It can be challenging for the best of us to always be on target with our choices and never give ourselves a break. We’re human beings not machines.

Even the most disciplined take time to throw caution to the wind and fall off the wagon once in while. But, that’s not excuse to unhitch the horses, light the wagon on fire and send it down the hill into the ravine to be destroyed in a fiery blaze of glory.

We must chose to limit our choices of being “less than” in order to avoid spiraling out of control only to wake up 12 hours later on a couch from a self-induced sugar coma feeling as swollen as the Michelin Man.

Here is where moderation can be a useful tool for us. So, let’s use it.

What good is it to self-reflect if we’re not able to objectively see what’s going on with ourselves? I know it’s extremely difficult for me to objectively be critical to myself with a certain amount of accuracy. I tend to get in my own way.

So, then maybe we should go to those Loved ones around us and ask them.

Often they are able to see traits, behaviors and habits we’ve tend to overlook. It may not be the easiest to hear, but it’s probably just what we need to hear.

If it’s going to help us evolve into a better and more well-rounded person, then I say why not?

Oh yeah. Don’t forget to check your ego in at the door.

I am therefore; I am enough right now in this moment.

There is no lesson, guru, shaman, book, initiation or classroom that one must endure to fill this cup.

It already is.

Let’s operate from there.

I remember when I was a teenager it was quite difficult to discern out of all the voices and noise around me, who the true ‘me’ really was. Believe you/me, I made some really poor choices along the way to discovery. Thank goodness I’m still alive to have learned from these as a few of them could have gone south fast.

Over the years, I have come to understand about myself that if a decision I made in the past keeps me awake at night, that’s most likely NOT who I am. And it will continue to come up until I reconcile with my past.

Surprisingly to me, this is the barometer with which many of my current decisions are made nowadays.

Hopefully, I’ve paid my dues for my past. If not, then bring it on. I accept the price.

Until then, I’m sleeping much better these days.

It comes up often in my life when I find myself saying, “I wish I knew this before.”

I look back on past experiences whether in my professional or my personal life and realize how much work/pain/strife I could have avoided had I known more at the time. But, such is life. This is how learn, grow and evolve.

Often kids (including my own) and adults today only want to engage in activities they are already good at doing. I understand, because no one wants to flail, but we’re missing the big picture: the process of knowing. Learning. Gaining wisdom.

We may be able to life-hack some things in our lives, but certainly not everything. Certainly not the wisdom where we have had to go through an experience shedding blood, sweat or tears.

The best way to get into the knowing is simple, but not many choose to do it; 1. Drop your ego. 2. Shut your mouth. 3. Open your ears. 4. Observe others who have come before you and had success. 5. Repeat.