Wow you sure have put a lot of pressure on yourself. Your goals are admirable however the first step in achieving them may require letting them go. You might be asking yourself how can I achieve them if I let them go.  It’s a change of reference that creates space to becoming and being and such a person who is free of such constraints (like the ones you have put on yourself) will be an inspiration to others.

“What is in a name, a rose by any other name would smell a sweet.” Let go of unnecessary name expectations such thinking is unskillful/mindful.

Likewise, is judging our lives based on how we can only imagine others are doing. Interesting study on about Facebook. Many people become depressed reading the post of others as it always appears like they are having such great lives. Most people only post the good stuff, moments of time, and we never know the whole story. Everyone struggles. No one can know what others are feeling, doing, thinking and if you think you know I would bet if you really look you are comparing yourself to an illusion that you have created. Illusion on Illusion on Illusion… let it go.

I recommend the following books:
‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ by Garth Stein. Is about a race car driver J
‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho
‘Pathways to Bliss: Mythology and Personal Transformation’ by  Joseph Campbell

“Because memory is time folding back on itself. To remember is to disengage from the present. In order to reach any kind of success in automobile racing, a driver must never remember.” ― Garth Stein

“Inside each of us resides the truth,” I began, “the absolute truth. But sometimes the truth is hidden in a hall of mirrors. Sometimes we believe we are viewing the real thing, when in fact we are viewing a facsimile, a distortion. As I listen to this trial, I am reminded of the climactic scene of a James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun. James Bond escaped his hall of mirrors by breaking the glass, shattering the illusions, until only the true villain stood before him. We, too, must shatter the mirrors. We must look into ourselves and root out the distortions until that thing which we know in our hearts is perfect and true, stands before us. Only then will justice be served.”

― Garth Stein

“The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day – Paulo Cohelo

“Follow your bliss. If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you.I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else. – Joseph Campbell

• This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by Peter.