I read Deepak Chopra, I subscribe to Zen Habits, hell I even listen to Oprah on Sirius (don’t judge me). I’m hellbent on improving myself and living as Oprah says “my best life yet” (I thought it was one life to live, but who’s going to correct the Big O?) While I’m constantly searching for my purpose, finding my calling, centering my being, I wonder if all the advice and mumbo jumbo is distracting me from the true road to self-improvement and achieving your goals. Maybe instead of RT’ing another Rev Run message (uplifting though they are) I would be better served if I cut out the white noise and simply followed my bliss.
Life’s Calling. Pick Up
There’s a wealth of information out there on what will make you happy, what kind of job you should have, what’s your purpose, what animal you are in bed (wait, wrong quiz). But while we’re mired down in the trenches trying to discover our lives, our lives are passing us by. As cheez-zay as this will sound, the answer is inside of you. Listening to your heart and soul will lead you in the direction of your bliss a lot faster than all the Cosmo quizzes in the world.
If it makes you Happy
Imagine if we all did only what makes us happy. What would life be like? Amazing I presume and a little self-serving, but that’s beside the point. And I hear you, “Ms. Thought, I don’t know what makes me happy, if I did I wouldn’t be reading this blog post.” Well at the expense of my web traffic, stop reading and start dreaming. Because it’s the only way you’ll find out what makes you happy. Imagining what your perfect life looks like isn’t about the mansion and millions, it’s about getting in touch with the things that you wish you could do, but are too afraid to try.
Try and Fail and Try again, it’s the American way
My life could be a guidebook on how to fail and try again. Didn’t get accepted to the high school of my choice; wrote a letter to the principal and ding I got in! Applied to fancy school in London, had my heart and writing ripped to pieces before my eyes. Licked my wounds, got experience and applied again. Got in this time, but couldn’t get the money. #Fail, it’s not just a twitter hashtag. If we never make the attempt, how can we be certain that something isn’t meant to be. And if we give up at the first sign of failure, we ensure that it will never be.
Oh let’s Deux it!
In following your bliss and finding the one thing that makes life worth living, you have to try. So you imagine a life painting by the Champs Elysees but haven’t picked up a brush in years, stop watching Work of Art and enroll in a local art class. You want to dropkick corporate America for a stint in the Peace Corps, fill out the application. We get so bogged down with the big picture, that we often forget that taking the first little step is all you need to get started.
Following your bliss is a life-long journey and certainly one that doesn’t stop just because you’ve gotten the dream {insert house, job, car}. However, it’s a journey that can’t begin until you get out of your own way. And it’s a journey that you already have all the necessary tools to complete.
Thanks to @darling_kitty for inspiring this post.
Now you know I am all over this post !! I am a firm believer of following your dreams no matter what tries to rip them away. Thanks Ms.Thought … sometimes it helps to know that you are not alone in your pursuit of “Happyness”.
If I couldn’t fail, I would quit my job and work on my non-profit full time.
Wow, I’ve never said that out loud before. Neat
@Katie: That’s amazing. It’s empowering to put speak our thoughts aloud.
[...] do this week (Connect with an old friend!) on her latest It’s Friday! post. ♥ I like Stylish Thought. A LOT. ♥ I have a habit of (accidently) liking/doing things waaay after they were [...]