrong focus. He can’t control...
“To the ego, the present moment hardly exists. Only past and future are considered important. This total reversal of the truth accounts for the fact that in the ego mode, the mind is so dysfunctional. It is always concerned with keeping the past alive, because without it—who are you? It constantly projects itself into the future to ensure its continued survival and to seek some kind of release or fulfillment there… Even when the ego seems to be concerned with the present, it is not the...