How To Be A Rebel Personal Development Guru (Without A Cause)

Personal development can be a fickle world. One minute everyone is talking about goals, and the next everyone is saying don’t have goals – just live according to your moment to moment inspiration.

So my question to you is are you living according to your heart or the voices of all the writers, bloggers and personal development guru’s drowning out your own wisdom? Is your gut feeling being gutted out by information overload?

I’ve had the virus of listening to what others had to say, but listening to those voices created a virus within me. It was the virus of guilt. I felt like I had to do what I was being told in order to fit in with the crowd.

It stems from the playground mentality. The mentality of not wanting to the one left out. However, the person who thinks for themselves end up being the leader of the pack rather than a follower.

It’s not because they want to be the leader, but that their power of their natural ability to follow their own voice makes them naturally attractive to others.

Think for yourself. Make your own mind up. Don’t just follow the crowd, be a rebel who makes his/her own path.

Here are some examples of where I’ve made up my own mind.

Sleep

There is a general consensus that one must wake up early. Why? I don’t necessarily agree. While I think there are health benefits to waking up early there are also drawbacks. Being locked in a routine often means that disruption from that routine can cause problems.

When I was in India for a month, I was only sleeping about 3 hours a night, and having a brief nap in the afternoon. Because I was flexible it didn’t affect me. I choose not to follow a set routine. Just think; if you are in set routine and suddenly you have to go away for a weekend to another country? How will that affect your routine?

Waking up naturally offers far more benefits and out weighs the pro’s of being an early riser. Sleep as much as you want and wake up when you want. If you want to set yourself a routine go for it.

Food

I’ve been a vegetarian my entire life and a few years back I tried going vegan but I found it too difficult. So, I continued to eat small amounts of cheese but I mainly stuck to organic products. Then I realised that I really liked the taste of fish so I gave it a go!

“Omg, Amit, that’s blasphemy in the personal development world!” Yes, I know, so sue me!

I loved it but strangely, one day, I saw some sushi in a supermarket and it suddenly put me off fish. But last year I started eating it again. I find it helps, especially when training, to increase strength and make my joints more supple. I don’t eat it all the time, just occasionally when I feel like it.

I also went through a phase where I was only eating organic produce. Then, again while I was in India, I realised I didn’t have that luxury. I could only eat what was given to me. Because of my situation I even started drinking coffee just while I was there. I was a beggar and I couldn’t be a chooser.

Because I’d adopted a flexible attitude I didn’t mind. I didn’t chastise myself just because I broke the coffee vow I’d made four years prior.

Eat whatever you wish. Create your own diet plan that suits you.

Exercise

Are you doing the sport you really want or are you doing the easy, yoga type, sports because that’s what you think you should be doing? Aggressive sports are not for our kind. Bull! You do whatever you want because you enjoy it.

I love badminton and it’s a sport filled with ego! Yet when my ego comes into play I am a better player. If my opponent has touched a nerve and has ignited my ego that makes me play that much harder!

I tried doing Tai Chi for a short time and it was in a park too. It was great but I realised it wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy it so I gave it up. Why do something you don’t enjoy? Be true to yourself and make sure you’re doing things you want to and not because you’re being told to.

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Don’t lie to yourself, be true to your wishes and gut feelings.

What things have you done in the past because you thought you ‘should’ be doing them? Share you thoughts.