The real meaning of success
3 chapters…
01.
It’s a 38 degree day here (that’s 100 degrees Fahrenheit). A wall of heat. No breeze. Only startling sun and a pale blue sky. I’ve been downstairs all morning in my home office redesigning my website and preparing my new offering. But now I’m seated upstairs by the windows, blinds drawn, my cats coming out of hiding and joining me. I’ve been wondering what I’d like to write in this space, amongst us, between us. Something simpler, I was thinking. And deeper. I’ve been trying to work it out, what to write, for many weeks. But none of my thinking parts could work it out. Nothing felt right. Then I went for my usual Wednesday morning walk in the National Park near my house and the insight came. I want to share 3 chapters, that is, short reflections on what’s been crossing my mind and my path over the past week. An invitation, I hope, for you to, maybe, do the same for yourself. A short pause. A moment to hear ourselves better. A simple invitation to listen a little more closely.
02.
My Wednesday morning walks around the National Park are not for physical exercise. I walk slowly. Very, very slowly. A 20 min loop takes me an hour. Dog walkers and joggers and mountain bikers all whizz past me and I maintain my slow and steady pace. I once had a woman exclaim as she passed, “Oh you’re doing a walking meditation.” And then smile wryly and say, “Oh and now I’ve interrupted you.” And I once had a man peel away from his group and ask, “I’ve been wondering, are you meditating while you walk?” We would pass each other regularly and he was curious. “Yes,” I said. “Of sorts.” I have a bit of a rhythm to my walks. For the first section, I allow my mind to wander wherever it wants to go - ebook formats, friendship bracelets, an upcoming flight. Then as I hit the gravel trail, I do my daily energy checkin before posing any questions I’d like guidance on and allowing any wisdom to arise. This week, as I entered the park, there was a cacophony of bird song as my soundtrack. And amongst the noise, perhaps because of the noise, I heard a whispering of this idea. Write 3 chapters. Before any of my thinking parts could kick in and criticise the idea, I felt into it. And it felt good. So here we are. Giving it a go.
03.
Today, because of the heat, I’ve been bunkered inside. But I’ve been bunkered inside, hidden away, for the past year or maybe two. For good reason. I’ve been creating and doing my inner work. But very soon, it will be time to venture out and begin sharing what I’ve been creating. With each step outward, I have to care for my parts who are freaking out about the change. The ones who say to me, “Jodie, don’t go out there! Stay in here. It’s much safer in here.” I also need to temper those parts who want to race out the door and start yelling, hollering, at everyone about everything. “No one knows you exist, Jodie. We need to tell them! Otherwise, you won’t succeed.” Which had me pondering this notion of success. Which led me to a quote from Rick Rubin in his book, The Creative Act: “How shall we measure success? It isn’t popularity, money or critical esteem. Success occurs in the privacy of your soul. When you’ve done all you can to bring out the work’s greatest potential. When you’re pleased and ready to let go. Success has nothing to do with variables outside yourself.” Genius. This is the notion of success I want to make my own.
3 endnotes…
Here are 3 other things that have crossed my path this week…
I read an exquisite YA book, The Boy Who Steals Houses (and the Girl who Steals his Heart) by C.G Drews. About the chaos of family and how homes need to be built not stolen. Brilliant.
I found this recipe and thought I have to make it because, yes, it looks delicious but also, what an excellent name for a recipe: Marry Me Chicken. Plus I’ve loving the Galentines trend. This cocktail would be perfect for such an event.
My kids put me onto The Rions, four lads from Sydney’s Northern Beaches who won Triple J’s Unearthed High and got a recording contract even before they’d left school. Teenage dreams, for sure. And their music is so good.
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Thank you for being here. Love to you and all of your loved ones
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