There’s the law, and then there’s the rules … and rules, well they’re meant to be broken.
I remember repeatedly having the thought that ‘ … it must be easier to go and live in a psychiatric clinic and be drugged into oblivion’.
Just so I could have a break from life.
Just for a little while.
I was busy … being busy. I was overworked, overloaded and completely overwhelmed. I always had been; I didn’t know how to live any other way.
I knew I was exhausted. I knew I was unwell. I knew that if I didn’t stop, I’d pay the price. But I kept going anyway.
I was terrified of what would happen if I let go: of the people I would let down, of the things that wouldn’t get done, of what people would say if I wasn’t strong enough to get through.
The fear of the unknown was greater than the pain of pushing through.
And then, I was forced to stop.
There was no final warning. There was no negotiation. There was no more room for empty promises to ‘take care of that’ later.
‘Later’ had arrived, the Piper was demanding payment and wasn’t leaving until the ledger was clear.
It took three years for me to put myself back together.
It was undoubtedly the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but doing it taught me a lot.
It taught me that I’d completely lost connection with who I really was. That all the reasons I had for doing what I was doing, and all the explanations about why I had to do them in a particular way, were nothing but stories – distractions – that kept me locked into a way of life that was killing me.
Mostly, I learned the difference between the law and the rules that run our lives.
The laws are the things that are in place to preserve the greater good for society as a whole. They’re things like: don’t drink and drive, don’t steal, don’t harm others.
The rules are the things that we put in place that tell us how we ‘have to’ live. They’re the lines within which we live our lives. They tell us what we ‘should do’, how we ‘have to’ behave, where we’re ‘allowed’ to go, what is ‘appropriate’ for us to wear and the list goes on … and on … and on.
One of my greatest lessons through the pain of recovery was realising that we pay more homage to the rules than we do to the laws.
Often, we don’t think twice about breaking the law.
How many times have you crossed the road in places where you’re not supposed to? How many times have you driven at 10 or 20 kph (or mph) above the speed limit? How many times have you ‘ducked around the corner’ without your seat belt on?
But breaking the rules doesn’t even bear thinking about!
We were taught at a very young age what was acceptable about ourselves, what was good and bad, right and wrong. We were conditioned to act, react and behave in certain ways.
How often have you stepped outside that conditioning? When have you stopped and questioned whether those rules are still appropriate for you, or whether they even apply to you anymore?
When I was piecing myself back together, perhaps the greatest gift I gave myself was permission to break the rules.
I’m an avid supporter of the notion that ‘rules are meant to be broken’, and I’ve set my inner rebel free. There is nothing I love more than seeing my name attached to the hashtag #rebelwithaclue.
I was told often that you ‘can’t achieve anything worthwhile if you wear active wear while you work’. So I wrote three books and an online program in active wear and ugg boots, all of them have received 5 star awards and international critical acclaim.
You ‘ …can’t be successful if you’re not constantly stressed’. Oh really? Well, I’m not stressed, and I have a global business that teaches people how to find the life that’s perfectly matched to them.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. You have to choose between a life that supports you, and a career that lets you achieve. Nope … not buying that … I like eating cake!
Want to become a rebel too?
Start by teaching yourself to ask ‘What if they’re wrong?’ every time you hear the words ‘you have to’, ‘you should’, or ‘you need to’.
Start to challenge the rules you’ve been given and find the answers that are right for YOU in YOUR life.
As a unique and extraordinary individual, you deserve a unique and extraordinary life that is custom made, just for you.
When you learn how to question what’s in front of you, you learn to take back control of your life. Once you can do that, it becomes really simple to create the life that’s perfect for you.
So, come and be a rebel with me … it’s so much more fun!
Want more info on ways you can let your inner rebel free? There are loads of tips and practical information to help you work out what’s perfect for you in my books – you can buy your copy by clicking here.
You can also find loads of practical and easily implemented steps in the articles and videos in my FREE email series – it’s a great way to help you begin your journey. Simply click here to start you on your way.
Bronwen Sciortino is a Simplicity Expert, an internationally renowned author and professional speaker and. You can follow her at her website; Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
This article first appeared on Prosperi Press in March 2021. You can read the article by clicking here.
