5 Things I Know at 40 That I Wish I Knew at 30

1. Your Inner World Reflects Your Outer World

What is the ambiance, the climate of your inner world? What are the ingredients of your thoughts? Do you have a sense of control over the thought-loop in your mind? Do you water your garden, are there weeds that you need to remove, seeds that you need to plant? How fertile or arid is the soil? Your inner world forms the basis for what you see and experience in your waking life. Have you noticed when you begin to focus - consistently - on one aspect of your life, hoping to improve it, it gets better? Are you in auto-pilot or are you steering the ship of your life with intention? What is your intention? Your intangible thoughts form the reality of your tangible, physical world.

2. Everything is Symbolic, Everything a Guide

Conversations with strangers, unexpected opportunities - or options - a song you haven't heard in years plays on the radio with just the message you needed to hear, an animal comes to your front door asking to be fed, an unexpected message or a phone call, a thought that makes its way into your conscious mind, something - anything - guiding you to take a step into the unknown...relief from the ordinary, the mundane. A reminder that life is a dance. A reminder that the dance is magical and that there are forces beyond you that hear you, see you, love you, want the best for you. Be aware of the symbolism of that which you label, there is a meaning behind the visual. But don't overthink it either. Logic ruins everything (sometimes).

3. You are Meant to Evolve

Don't resist your evolution. Old skin must be shed to allow the new to take shape. You will be very resistant to it. It will be painful. Those around you will also be resistant to it, especially those who you're emotionally enmeshed with. Be prepared for drama. But you must disengage with empathy and come into your own to experience the empowering freedom that comes with self-respect. Expect some relationships to fade once this happens. Your resistance to an evolved version will continue rearing its head till you reach a place of calm therao.

4. Die Elegantly

Some of us remain zombies even while being alive. It's like the walking dead. But you can flip the script: think of every day as your last. What would you do differently? Don't live a half life. Die elegantly. Die every day with integrity. Die every day in a dance with life.

5. Fall in Love with Yourself

The perfect partner doesn't exist. The perfect anything doesn't exist. Fall in love with yourself. Pour into yourself. Pour into the reservoir that you forgot existed. Fall in love with every aspect of your being. Honour it. Don't abuse it, pollute it, disregard it, overlook it, despise it. There's no one like you on this majestic planet. You're a miracle, just like every pulsating being existing right now.