Setting Sail Towards Your Destiny

The Seven Laws of the Sea

Scott Sulak, BCH, CHT

As we bid farewell to the previous year and welcome in the new year, this is the time when many of us feel compelled to change our ways, our minds, our habits, and our goals. It's the time to take inventory of our accomplishments, and check our compass heading to make sure our life-ship is still sailing in the right direction in the exciting sea of life.

In 2003 I released my new transformational series entitled Get Your Ship Together^TM -- be the Captain of your subconscious mind" as an outgrowth of my years studying change and helping people change course. Over the years I have found that using the analogy of the Captain and Crew (conscious – subconscious mind) a useful tool in explaining the relationship between these two distinct areas of our life. It helps us understand some very basic universal laws.

In my new series and its companion book, "The Ship's Manifest," I outline what I believe are The Seven Laws of the Sea.

Below I have adapted them for use at this special time, the New Year.

1. Know your ship and its captain.

Get to know yourself, honestly and without blame. A good captain knows his or her weaknesses and strengths. This does not suggest that you need to sit around criticizing yourself, but instead, take stock of where you are at this moment in time. Walk around your ship (your life), and get a feel for how things seem to be run on this ship of yours. How is your body looking and feeling? How is your career or outside interests? How is your home life? How are your relationships? Again, this is not done to beat yourself up, you need to get your bearings and gauge yourself as a captain.

2. Respect your crew.

Understand (and learn to use) the power of your subconscious mind and its faithful obedience to your commands. Imagine you are getting up an hour earlier than your crew. You have decided to walk your ship while they sleep. As you walk your ship you realize that your crew has worked hard to serve you, even though the results are not in some ways, exactly what you want. However, your crew is eager to serve you. This new year, imagine being a good captain by learning how to communicate better with your crew, your subconscious mind. The people you have met in your life that you feel are successful are those who have learned the fine art of communicating with their crew. This comes from respect. A good captain does not criticize his or her crew (negative self talk) but rather, uses praise and encouragement.

3. Chart a clear destination.

Think big and choose a bold course.

If you don't know where you want to go, how will you know when you've arrived? Too many of us don't declare our intended destination because deep down inside, we're afraid that we don't have the ability, luck, or drive to get us there. That was because we didn't realize that we truly are the Master of our Fate. By understanding the natural laws of the universe and the 7 laws of the sea, you can get where you want to go.

Figure out, very simply, where do you want to go? You don't need to figure out every single aspect of your journey, but you need to have a port to head for. Look at where you have been going and project into the future where that will take you if you continue this path. Do you like what you see? If not, select a new port. Now….tell your crew.

4. Check your cargo.

Toss out unwanted baggage or stowaways. Do you have some old hurts that need to be thrown overboard? Some fears? Resentments perhaps? If you are aware that there are things that hold you back, take this time…right now, to finally once and for all…get rid of this excess cargo. Old habits, negative thought patterns, people who hold you back…isn't it time you stop blaming and start tossing?

5. Maintain the vessel.

Exercise, eat right, get enough sleep and keep learning. Ok, we all know about taking care of our body, but really…do you care? This is the ONLY vessel you will get this time around, so set up a maintenance schedule, give that schedule to the crew and tell them to take care of it. If you let them, they will keep you in tiptop shape. Stop making excuses why you cannot, those are the wrong instructions to give to the crew.

6. Watch the winds.

Life throws us unexpected challenges that require attention – but can also bring rich rewards. Yes, things will not always go as you plan, that is to be expected. But don't drop anchor the first time you are met with a storm or some rocky waters. Good captains know that the sea can be unpredictable, but it CAN be navigated. So stop expecting perfectly calm waters and count on your ship to be tossed around a bit. Send someone up to the crows' nest to watch for rocks and high winds.

7. Stay in command.

Without a captain calling the shots, any ship will end up on the rocks rather than in the port of your dreams. You need to remember that since your crew depends on you for instructions, if you give up, your life will feel like it is adrift without purpose or control. You need to stay in command and direct yourself every step of the way. Keep praising your crew but don't be afraid of setting them straight when you don't get what you want. For example, if you are seeking an ideal weight and then find yourself eating foods in excess or ones that do not fit the "healthy" model you had intended, instead of saying to your crew, "I am so weak" or "I am such a pig" or whatever, tell your crew "excuse me…that does not exactly look like the kind of foods we discussed….now put that back, or make better choices next time." Look at it this way, you already are talking to yourself, why not choose some new language that works for you instead of against you?

It is time now to set sail into the New Year. I wish you the very best journey. Thank you for allowing me to spend this time with you. See you next month!

Bon Voyage!

"...I am the Master of my fate and the Captain of my soul"
–Invictus by William Ernest Henley

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