Whose Advice Do You Follow?

by Ryan Biddulph

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For 30 years of my life, I worked a job to pay bills. At least until 2008.

I lost my security guard job. Life opened up. I could work from home and be free. But stronger inner pulls goaded me to get a job ASAP to pay bills, although I ignored the nudges. Why? I followed advice from people I listened to and trusted, growing up. My fam, friends and society collectively offered the stock advice: spend life securing a job to pay bills. Nothing else mattered beyond working jobs to ensure I always paid my bills. Hey; at least I had weekends to do what I wanted to do, right?

But depression set in during my employee days. I felt like I was dying every day I worked a job. Trading freedom for numbers on a screen never feels good. I finally figured out how I followed advice from my family, friends and the general public. I respect all, but did any of these folks become happy billionaires? No. Did any of these people reach the top of their niche? No. All worked jobs to pay bills. All likely had perfect credit scores. No missed payments too, I guarantee.

But no one who offered this advice seemed genuinely happy, serene and fulfilled. I ceased following their advice to follow advice from happy, serene icons in their chosen field.

Whose Advice Do You Follow?

Ask yourself this question. Wait for honest answers. Most live life on auto pilot. People trust parents. Parents generally offer fear-based, limiting advice. Kids follow the advice. Kids become adults. Adults live a fear-driven, limited life.

Sit with your answer. Swallowing how you lived 20, 40 or 60 years of your life following your parent’s advice mindlessly feels horribly depressing at first. But liberating yourself from limiting advice also feels fun, freeing and fulfilling. I began blogging and circled the globe after I lived mainly to have fun, to blog, to render useful service and to travel. I followed my heart’s advice. My heart told me to blog, to help people and to circle the globe. Quite different advice from “work a job to pay bills”.

Listen to Your Intuition

The moment you stop following other people’s advice, your intuition guides you with its small, still voice. Pay close attention to these nudges. Perhaps you feel a strong urge to book a trip to an exotic location. Do it! Do NOT question this strong urge because your intuition wants you to take this path, to open up your eyes and to begin living a fun, freeing life.

Old thought patterns will question your intuitive urges. Ego loves comfort, security and misery. Ego hates discomfort, freedom and peace of mind. Trust your gut. Ego lies.

Develop New Habits

Following new, freeing advice involves changing your habits. Sit with discomfort. During my “get a job and pay bills days”, I woke by alarm, grabbed a bagel, watched news and sped off to work. My current “be free and live your dreams” days involves always getting 8-9 hours of sleep (no alarms) and 3-4 hours of Kriya yoga, yin yoga, meditating and exercise daily, beginning with 20 minutes of intense Kriya as soon as I roll out of bed.

I cannot argue with the results, considering how I’ve circled the globe as a pro blogger for 8 years.