I love reading inspirational books. I truly get something new from every inspirational/self-help book that I pick up. As I was recently reading ‘The Four Agreements’, I came across this paragraph:
‘To be alive is the biggest fear humans have. Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive- the risk to be alive and express what we really are. Just being ourselves is the biggest fear of humans. We have learned to live our lives trying to satisfy other people’s demands. We have learned to live by other people’s points of view because of the fear of not being accepted and of not being good enough for someone else.’ –Don Miguel Ruiz
A-ha! I truly believe I was meant to stumble across this when I did. Starting this new website, and services to come, was a leap of faith I decided to take. I feared the judgment from others for shifting away from what society often dictates. We live in a society that dictates stability, consistency, predictability, and comfort zones. Stepping out of the ordinary is not often encouraged. Therefore, when we have those tiny moments of inspiration for the lives we dream of, ideas that speak to us, and big moves we wish to make, we are quick to shut them down. And as we dismiss those ideas that truly spark joy, our whole energy level declines. The fear of judgment, the unknown, and non-acceptance becomes too great. So, we choose comfort, predictability and stability. (Side note: these are not bad things, but I do believe many people go through life being ‘comfortable’ but not necessarily ‘joyful’). Long story short, I decided to choose joy; a life of inspiration and possibilities.
No, the plunge that I took wasn’t as drastic as others have taken- I didn’t have to quit my job (I’m lucky enough to be in a job that also allows me to live my passion), leave a relationship, or move across the world. But it was something about putting myself out there in such an authentic and permanent way that was pretty scary. I had dreamt for many years of bringing psychology and yoga together in a way to inspire others to live their best lives. It wasn’t until recently that I decided to truly live the life I envisioned for myself. Why? Because I was meant to. Because I realized that I was meant to live a life as joyful as possible, and if I didn’t act soon, my lovely plans would soon become a distant ‘nice idea’ rather than my reality. I knew that I had a greater calling than what I was living. This meant moving towards anxiety, the unknown, the fear. But, it also meant moving towards the great possibility of joy, love, dreams, and inspiration.
Again, there have not necessarily been any drastic external changes in my life, but by bringing my two passions together, I am able to express who I truly am. Sharing my truth and brainstorming offerings to inspire others allows me to reach out to more people, and to live a life of joy and authenticity.
So, when I saw the above quote, I got to thinking- how many others are afraid of hitting the publish button on their lives? Are you truly living the life you want to live? If not, what do you need to do to nudge closer in that direction? Who are you living your life for? I’m not suggesting you quit your job tomorrow to move to Costa Rica, but is there any way you can bring your true passion into your life a little more than it is now? I urge you to take some time to explore this; explore what your dreams and values are, and what lights that fire inside of you. By choosing not to pursue our dreams, we often think that it’s only us that we’re punishing. In reality, you’re actually withholding your gift and offerings from others that would benefit from your authentic self. They’re unable to experience the great joy that can come from sharing your gift. So, give yourself permission to live. If you want to feel truly alive, you must step into your truth. After all, you own your life.
I’d love to hear from you, so please let me know if this resonated with you in any way, or if you have also been inspired to step into your true self.
Giveaway
I’m so excited to announce that I have a special surprise for one of you- Danielle LaPorte’s Fire Starter Sessions! This book is such a game changer. Her writing is soulful and inviting, and this book will ignite a fire inside of you- allowing you to explore and reflect on your passions. As Gretchen Rubin (author of The Happiness Project) described perfectly, ‘This book will ignite you into action’.
I signed up for a program a few months ago through Danielle LaPorte, and she gifted me with a huge bundle of all of her products and goodies. Being a huge Danielle LaPorte fan, I had already had a few of her items. So, when I received duplicates, I reached out to her team to ask if I could gift them to you, and they said yes! To enter, all you have to do is click here to sign up for my free 10+ page Inspiration Starter-Kit and my email list (I promise-only the best most inspiring emails will come your way!). So, you’re really getting a whole bunch of inspiration in one click! For those of you who have already signed up, you’re of course still eligible for the giveaway.
This contest is open to anyone in Canada and the US. If you are randomly selected as the winner, I will ship you this amazing book to get your fire started ASAP! 🙂 Again, just click here to enter your email address for the Starter-Kit, and you’ll be automatically entered. The contest will close at 12:00 a.m. AST on Wednesday, June 3, 2015. I’ll announce the winner shortly after. Good luck! 🙂
Know of any family or friends who might need a boost of wellness? Share this post with them, or send them the link to the starter-kit here!