King - Good vibes, good life: how self-love is the key to unlocking your greatness

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Text Vex King, 2018

Illustrations Camissao, 2018

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or otherwise be copied for public or private use, other than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews, without prior written permission of the publisher.

The information given in this book should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice; always consult a medical practitioner. Any use of information in this book is at the readers discretion and risk. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any loss, claim or damage arising out of the use, or misuse, of the suggestions made, the failure to take medical advice or for any material on third-party websites.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Tradepaper ISBN: 978-1-78817-182-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-78817-183-0

Audiobook ISBN: 978-1-78817-318-6

Mum, I dedicate this book to you. Our life has been tough, but with your strength, faith and perseverance, youve made incredible things happen for us.

Regardless of everything that came your way and all the times Ive let you down, youve shown me nothing but unconditional love. It was this love that led to the sacrifices that you made, and it was this love that kept me smiling. You forgave, you hugged, you laughed, you inspired, you encouraged, you healed, and you did everything else in your power to demonstrate that with love, anything was possible. Which is why Im here today, passing on my love to others, through my words.

And Dad of course, my existence would not be possible without you. Although I never got to know you properly, Ive always felt your energy guiding me when I needed it most. I know how much I meant to you when I was born. I hope youre proud of me.

Finally, Id like to dedicate this book to anyone with a dream, whether thats a dream just to survive, or to make it through a dark day. It was my dream to write a book that will positively change lives across the world. If I can make it happen, so can you. I believe in you I hope you do, too.

For three years of my childhood, I had no fixed home. My family and I lived with relatives and, for short periods during this time, in a housing shelter. I was grateful that we had a roof over our heads, but I remember how frightening the housing shelter experience was.

There were always unpleasant-looking characters lurking around the entrance who would throw us piercing stares when we entered the building. Being a four-year-old child, I felt scared. But my mother reassured me that things would be okay. She said that we should just look down and go straight to our room.

One night we popped out, and when we returned there was blood all over the staircase and on the walls in the corridor. Fragments of glass covered the floor. My sisters and I had never seen anything so horrific before. We looked up at our mum. I sensed fear in her. But again, with courage, she told us to tread carefully over the glass and get up to our room.

Still shaken by what wed seen, my sisters and I tried to work out what may have happened downstairs in the corridor of the shelter. Then we heard screams and shouting, followed by sounds of chaos. It was terrifying. Once more, we looked to Mum for comfort. She pulled us in close and told us not to worry but I could hear her heart pounding. She was just as scared.

We had very little sleep that night. The screams went on and on. I was surprised that no police came and that no one else seemed to be trying to calm the storm. It was as though no one cared about the safety of the people there. It felt like no one cared about us. All we had was each other, in a world that seemed cold and corrupt.

When I discuss childhood memories like this one with my friends and family, theyre shocked by how much I can remember. I often find them asking, How do you even remember that? You were so young. I dont remember everything, nor are my memories crystallized in clear detail. However, I do remember how I felt during the majority of my experiences, good and bad. There was so much emotion attached to the events that took place, and these memories haunted me for a very long time.

During my late teens, I wished a lot of these memories would just go away. I wanted to erase them so that I was no longer reminded of the struggles Id faced as a child. I was even embarrassed by some of them. I felt uncomfortable with who I was. There were times when I said and did things that didnt match the child I was deep down. I often felt hurt by the world and wanted to hurt it back.

Things are different now. I look back on my memories and embrace everything that happened; theres a lesson to be learned from every event.

I realize that the good, the bad and
the downright ugly events are all
a part of who Ive become.

Although some of them may have been painful, theyre a blessing theyve taught me so much. My experiences have left me with a drive to find a way out of misery and a path towards a better life.

Ive written this book to share the lessons Ive learned, in the hope that theyll provide you with some clarity and guidance to live what I call a greater life. Its up to you what you take from my stories. I accept that some ideas will resonate, while others will feel uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I do believe that if you can apply the concepts I discuss within the course of this book, youll experience incredible positive changes in your life.

Im not a philosopher, a psychologist, a scientist or a religious leader. Im simply someone who likes to learn and share my wisdom with others in the hope that it may release them from undesirable feelings and increase feelings of joy.

I believe that every person on this planet is here to make a difference. Im devoted to helping you find your purpose so you can add value to our world, which is in such turmoil. If we can collectively become conscious citizens of this planet, well lessen the burden we place on it. By living to your full potential, youll not only change your world, youll change the world around you, too.

Some people are comfortable with mediocrity. They avoid living a greater life, one thats beyond what most consider the norm. A greater life requires you to find your greatness. In simple terms, greatness is about becoming the greatest version of yourself. Its about breaking the imaginary boundaries that hold you captive in a life you believe you have to settle for, and touching the realms of the unthinkable. The greatness mentality means living a life without limits, where there are infinite possibilities. For this reason, we cannot define where greatness begins or ends. We can only strive to become better.