20 life lessons for 20 years of success: Part 1

This month, our school reached the 20 year milestone! Established in 1997, we’ve been honoured to be part of the formation of over 40,000 careers in holistic health ever since. As we pass the torch to our students and beyond, we’d like to continue the tradition by sharing some of our acquired life lessons with our cherished readers. One bit of knowledge for each year of success.

Holistic education has taught us a lot along the way, and as the years have passed we’ve experienced this lifestyle continuing to grow with us in health, wealth and happiness. We hope you will enjoy our gems of collective wisdom and feel inspired to share your own!

Success Lesson Nº1

Have an attitude of gratitude

The first, and most important lesson we came to terms with early on in our journey is all about attitude. Your attitude is the expression of your perspective. It’s taking small problems, and putting them into the great scale of existence, then seeing how minute they actually are. It’s taking your blessings, and making them the centre piece of each room you walk into. It’s coming to terms with reality, and thinking: “Yes. I’m thankful for what I have, despite what I don’t have!” It’s spending energy focusing on the good each and every day.

We’ve found that if you have an attitude of gratitude, it’s hard to feel incomplete, frustrated, insecure or unworthy. That doesn’t mean that times are not going to get hard, it just means you’re going to be so much better equipped to deal with them.

Success Lesson Nº2

Grow thick skin

Life will get uncomfortable, and that’s actually good, believe it or not. We don’t grow in times of comfort, that’s not when the gems of our personalities are formed. In order to stay healthy and sane in times of discomfort, stress or strain, you’ve got to grow thicker skin. Resilience comes from within.

Success Lesson Nº3

Exercise changes everything

It’s nothing new to read that exercise is good for you, but it’s so much more than just maintaining the machinery. It dramatically effects our self esteem, and literally kicks depression in the ass. If depression and anger were demons, exercise would be their exorcism. It’s a natural high, a preventative measure for sickness, and the only way to build physical strength. Exercise can positively change all aspects of your life.

Success Lesson Nº4

Nature is never overrated 

Whether you realise it or not, being in nature is nurturing a part of you that is so primal; so basic and instinctual, that most people forget how much we benefit from it. How much we actually need it as part of a balanced lifestyle. Taking a hike up a mountain, walking casually through a forested area, visiting a national park, skipping through a meadow, jogging on a wintery beach – whatever style of nature-submersion best fits your taste. Don’t waste an opportunity to surround yourself with it. Breathe deeply and appreciate the unarguable beauty. The great sceneries of our natural planet have long been a source of enlightenment.

Success Lesson Nº5

Laughter is medicine

In those moments when we truly laugh, we let go. Let go of all the accumulated sadness, hurt, betrayal, frustration, hopelessness. We let go of it all and allow this crazy automated expression of pure delight to take over our responses. It’s proof of living in the moment. That old saying: “Laughter is the best medicine,” didn’t come from nothing. Laughter activates the relaxation response in our bodies and is a natural pain reliever. Many studies claim it can reduce the risk of certain diseases, prolonging our lifespan.

The sad fact is that a lot of us can get swept away, or dragged under by the hardships of life. It’s only when we finally burst out laughing after a dry spell that we realise how serious we’ve been. Are you happy? It doesn’t matter if you can’t really answer that question. Do you laugh? I think that question is a lot more important.

Success Lesson Nº6

Vegan recipes can transform your life

This may sound a bit dramatic… like how can a recipe TRaNsFoRm your life? It seems like a silly statement. But really, it’s rather genius. We’ve learnt that we can drastically improve our overall health by cutting down on meats and animal products whenever possible. And that’s not all it’s about. Veganism educates you on the realities of animal cruelty in the food industry, and the impact it has on our environment.

It introduces you to awesome alternatives like plant-protein, and gets you excited about ‘superfoods’ and inventive recipes that taste better than anything you’ve ever had before. A lot of people struggle with weight, high cholesterol, mood swings, low energy, mineral deficiencies and digestive issues. It’s been proven that a lot of these problems can be managed, improved or even cured simply by changing to a more vegan-friendly lifestyle. It has done for us!

Check out our recent blog which has some fantastic vegan recipes: Plant protein recipes with 0% meat and 100% goodness

Success Lesson Nº7

The only way to transition is gradually

Whether trying to quit a bad habit, or start up a new project, a gradual transition is the only way to create a solid foundation and lasting success. Going “cold turkey” for example, is great in the short-term, but almost never survives past the first few weeks. Too much of a drastic change, even if it is for the better, can actually be a bad thing. The body doesn’t like being hit with things all at once, it likes time to adjust. The same way that growing and cultivating takes time to reach full term, so must you with your life choices. It may be the long way round, but it’s the smarter way to achieve something.

Success Lesson Nº8

Everything passes

Some people view this as the light at the end of the tunnel. Others see this as a depressing statement. I like to view it as the perfect reminder to remain balanced. Whether something great is happening, or something terrible is happening, that moment will pass. Those hours, days, weeks, months, or even years. They will all pass. It’s a strange concept to dwell on, but a reminder of the reality which is life and the passage of time. It’s an important lesson to remember, though it may sound simple, because it can help you find stability in your emotions. A place of peacefulness within yourself.

Success Lesson Nº9

When you learn something new, you learn about yourself too

When we learn something new, or perfect a skill already acquired, we learn that we are capable of more. We learn that our limits are ever-growing and our whole self is evolving. There’s nothing more rewarding than successfully utilising a freshly taught lesson, or becoming more knowledgeable and confident in your skill-set. We pride ourselves on being an outlet of holistic achievements that are meticulously designed to improve the life of the student, practitioner, teacher and client alike.

Success Lesson Nº10

Age is always changing

As we get older, we start to question a lot of things. Regrets start to creep in. Fear, insecurities, excuses. Western society has always viewed ageing as a negative thing. Something to avoid at all costs, something so horrendous that we all must try our best to hide it. Hide the wrinkles, the greying hair, the sagging boobs and maturing attitude. But if recent times have taught us anything about the ageing experience, it’s that 50 is the new 30, and 30 is the new 20. And it’s all about energy rather than age.

Not only is it now fashionable to be of a certain age, but we truly believe that you’re as young as you live. If your life is full of experiences that keep you young, then your spirit remains youthful, as do your looks. It’s funny how the inside always manages to shine on the outside. Age is always changing, as are we. So own your age! There’s nothing more attractive than confidence.

Part two of this blog will be published on Monday January 23^rd – we’ll be looking at “Life lessons in the workplace”.