A Joyous Perspective on Finding Your Path: It's the real thing.

It's Friday, and time for another Friday Night Thought Tale Hour with the Hendersons. I used to be a big fan of working hard, really hard. I still work hard, but I do it from a place of inspiration and peace, instead of fear and must. It's really very amazing, and it can get you through the longest of days and most difficult of tests. How did it happen? In the past year, something has shifted within me. It is both confusing and beautiful. It has more to do with becoming more of who I am and less of who I thought I was. And this year, I’ve met more people who are living this way.  I’m happy to say they are much younger than me, and that makes me happy. I’m related to a few of them, and that makes me ecstatic. It brought to mind this quote:

“Of course, there is no formula for success except, perhaps, an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.” 

~Arthur Rubinstein

Like Arthur Rubinstein says in the quote above, there are no formulas for living the life you secretly dream about, because if you simply accept and welcome life, it’ll reveal itself to you.
It is not through effort that you mold your path to your liking, but from allowing the path of life to mold you, and show you the way.

When I began doing what I love, I thought I had to take a predetermined path to my destination. And it almost stopped me, because I didn’t believe in myself. I saw so many others doing what I wanted to do, and they were more accomplished, had more knowledge, and were more successful. Or, so it seemed.

I almost didn’t take action, but I’m glad I did. And in that, I found the most significant potential pitfall:

One of the biggest mistakes I made was trying to find the answers outside of myself when the answers were always inside.

I’m not saying you should abandon learning and research altogether, but for me, it reached a point where I had to listen to my heart, and feel where I should go. I resisted going down this path for a long time, and I still sometimes do, because I’ve been a big fan of experience as education. However, I’ve realized that I don’t know it all, and when I listen to my heart, I seem to be led to more happiness, peace, and freedom in my life. The early days were a struggle, but as I began seeing results, I started trusting my heart more and more.

I have in no way overcome this pitfall because life ebbs and flows. Problems come and go. Patterns come and go. Some days I’m total Yoda, and other days I’m more young Luke.

I’m learning to relax into my calling and ‘feel the force’...

I’ve always liked to plan myself into overwhelm. I’ve felt the need to do all the time, and to force progress, whether I liked it or not. Only recently, as I’ve been made to read more Carl Rogers, have I learned to relax into the present moment. I’ve found a way to find my ‘authentic self’ as Dr. Rogers calls it.

I also realize that I don’t have to identify with my thoughts and feelings. Thoughts and feelings arise, sure, but I don’t have to feed the fire. If I get an idea that’s scared, doubtful, or uncertain, and if I believe that thought, I’m trapped until I see through it. When you stay present, as best you can, you let life unfold. Sometimes it’ll feel like chaos inside of your body, but that’s okay.

It means you’re human. Stay with it, breathe, 

and welcome it all.

Your authentic self wants to help, but like most people, we want logical answers and guarantees. They want to know that they’ll get to realize their dreams. And I do, too, but those guarantees do not exist out there.

Those guarantees exist within you. You are your own guarantee.

So I guess what I’m saying, in a nutshell, is there is inner wisdom within each and every one of us, and it is continuously guiding you to the life you secretly dream about living. It knows where to go. It might be based on your faith in God or a loving Spirit that wants what is your life’s purpose to become evident to you.  No matter your belief, I know that the voice is one that, when tested, always shows to be true. True and free.

If you want to live your dream life, learn to trust that inner voice. Learn to stay present and learn to just be.

There is no rush. There is only now. Don’t miss it.

Chris and I will be toasting to following our dreams while drinking a Pinot Noir called “Prophesy.” The name fits, right? Cheers friends.