Live your dream--you're the only one who can!

Last week, after VMoxie hit the blogosphere, I got email from Jennifer who wanted to know HOW to find the thing that lights her up inside so that she can begin moving in that direction. Turns out that in that first email, she TOLD me what that was. People know. They always know, and Jennifer was no exception.

Following our conversation about that, I thought I’d share these thoughts as today’s Bit O’Moxie.

At the start, this snippet from a beloved book, "To Bless the Space Between Us" by John O'Donohue:

"There is a quiet light that shines in every heart. It draws no attention to itself, though it is always secretly there. It is what illuminates our minds to see beauty, our desire to seek possibility, and our hearts to love life. Without this subtle quickening our days would be empty and wearisome, and no horizon would ever awaken our longing. Our passion for life is quietly sustained from somewhere in us that is wedded to the energy and excitement of life. This shy inner light is what enables us to recognize and receive our very presence here as blessing. We enter the world as strangers who all at once become heirs to a harvest of memory, spirit, and dream that has long preceded us and will no enfold, nourish, and sustain us. The gift of the world is our first blessing."

At points in our lives, we are each introduced to people, places, things, that really light us up inside. And those are the people, places and things that we absolutely must pay attention to, make time for, and give our energy to.

The Universe is giving us, in those moments, clear and brilliant access to our individual "big pictures." And for all the seemingly trite words of wisdom we've each read over and over, it's rare that opportunity knocks twice. So it's up to all of us to really be watching for those glimpses we get, and to follow our intuition whether it seems logical or not.

Nothing else matters. Nothing.

So what if you get the glimpse, you pay attention, you give your time and energy, and rather than everything being super easy, you find that things are pretty darn difficult. The business isn't growing the way you'd hoped, the relationship isn't moving forward as quickly as you thought it might, you sold your home easily but now you can't find the perfect home to move into.... the list could be endless. The dream just isn't always so dreamlike.. but it still lights you up inside. That's one way to know that it's something you're supposed to follow, and nurture...to begin.

And in times like that, don't you just feel as though the one thing that will make all the difference in the world is just around the next corner? Can't you almost taste it?

Emerson said, "Doubt not, o poet, but persist."

Don't ever let go of what lights you up inside. Your passion and vision and energy contain the magic you need to make it all happen for yourself. Be tenacious. Don't let others stop you. Everything you want is really just around the next corner--you simply have to believe that you can find it, that you can make it happen and that you deserve it.

And focus on yourself, not the thing you want, or the lack of it. Work on becoming, right now, the person who experiences the life and work you want. Make whatever changes need to be made to make that possible. It might require you to shift how you see yourself, or maybe how you see others. It might require you to stop poor-mouthing (even if you can’t afford a lot). It might require you to stop gossiping about others, or ditch the drama in your life, or move away from relationship that drain you.

You cannot live the life you know you want and were meant to live by staying in the life you have (and live right now) if there are disconnects between the two of them. This follows as well for your work.

Who would you be if you had the work and life you want? Who would you have in your life? What would you DO in that life (how would you eat, work, play, behave, dress, love, etc.)? Do those things. Become that person.

Change. Is. Good. :)

And if all that doesn't help you move forward, consider the notion that just at the point at which you've decided to give up, someone else is looking at the same situation and seeing a great opportunity.

Make it happen. Live your dream, now. You're the only one who can.

Doubt yourself and you doubt everything you see.  
 Judge yourself and you see judges everywhere. 
  But if you listen to the sound  of your own voice, 
  you can rise above doubt and judgment. 
   And you can see forever. -- Nancy Kerrigan

Comments

[Susan Tulini]

This really spoke to me, Anastacia! I can't believe how often I stumble on myself, and get in my own way. :)

Thank you!

[Kris Jamieson]

What a great post, Anastacia! Thank you for your honesty, enthusiasm, and inspiration.

You rock. As usual. Thank you.

Resourcefully Yours,
Kris

[Cathey Kuhn]

Love it! I've been reading Tom Peter's book, The Little Big Things, and he concurs. Remember with the phrase - "know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em"? To paraphrase Tom, NEVER fold 'em. Ignore the naysayers, stay the course, and keep holding 'em. You'll get there.

Thanks, Anastacia, for the encouragement.

[Vickie Perry Barker]

Inspiring post, Anastacia! Thank you for reminding us to follow our intuition. I'm happy I ran across your blog this morning. :)

[Nicole Paull]

I have to tell you how much I love knowing you, Anastacia. :)

One of the kernels you shared in this week's post was: "And focus on *yourself*, not the thing you want, or the lack of it. Work on becoming, right now, the person who experiences the life and work you want. Make whatever changes need to be made to make that possible."

This has captured my attention and imagination in a powerful way. I know it's Law of Attraction and working on your foundation, and those aren't new concepts to me, per se...but it was something about the way you worded it that's gotten the wheels in my head turning.

I'm pruning my book shelves and in the process, I decided to have another look at a book called "Do It Tomorrow" by Mark Forster.

And that (in the author's very British way) is helping me take what you said further and start to apply it more fully.

Among other things, I really like what he says about the conflict between immediate gratification and long-term gain (ex: I want to be slim but I ALSO want to eat that big old slice of chocolate cake) and how to work with yourself around it.

It's so neat how things start to fall into place when you're truly ready for them...from the inside out.