It Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

Yup. You heard me. (Hey, Fear, are you listening?)

It doesn’t.

In fact, it very often isn’t.

I have moved house twice in the last ten months. That’s kinda sucky. But here’s the thing. This second time, I moved into a lovely little flat in St Kilda.

Blue mosaic floors in the bathroom.

A fabulous wooden-deck balcony.

And, by inner-Melbourne standards, very well priced.

It was also very easy.

This is what happened. I had a bit of a nasty situation arise in the share house I had been living in, and I decided I didn’t want to live there any more. I also had houseguests arriving imminently so I had a week to find a place and move into it. Yeah, right.

I did a bit of research on the internetz, as you do, and lined up ten places to view one Saturday morning. I drew a heart next to my current address, before I had ever viewed it, and by the time I got to viewing it, I was hot, thirsty, cranky, and visually exhausted because I had seen so many flats. And there were loads of people at the viewing. Like, loads. But I decided I may as well apply, what the hell.

Wednesday, the agent called to offer me the flat. Friday, I collected the keys. Saturday, I moved. A friend helped me so I didn’t even need to hire removalists.

We had a lot of fun. Remember this?

Just like that. Easy. No drama.

The work I’m doing with Kerry is the same. She wrote about it the other day actually. It’s what my friend Pam refers to as ‘Flow Work’: High Challenge, Low Effort. Don’t get me wrong, we work plenty. It’s just that we are both really passionate about it, and we work in unusual ways. While getting our nails done, for example.

It doesn’t have to be hard.

And you know what? You still deserve it if it came easily and smoothly. Probably more so, because it means you are finding your Right Way.

The processing from the workshop has ‘landed’, and it feels great! It feels, in fact, like it was all totally worth it. It doesn’t have to be hard…

Do you believe you have to struggle to get what you want? Do you believe you don’t deserve things if you haven’t worked really hard for them?

16 responses on “It Doesn’t Have to Be Hard”

Lovely post dear. It brings lightness to my heart. It’s like breathing out deeply rather than just breathing in and in and in all the time..

I agree. I think if something is “being hard,” then that is a message, actually, about some sort of blockage.

But I also would say that “working hard” is quite different. Putting your whole self into it and giving it your best. That kind of hard is the good kind.

Such a tricky thing to remember. All the stuff that is hard and that causes struggle and tension, well, it never seems to work out. When things have happened easily, then it’s amazing. I’m trying to keep that in mind right now while I don’t have a job, and while I’m waiting for the right one to turn up!

Also, every little ‘message’ I’ve had about interviews I’m going into has turned out to be accurate so far. As in “nope, not this one”, or “yes, this could work”. Just waiting for the right thing to happen ASAP

Gorgeous, wonderful post! And St Kilda – my favourite area!! The beaches, the cafes, the gelato shops!!

I don’t believe in having to struggle for what you want, but I do believe in making personal effort and in being relentless in insisting on happiness in your life. If something is too much hard work or making you miserable (several friendships and relationships over the years spring to mind!) then I usually see that as a sign I need to let go and trust that something better will come along. And I totally believe that good things often come easily and smoothly sometimes, and when you least expect it – I interpret that as a reward from the Universe for all the crappy stuff!!

So glad that it all fell into place for you. May your new home be a very happy one!! xx

I aspire towards a state of ‘effortless effort’..when hard work feels joyous because you know you are on the right path, doing what you love and making a difference.
I do believe that there should be an ‘ease’ to life, with things falling into place at the right time, but I don’t really think the right path is without obstacles and challenges. I know I’ve often given up on something too soon because I took an obstacle or challenge as a sign that I was heading in the wrong direction! I guess it comes down to having faith in oneself and one’s abilities, and really paying attention to whatever comes up and making courageous choices, trusting that we have the strength and support to deal with things ‘easily’. A feeling of ease comes when one is free of anxiety and worry – and when we’re free of worry/fear we can do great even difficult things!
x

Do you want to hear something else that’s going to be so easy?

If, say, you were to stay in that flat until, say, next March/April then you will be in St Kilda when I am in St Kilda (my cousin lives there). See simple serendipity. I can already see us having lunch on that deck. I think we’re buying our tickets soon … eek!

In other news, this is a beautiful beautiful post and so true. It took me such a long time to realise that things could be easy. And even then I never remember it. Sigh…. !

What a beautiful home! I think it is really good to have some personal space. I totally agree with you that it doesn’t have to be hard. But, very often we make it that way. Because we are stubborn. And human. Once you realize to let go the universe will give you exactly what you need. I wish you didn’t live half a world away because I am dying to bring over some of my garden veggies so we can feast on your lovely patio!

Lovely home you have! I agree . . . it doesn’t have to be and SHOULDN’T be hard. When we stop fighting against the moment, the beauty of it is revealed! Beautiful post.

Thanks for this reminder, especially this: “You still deserve it if it came easily and smoothly. Probably more so, because it means you are finding your Right Way.” Beautiful post!

Hello lovelies!

I’ve been slack on comment replies, so it’s one long reply to y’all this morning.
@L-A: I love that image. A good hearty sigh.
@Christine: I totally agree. Nothing wrong with hard work, just not the kind that grinds you down and gets you nowhere. You know? Dancing around or with the obstacles rather than trying to push through them…
@Svasti: yay you! You sound like you are in a flowy place right now, despite the outside circumstances not being, you know, quite perfect!
@Phil: EXACTLY.
@Kathleen: again with the EXACTLY! You must be prescient, because that’s what my next post is about!
@Rachel: WOOOOOOOOT! Woot woot!
@Babs: I would love to be eating some of your veggies on my balcony! Although since it’s starting to descend into the most miserable part of winter now, perhaps it’s good that we can’t. Brrrr factor.
@Heather: merci, lovely!
@Anna: thank you for popping by! Also? Curvy yoga? Awesome. Super-awesome, in fact.

Beautiful post and beautiful photos Nadine, love St Kilda. Life really can be that simple but man do our minds like to play tricks and give us a run for our money!

TELL me about it! Phew.

ohhh, so true..!!! Firstly, great choice St. Kilda!
As you know I managed to finally LET GO the other day and stopped trying to push so hard! and it is all coming together now. It is simply AMAZING!

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