Did you ever feel that you weren’t good enough to shine?

I always used to think that to really get what you wanted, abiding by the system was required. In order to be successful, you must be good and operate in a prescribed way, take in what’s going on around you, process it, and spit it out with the intention of making your actions well received by the interpreter; the interpreter being society. It took me aback a bit when I realized that nobody really gives a fuck about how things look, that’s all on the outside; what people really care about is how you make them feel.

About a year ago, I gave up. I gave up on everything I was taught, I gave up on my so called “purpose” to fulfill a position in society, to maintain a day job, to buy a house, to get a new car, get married, to fall in line and serve a purpose in a system that was somehow diagnosed for me without me knowing why. I mean, does happiness really only happen if you’re married by age 30?

This so called “dream” never really felt right (plus I’m not a huge fan of fluffy white dresses), so I gave up what was “promised” and “expected” of me and chucked all of my methodical, organized, standardized upbringing to find out who I really was. Who am I without a JOB? What am I worth without a HUSBAND? What if I have NO MONEY? Who is Jackie Chambers?

A friend once said to me, “Jackie, do you know that ever since I’ve met you, you’ve been talking about going to India?” It dawned on me that I had known that friend for SEVEN YEARS, so what was wrong with me if I had TALKED about something for seven years, and never actually DID it?

I realized I was detached from my very reason for being on this planet. I was living for the exhausted expectation, and not for the simple truth. We are all meant to be explorers of this world, and there really is no path that proves better than another, it’s up to only us to find the path to our true reality.

Every one of us, even our own mothers, have the capacity to change, to give up what’s holding us back. I decided to smile at the thing that was teasing me and let that ever-present string that’s invisibly attached to the heart, gut, stomach, legs, head, arms; just let it pull me to where I was supposed to go.

I stopped thinking and worrying about what I was missing and LET THE DECISIONS MAKE THEMSELVES. It’s really that easy to give in, but are you ready?

The key to happiness is in our thoughts. One day, I stopped believing in sickness, I stopped believing in negative. I decided that it was up to me to decide how I was going to spend MY LIFE.  I had a mountain of student loan debt, family drama, and rent and bills and a boyfriend and dogs to take care of, and oh, so many limitations. So many reasons why, reasons to be stuck, reasons why I simply couldn’t do what I really wanted to do. Reasons for REGRET. And why? Because that was MY CHOICE at that time. I simply wasn’t aware of my power of perception. The things that were holding me back were only doing that because I allowed myself to think they were.

All you really have to do is flip the switch. It’s as easy as going to your nearest store and buying rose colored glasses, and then refusing to take them off.  From there, ANYTHING is possible if you choose to see it that way. Go to Mount Everest? No problemo.  Dress up as a Geisha in Kyoto? Of course.  Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef off of the coast of Australia?  Why not? I personally experienced all of these things, with almost no money, and hardly a plan. I went ALONE. It was a CHOICE. I got over my limitation and listened to my heart. It was breathtaking, humbling, amazing.

It’s not impossible that when you’re setting out to do something, the doubts will rise up like little fish jumping in the water. All it takes is to admire them and let them dive back into the deep.  Somehow your intentions will miraculously align and everything you’ve ever needed will come into your grasp. All of the “impossible” will conspire because you really believe in your destiny as a human life form. You can do ANYTHING.

Want IT. Acknowledge IT. Let IT take control. Let IT plan. Let IT organize. Let IT spend. Let IT dictate. Let IT fail. Let IT flow. Let IT consume your entire being. And you will never worry. You will never feel sad. You will never feel sick. Because you know, that you’re a part of IT. And whatever IT is, is your decision… your very own power as a human being.

And how cool is that. It’s up to YOU to DECIDE. What an amazing gift. YOUR LIFE.

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

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Great Barrier Reef

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The Australian Coast

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Sydney Opera House

Peering into the Glass Bottom Boat

Peering into the Glass Bottom Boat

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Lady Musgrave Island

Snorkeling in the GBR

Snorkeling in the GBR

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The Great Barrier Reef as seen by GoPro

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Sunset over Brisbane

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Off of the Australian Coast

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Australian Sunset

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Fish swimming in the Great Barrier Reef

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Our Ocean

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Riding in a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla with my amazing guide and friend, Hira

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Mount Everest

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With the kids on the mountain

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View from the beginning of the trek.

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Her Majesty, Mount Everest

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Yaks carrying their load along the trail.

 

Gay Pride Parade in Tokyo

Gay Pride Parade in Tokyo

Dressing up as Geisha in Kyoto with my friend Agriem

Dressing up as Geisha in Kyoto with my friend Agriem

Geisha getting ready

Geisha getting ready

Me, the tourist attraction.

Me, the tourist attraction.

Celebrating Holi in Bangalore

Celebrating Holi in Bangalore

Taj by evening

Taj by evening

Local boy in Agra

The best salesman I’ve ever met, a local boy in Agra

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

New friends in Hong Kong

New friends in Hong Kong

The view from my Airbnb flat in Causeaway Bay

The view from my Airbnb flat in Causeaway Bay

The Festival of Flowers, Hong Kong

The Festival of Flowers, Hong Kong

The 2nd best salesman I've ever met, Rhishikesh.

The 2nd best salesman I’ve ever met, Rhishikesh.

My Swami and friend.

My Swami and friend.

Workers in Chitwan

Workers in Chitwan

Rhishikesh, India

Rhishikesh, India

Me giving an elephant a bath.

Me giving an elephant a bath.

Elephant giving me a bath

Elephant giving me a bath

The Nezu Museum of Tokyo

The Nezu Museum of Tokyo

A beautiful new Brazilian friend in India.

A beautiful new Brazilian friend in India.

A canoe ride through the jungles of Chitwan

A canoe ride through the jungles of Chitwan

New friends in Bangalore

New friends in Bangalore

Riding elephants in Chitwan, Nepal

Riding elephants in Chitwan, Nepal

With the lovely local ladies of Nepal

With the lovely local ladies of Nepal

My first time ever wearing a sari

My first time ever wearing a sari

The students outside of Bangalore were quite interested in me.

The students outside of Bangalore were quite interested in me.

An offering of prayer

An offering of prayer

 

SPECIAL THANKS TO COLIN KIM FOR THE EVOLUTION OF THIS POST. IF YOU’RE EVER IN LA, BE SURE TO TAKE HIS CLASS.

 

Written by Jacqueline Chambers

Jacqueline Chambers

Jacqueline Chambers is the founder of TGIFguide. She uses her innate skills as a natural “connector” to serve businesses, brands and individuals in the LA area and beyond.