Awaken Your Brilliance: Free Your Mind

A unique swimming pool experience while vacationing transformed my mindset.

I gingerly dipped my foot into the infinity pool to test the temperature.  The warm water invited me further into its embrace, and I eagerly obliged, walking down the stairs into the shallow end.

You see, I don’t know how to swim.  Not one bit.  Yes, I’ve taken lessons, but the fear of drowning has kept me committed to not learning how to swim.  Still, I love to be near the water, in vessels on said bodies of water, and standing or wading in calm water.  Swimming, however, simply has not been an option for me. 

Until now.

The water’s warmth, the sound of the cascading water over the pool’s edge, the setting sun, and the ocean breeze were all soothing and relaxing—seemingly melting away every care in the world. That Pura Vida saying we consistently heard and used during our time in Costa Rica was doing its thing in the moment. I realized how much I had missed by not spending more time in swimming pools or bodies of water.  I planned to change that because this was the life...the pure life!

Then it happened—the experience that shifted my mindset.

I waded toward the edge of the infinity pool and placed my arms on the ledge, rested my head on my crossed arms, ensuring my feet were firmly planted on the pool’s floor. I closed my eyes, cleared my mind, and savored the moment.  My body began to rise.

I was floating! 

The edge of the infinity pool that was pivotal in shifting my mindset.

This had never happened to me before, nor would I have allowed it to happen for fear of—you know—drowning.  My arms, however, provided enough support for me to remain calm, so I surrendered and allowed the water to lift me higher.  I simply went with the flow, letting the weight and tension release from my body.  Plus, I’d just learned someone in the pool with me had once been a lifeguard.

I felt completely safe!

My body sank like a rock the moment I opened my eyes and let my thoughts return. So I closed my eyes again and cleared my mind to make sure the experience wasn’t a fluke.  It wasn’t.  My body began to rise again. 

In that moment, I realized that I had the power to impact my outcomes by changing my mindset and surrendering to peace and stillness.  When I cleared my mind, let go of fear, and trusted not only my arms to support me—but also the former lifeguard who was keenly keeping a protective eye—the very thing I once feared became the catalyst for a new, rewarding experience.

Now, I know this may be nothing amazing to those who swim with ease. The impact for me, however, was profound.  It wasn’t the floating that amazed me...it was the clearing of my mind that allowed my body to relax and rise.

As someone whose thoughts rarely pause, I’m not sure how I cleared my mind. Even weeks later, I find myself revisiting the pool experience as new opportunities arise—each one challenging familiar perspectives or revealing new possibilities. In those moments, I still my mind to hear the wisdom whispering in the background, knowing that it's often the quiet, hidden perspectives that have the power to spark brilliance.

The experience caused me to wonder: What thoughts were daily taking up space in my mind that keep me from flowing in my purpose...my everyday legacy?

And I wonder the same for you. 

Perhaps it’s fear. Doubt. Anxiety. Worry. Insecurity. Distractions. The opinions of others.  Whatever it is, it’s not worth the weight.  The best part is that we don’t have to carry it alone.  Just like the former lifeguard, who had the skills to keep me safe, there are often people around us who already hold the support we need to free our minds, and that freedom can lead us to experiences we never imagined were possible. 

Being open to support is life-changing.  It may even include the help of a professional counselor or life coach.  I’ve had both.  I am both.  There’s courage and necessity in identifying the root causes of unhealthy thoughts and patterns that may keep us trapped in the chatter that fills our minds each day.  Accepting support doesn’t mean weakness...it means choosing to heal from a place of strength.

As I close the Awaken Your Brilliance series, floating that day showed me the importance of meditation; practicing stillness to see more clearly; surrounding myself with supportive people; being supportive of others; having fun; relaxing; and having the courage to rise.   

Floating taught me that freeing your mind is about allowing peace to lift you to your destiny.

This quote by Lao Tzu sums it up well:

Watch your thoughts, they become your words;

Watch your words, they become your actions;

Watch your actions, they become your habits;

Watch your habits, they become your character;

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

Together, the Awaken Your Brilliance reflections remind us that self-love and confidence, trusting the process, and clarity are essential to empowering the legacies we’re building.

And yes, I plan to learn how to swim.  ¡Pura Vida!

A summarized version of the swimming pool experience.