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My client, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast, sighed heavily
with an air of somber resignation. Just moments before, she had been
brimming with enthusiasm; her posture erect and her voice alive with
possibility. We were brainstorming different ways she could explore an
idea she had about work-not a practical idea for improving her current
job, but a sparkly idea for an entirely new form of work. Work that
might fulfill her sense of purpose and nourish her soul. Work that could
nudge her lovingly out of bed in the morning. Work that would allow her
to develop her innate talents and creativity. Work that might even be
fun.
We were building a spiral of positive momentum when, suddenly, she stopped. It was as if she'd taken a pin and popped the expanding balloon of our conversation, leaving a flat and lifeless scrap of rubber on the table beside us. I asked her what happened, and she said-after the shoulder slump and the somber sigh-"This is typical of me. I get all excited about an idea, and maybe even follow up on it for a while, but then it gets lost in the day-to-day stuff of life. I just don't have what it takes to make any real changes."
The "I just don't have what it takes" routine is quite a familiar one, but its ubiquity doesn't change the deeper truth that it's an utter fraud, a counterfeit rationale the only purpose of which is to keep us stuck. It's easy to believe, and many of us can point to a mountain of evidence to support it. After all, here we are, still in the same life we were living years ago when we first realized we weren't quite fulfilled. Nothing seems to have changed, and so we conclude we don't have what it takes to change.
The little-known and truly miraculous thing about change, however, is that it can happen in an instant. The only thing required to initiate it is our willingness to see things differently: to see ourselves differently. To see beyond the surface level, and perceive the greater truth that lives in our core.
The truth is, you do have what it takes to change. Each of us has what it takes to live our best lives: passion and longing and creativity and generosity; evidenced in every moment we gain a fresh insight or allow ourselves to be inspired or reach out for support. It's evidenced in every moment we honor our truth or give freely of our gifts or choose from trust rather than fear. It's evidenced in every moment we are willing to love and be loved; in every moment we allow ourselves to be fully present.
While it's easy to be distracted by the times we failed to follow through on our soul's longings, the deeper truth lies in the moments we did connect with those longings. Those moments count, each and every one of them. They count because every moment you spend in joy contributes to a joy-filled life. They count because they are touchstones for what is real and true; they create memories to remind us of who we really are and what we're here to do. They count because we can choosefor them to count by honoring them. And the more often we choose to honor them, the more easily we can create them.
Another reason why those moments count, as infrequent or fleeting as they may appear to be, is that they are cumulative. Each time you connect with your truth and your longings, you crack open the door to your soul. Each time you inspire or challenge yourself to see greater possibilities for your life, the door opens a little further. Each time you are kind to yourself it opens even more. Even if you turn and walk away from that door, terrified of crossing its threshold, it remains as you left it. When you go back the door is open, inviting and awaiting your choice to simply walk through.
The apparent failure to make positive change in our lives is not a matter of "not having what it takes"-it is only a matter of honoring, supporting, and cultivating what we do have; of recognizing and cherishing the transformative power of our passion. It is a matter of developing deeper and deeper levels of self-compassion and self-advocacy; of exploring what inspires us, and then deciding to make inspiration a priority in our lives. It is a matter of being willing, again and again, to face that door.
It would be difficult to overstate the number of times, on my own journey of creating a life I love, that I've turned my back on the door to my soul. I've wandered in a fog of doubt and fear and cynical reproach-"Who do I think I am, trying to succeed at doing this crazy work I love?"- convincing myself that I just don't have what it takes. It took a while for me to realize that feeling inspired and focused and trusting is a whole lot more fun than feeling small and inept and defeated, so I started looking for ways to stay inspired and focused and trusting. I could probably write another whole article on what I've discovered about how to do that, but I'd like to share this one bit of wisdom with you right now.
In each moment that you feel clear, alive, and connected with your true passion, take a small step. Any step. Write down a new insight you've gained, or talk with someone who can help you expand an inspired idea, or say "yes" to that intriguing opportunity you've been debating. Sign up for a class, or schedule some time in your calendar for meditation and prayer, or just take a few deep breaths and fully enjoy that precious moment of clarity and aliveness. It doesn't have to be perfect, just something to genuinely acknowledge that this is your truth. This feeling of being inspired and connected to a larger purpose is your true nature, and your step honors that.
When the doubts and distractions of everyday living surround you once again with their clouded and miserly perceptions of life, you can simply stand still and wait for them to recede, as they always-eventually-do. When they fade away you'll be standing in a new place, because you took that step. Take another one; and then another. Just keep walking toward the door. It doesn't matter if your steps zigzag in crazy circles or stay in one place for what feels like a terribly long time. It only matters that you take a step each time you are clear and inspired.
Each step counts. Each step matters. And each step affirms that you've got what it takes to live your best life.
We were building a spiral of positive momentum when, suddenly, she stopped. It was as if she'd taken a pin and popped the expanding balloon of our conversation, leaving a flat and lifeless scrap of rubber on the table beside us. I asked her what happened, and she said-after the shoulder slump and the somber sigh-"This is typical of me. I get all excited about an idea, and maybe even follow up on it for a while, but then it gets lost in the day-to-day stuff of life. I just don't have what it takes to make any real changes."
The "I just don't have what it takes" routine is quite a familiar one, but its ubiquity doesn't change the deeper truth that it's an utter fraud, a counterfeit rationale the only purpose of which is to keep us stuck. It's easy to believe, and many of us can point to a mountain of evidence to support it. After all, here we are, still in the same life we were living years ago when we first realized we weren't quite fulfilled. Nothing seems to have changed, and so we conclude we don't have what it takes to change.
The little-known and truly miraculous thing about change, however, is that it can happen in an instant. The only thing required to initiate it is our willingness to see things differently: to see ourselves differently. To see beyond the surface level, and perceive the greater truth that lives in our core.
The truth is, you do have what it takes to change. Each of us has what it takes to live our best lives: passion and longing and creativity and generosity; evidenced in every moment we gain a fresh insight or allow ourselves to be inspired or reach out for support. It's evidenced in every moment we honor our truth or give freely of our gifts or choose from trust rather than fear. It's evidenced in every moment we are willing to love and be loved; in every moment we allow ourselves to be fully present.
While it's easy to be distracted by the times we failed to follow through on our soul's longings, the deeper truth lies in the moments we did connect with those longings. Those moments count, each and every one of them. They count because every moment you spend in joy contributes to a joy-filled life. They count because they are touchstones for what is real and true; they create memories to remind us of who we really are and what we're here to do. They count because we can choosefor them to count by honoring them. And the more often we choose to honor them, the more easily we can create them.
Another reason why those moments count, as infrequent or fleeting as they may appear to be, is that they are cumulative. Each time you connect with your truth and your longings, you crack open the door to your soul. Each time you inspire or challenge yourself to see greater possibilities for your life, the door opens a little further. Each time you are kind to yourself it opens even more. Even if you turn and walk away from that door, terrified of crossing its threshold, it remains as you left it. When you go back the door is open, inviting and awaiting your choice to simply walk through.
The apparent failure to make positive change in our lives is not a matter of "not having what it takes"-it is only a matter of honoring, supporting, and cultivating what we do have; of recognizing and cherishing the transformative power of our passion. It is a matter of developing deeper and deeper levels of self-compassion and self-advocacy; of exploring what inspires us, and then deciding to make inspiration a priority in our lives. It is a matter of being willing, again and again, to face that door.
It would be difficult to overstate the number of times, on my own journey of creating a life I love, that I've turned my back on the door to my soul. I've wandered in a fog of doubt and fear and cynical reproach-"Who do I think I am, trying to succeed at doing this crazy work I love?"- convincing myself that I just don't have what it takes. It took a while for me to realize that feeling inspired and focused and trusting is a whole lot more fun than feeling small and inept and defeated, so I started looking for ways to stay inspired and focused and trusting. I could probably write another whole article on what I've discovered about how to do that, but I'd like to share this one bit of wisdom with you right now.
In each moment that you feel clear, alive, and connected with your true passion, take a small step. Any step. Write down a new insight you've gained, or talk with someone who can help you expand an inspired idea, or say "yes" to that intriguing opportunity you've been debating. Sign up for a class, or schedule some time in your calendar for meditation and prayer, or just take a few deep breaths and fully enjoy that precious moment of clarity and aliveness. It doesn't have to be perfect, just something to genuinely acknowledge that this is your truth. This feeling of being inspired and connected to a larger purpose is your true nature, and your step honors that.
When the doubts and distractions of everyday living surround you once again with their clouded and miserly perceptions of life, you can simply stand still and wait for them to recede, as they always-eventually-do. When they fade away you'll be standing in a new place, because you took that step. Take another one; and then another. Just keep walking toward the door. It doesn't matter if your steps zigzag in crazy circles or stay in one place for what feels like a terribly long time. It only matters that you take a step each time you are clear and inspired.
Each step counts. Each step matters. And each step affirms that you've got what it takes to live your best life.
You deserve to live a rich and deeply fulfilling life and we invite you to visit http://www.mysolidground.com
for ongoing inspiration and support in creating that life. We have lots
of free resources - articles, blogs and audio classes on a variety of
subjects related to personal growth and transformation. And we offer
potent, transformative classes, retreats and private coaching programs
to support you in creating work and a life you deeply love. Suzanne Eder
is a gifted teacher and coach who can help you unlock the power of your
passion and live into your potential. She knows that the foundation of
all genuine success is self-love, and actively supports you in
experiencing profoundly deeper levels of self-acceptance, self-respect,
self-compassion, self-trust and self-advocacy than you've ever known.
She can help you wake up to your true, magnificent Self and live from
that expanded perspective.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Eder
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