Surrender to the Luminescence Unknown
When I preparing this week’s Sunshine Inbox, I checked for quotes related to the Unknown and this quote by Krishnamurti caught my heart.
One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.
How true.
In Week 6, I spoke about how much I used to love being in control. As such, the word surrender was not in my vocabulary.
Till I learnt that at times, knowing how to and being able to surrender and let go is beneficial for one’s sanity and wellbeing.
When a known comes to an end, it can be totally jarring.
Yet the unknown can become luminescence as it unfolds.
I coined the term Dream Catalyst when I was 30. It was a self-coping mechanism to get me through the painful days of rebuilding my life.
All that were known and familiar had collapsed.
Told myself that I will continue to believe in the possibilities of dreams. Also to continue being a catalyst to support others to manifest their brighter, better and bigger dreams too.
It was my mission statement.
When I decided to become a solopreneur in 2009, a friend suggested that I use Dream Catalyst as my company’s name. It was a perfect suggestion – personal and business alignment.
It was also a motivational antidote to myself as the naysayers to me starting my own business were plentiful:
Their statements have elements of truth in it.
I had no savings nor connections. I was afraid.
But my heart felt the call to do it.
I was grateful to these naysayers for they helped me see with greater clarity my “why” of forging my path.
I was super grateful to the small group of champions whose encouragement and support provided the impetus to always move forward.
Looking back, I surrendered and embraced the scary unknown of uncertainty.
Simply taking the first step each day such as:
A week became a month.
A month became a year.
A year became 16 years.
Knowing what I know now, I will still make the same decision.
Cos it opened up so many beautiful and enriching experiences including connecting with you through this club.
What about you?
Has a known come to an end and you are embarking on a new journey?
If you are, breathe deeply.
It may not feel like it right now but with the right strategies, perseverance, celebration of each milestone and healing when needed, soon your unknown will be luminescent.
If there is an area or topic that is helpful to supporting your change journey, drop me an email at [email protected] and I will cover it in upcoming Sunshine Inbox.
The Luminescence Unknown
Reflection
Action
One of Dr. Barbara Fredrickson’s key ideas is the “3-to-1 ratio”: a research-backed concept that suggests experiencing positive emotions three times as often as negative ones makes a difference between just getting by and truly flourishing.
Positivity, in her eyes, is not just about smiling all the time or pretending everything is great. It is about truly feeling those good vibes such as joy from a great conversation with a friend, reading a good book or someone showing you care.
The positivity ratio is useful to keep in mind when you are embracing an unknown. In the event that you encounter a negative experience, do intentionally create positive experiences for yourself.
The ratio is also a useful guidance for our relationships with others and in building a positive culture at the workplace.
If you have been giving constructive comments to someone, do ensure that you uplift them as well. Though you may think it is a helpful and constructive comment, it does have a negative impact. If you have been consistently giving such feedback, be mindful that it may have affected the person’s mood and wellbeing.
Practice for the Week
What are three things you can do this week to create positive experiences for yourself?
What are three things you can do this week to create positive experiences for someone you care about?
