I was recently invited to be a mentor at a breakfast for some girls attending Brisbane Girls’ Grammar who are interested in a career in Visual Arts. This was such a privilege and created the opportunity for me to reflect upon my own life and what have been my own guiding principles, and ones which I thought I would share with the girls. They of course will determine their own set of guidelines, but I hoped that my own life experience can somehow assist them to have harmonious, meaningful and enriched lives.
I determined that 5 principles were the ones which, although I have not mastered them yet, are the ones which I feel have been the most important in my life. As my experience grows, these may change, but for the moment the following are what I feel are important, and not necessarily in any specific order.
Underpinning these 5 principles is a recognition that to have a meaningful, enriched life, there must be harmony and balance, and I think that the 5 principles allow me to do this.
1. RESPECT - To have respect for others invites respect to yourself. Respecting the right of others to have opinions, invites respect for your own. Respect for yourself involves not denigrating yourself or putting yourself down. Respecting yourself involves looking after your body through exercise and only eating what supports your body. Respecting yourself involves planning work, play, family, responsibilities, and giving to others etc; so there is balance in your life and you don’t become stressed. Respect your own life by living it to the fullest each and every day. Have a vision, but respect the value of life by living fully each moment.
2. BE HONEST - Always speak truthfully. Always act truthfully. Don’t have facades or follow trends blindly so your own personality is suppressed. Just be yourself. Don’t be afraid to express who you are through your own words and actions. Live your own life, not the life others wish for you.
3. ALWAYS DO THINGS WHICH INSPIRE YOU - Always have something in your life which excites you and you are interested in. Even if along the way to attaining your dreams you find yourself in a job which doesn’t really thrill you, have an interest or hobby or activity which really inspires you and that for while you are doing it, you are totally engrossed. Learn to be open and flexible to explore different new activities, hobbies or skills. Aim to do things which you are passionate about and love, and if you find yourself doing things which you don’t really love doing, do them wholeheartedly anyway, and aim to work toward doing things you do love.
4. GIVE GRATITUDE AND BE GENEROUS - Give thanks to all those who have cared for you and have taught you. Take time to observe and reflect on what you have, rather than what you haven’t. Make time to be in the natural environment and connect consciously with your surroundings. Give to others of your time and energy. It helps us not be so arrogant and egocentric and helps to put balance into your life
5. BE HUMBLE AND DON’T TAKE YOURSELF SO SERIOUSLY - Whilst looking at the night sky with binoculars in the Kimberley, I realised we are just a speck in such a vast expanse. Keep perspective of the big picture and realise that decisions we make are really small in the grand scheme of things. This is not to say that decisions should be made flippantly, but rather with respect, conscious awareness and with a realisation that whatever choices we make, life still goes on regardless of them. Understanding this is so liberating and takes huge pressure off, allowing us to be able to live more in alignment with who we really are - in every moment.
