Life has a way of catching up with us, especially when we take it for granted and default to autopilot.
It is also common through this process that we forget to check in with ourselves and assess what still remains relevant, important and a priority in our lives, versus what we are ready to release, file away or place new boundaries around.
If these processes are left unchecked, then we are at risk of forgetting what makes us happy or even who we are, as our identity becomes who others (or who we think others) want us to be. The solution is to reflect on our foundations, what supports us as we move through life. Within this process, we discover and can make use of, our superpower.
If you feel this resonates with you, then read on.
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Accessing your Foundations
Your foundation is created from two key elements – the tiles and the mortar.
Let’s explore what that entails, how you can proactively adjust your foundations to support you and discover your superpower as a result.
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Tiles
In the beginning, the tiles are often chosen for us and laid down by others, frequently involving our parents, family, friends, and community.
These tiles may include patterns and colours that may or may not evolve as we do, activating the desire within us to update or even replace them when we are ready.
Patterns may have a meaning behind them (family routines or rituals) that resonate with your upbringing, and they may include ancestral lineage, cultural beliefs or spiritual beliefs. These may be treasured or revered, while some may find them restricting or contradictive to who they want to be.
The colours often align to the emotional applications during the tiles being laid. Was there an emphasis on discipline, teaching, fun, exploration, structure or little structure? What colours would you connect with your upbringing and key experiences?
Sometimes the tiles may fracture or chip, creating a wariness or even a sense of avoidance for fear we may damage them further. However, you may love that little chip or crack because of the story it tells or the memory it holds.
Tiles are intended to create a solid foundation for us to traverse as we move through life. They may include daily routines, from getting up in the morning, doing chores, preparing regular meals, exercise, connecting with people, school, work, clubs, church, meetings, social occasions… you get the idea. It is through this sense of stability, that we feel confident and secure. Any new opportunity we seize enables a new tile to be placed on our foundational floor.
As we grow, it is through key experiences, whether they be good, challenging or memorable, that new tiles are created. They may appear as a blank canvas, patterned or coloured if they are produced while you are on autopilot, capturing the moment you experienced it. If you desire to create a more cohesive look for your foundation, then you have the ability to do so.
How?
First, create some time to plan how you would like your foundations to look. This may involve refreshing your goals, the people you socialise with, the type of life you wish to experience or the career you would like to pursue. Do you like the idea of blending in some of your older tiles with the new ones or completely renovate?
Secondly, review the tiles that currently make up your foundation. Now is the time to be selective in the ones you want to replace, either because they no longer resonate with you (or never did), or because you are ready to introduce your own foundational masterpiece and change the blueprint to reflect this.
Also, it is important to consider if your tiles are long lasting or temporary. This will enable you to factor in tiles representing short- and long-term experiences, and the importance they have in your life.
All tiles have the ability to be repositioned, repaired and replaced. The choice is yours.
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Mortar
Let’s take a look at the role of the mortar. Mortar is the glue that holds the tiles in place. The stronger the mortar, the more secure the tiles and subsequently the foundations will become. This is where your superpower resides, and it has always been a strong factor in who you are and how you navigate life. Let’s take a look into the main ingredients of foundational mortar and as you read, see if there is one main component that follows you through life and you draw on to make things happen!
A key component in strengthening the mortar is self-belief. Believing in yourself and backing yourself will strengthen your mortar and secure your tiles.
Faith in yourself, skills, abilities, those around you, or in a higher power is another strengthening component of mortar. Wherever your belief exists, you can draw strength from it, especially when times are challenging. Faith enables you to trust in the grand design and the intricate details before they become tangible.
Clarity of who you are and where you are going will also strengthen your mortar. This includes an investment of quality time and energy, a powerful ingredient combination.
Intention sets the mortar. Consider what your intention is when you are about to speak, create, plan for the future or develop as a person. This determines the quality of the mortar and its ability to set well.
It is important to note that if you choose temporary tiling for your foundation with the expectation to alter in in the near future, then plan for the type of mortar you wish to use as a result. If you use a strong mortar, then you may create more work for yourself further down the track when you are ready to renovate again. Once again, the choice is yours.
We often consider our foundations as rigid or set in stone. However, your foundations are ever changing, and you have a guiding hand in this process.
Fun fact, the style of home you love to live in is often a reflection of your own foundational personality. Contemporary home lovers like it minimalistic and free of clutter, being very selective of what is placed in their home and where. They also try to replicate this in their own lives as it resonates with them. Some people love more of a homey feeling home filled with memories and home comforts passed down from another time. They also enjoy this being a component of their own foundation. Is this the case in your life?
I wish you success in exploring how your foundations could look with a creative eye. Have an amazing month ahead with all the opportunities this momentum brings into your life.