The new and improved......Me

No....I haven't washed myself with the latest laundry product, you know the kind.., when every second commercial is about how new and improved product "XYZ" is, just to try to stimulate you to buy it.

What I'm talking about is improving ones inner self, the subconscious mind.

Since the movie 'the secret' was released in 2006, we have been bombarded with all kinds of self help 'gurus', therapies and programmes to help us become aware of our inner selves.

The Secret sure opened up my eyes, it gave me several 'aha' moments, and it made me feel as if I wasn't abnormal anymore. Up till then I had thought that certain feelings I had were egotistical and basically just not done. I felt there was something missing but I couldn't put my finger on it, as if there was more to my life than how I was living it.

Yet, until then I had dismissed these thoughts because I felt guilty, and trying to talk about it to friends just made me sound like I wasn't grateful for what I had.(which I was, and am even more grateful about now)

I have watched the movie dozens of times since then and each time something else that was said hit home but it never moved me as much as the first time, when I experienced intense joy and sadness almost at the same time.

But this isn't me endorsing the movie at all, I'm just pointing out the moment that I realized there was much more to my life than I had seen so far. But now that I knew that, HOW was I going to be able to get inside of me to do so?

I scoured the internet for information that could lead to my enlightenment and came across a vast amount of possibilities, each and every one of them promising me that if I just followed their programme or joined their coaching team I would become 'enlightened'.

Now, over three years later, I must say that the most important thing I have learned is that improving ones inner self is a continuous journey, one that will most likely take a whole mortal lifetime and well beyond. I also learned that one doesn't always need a certain programme or therapy, there is a lot of free information out there, you just have to give yourself the time to let it reach you.

I have taken what feels good to me out of all the things I have read and heard and each day I find myself getting to know the real and improved me. It really isn't about the HOW one goes about it, it's the letting go of trying so hard to be who we think we want to be, for often that person is more likely to be who others want us to be.

So, if you feel good about wearing two different colored socks, or dying your hair pink, to the feeling good about staying home to raise the kids instead of being frowned upon for not having a career, I say...All the more power to you! for it is the people who are genuinely happy with their lives, who dare to put themselves first, that are enlightened.

They have discovered the secret which is actually very simple......when you are happy with yourself, then you live your life with joy, love and good expectations.

This attitude provides nourishment for everyone around them and these people in turn will begin to feel the joy, love and expect good. The ripple effect will become a tidal wave causing a gigantic positive commotion.

Of course, many will say, that is idealistic thinking, but I disagree. I truly believe if we all felt more love, more joy and expected only good things to happen to us, that the world would be a much happier and healthier place.

On the other hand, what would we have to complain about....... :)