Barbara Schmidt's Blog, page 24

Becoming Comfortable With Feeling Uncomfortable

I recently participated in a round-table discussion that tackled a wide variety of topics, from spirituality to politics, to wellness and diversity, and self-care in the social media age. To be honest, I felt a little intimidated even being invited to have a seat at this table. This invitation was for “experts” and I found myself wondering why someone would want me there, and why anyone would want to hear my thoughts on topics such as these. Does anyone actually consider me to be an expert?

My fears and uncertainties about the invitation almost led me to decline it all together. I made up a wide variety of reasons why I “couldn’t” do it, why I wasn’t going to make it, why it wasn’t convenient. I wrote a lot of stories in my mind about the whole situation, and I almost let the story of staying safe, being comfortable, and not going, win.

Luckily, there was a tiny (very tiny) voice inside of me that overshadowed the fear with a sense of curiosity of what could be, that urged me to commit, and that called out the lies that I was thinking in my mind, and to just say yes. I accepted the invitation, made the arrangements, and got myself to the table, and I actually felt good about it all. I felt great until I had to step in, be seen, and be heard, in a room of experts who didn’t know me. I felt like I had to prove myself, and just like that let myself fall back into the stories that I didn’t belong there. My heart was beating a million beats a minute the entire time I was there. I was uncomfortable, to say the least.

Interestingly enough, the concept of being comfortable with being uncomfortable came up in discussion. We live in an age where we avoid, almost to our detriment, uncomfortable moments, feelings, and circumstances. On social media, we post the happy times, the curated and wonderful moments. When difficult emotions arise, we numb them out with a distracting habit of choice. And when a new opportunity arises, we come up with every excuse in the book of why we can’t, just to ensure we don’t feel the uneasiness that comes with something new.

The irony that I almost said no to this opportunity because I felt uncomfortable and then was presented with the exact topic at said opportunity wasn’t lost on me. It gave me pause, and really wowed me that I was being shown such an important lesson in such dramatic fashion.

Life has made it very easy for us to avoid difficulty and the awkward uncomfortable moments that life no doubt will give us, but it’s up to us to face it all head on. We must start to choose the uncomfortable to break through to new ground, and to learn that on the other side of uncomfortable is a new kind of magic.

How often do you think we’ve all missed out on amazing experiences because we were afraid? Too worried about failure, what people think, that it won’t turn out how we hoped it would? Rather than taking a leap that feels aligned, and knowing confidently that successful or not, the jump was worth it for the experiences and lessons learned.

I showed up to my seat at the table and did what I came there to do. I pushed through my uncomfortable feelings and on the other side, was a lot of confidence and pride. Feelings I would be missing today had I not said yes. I’m not worried about how I was perceived or whether I said the right things, because I know that I showed up, gave it my all, and mostly, because I was my authentic self, and I know that it’s always enough.

I encourage all of you dear readers, to think about areas in your life that you avoid because you feel uncomfortable and ask yourself what life could be if you didn’t let those feelings make big choices in your life. It could be making a truly honest post on social media, speaking the truth to a loved one, making a career change, or even just diving deep into your relationship with yourself.

What will you find on the other side of being uncomfortable? I can’t wait to find out.

xo, Michelle

The post Becoming Comfortable With Feeling Uncomfortable appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

I Want to Clarify A Few Things About Self-Care

This might come as a little bit of a surprise to all of you, but I gather a lot of insight and information from Twitter. I’m not sure how it became a thing for me, but lately, I find myself scrolling through, reading people’s takes on current events and life in general. The different opinions and outlooks that we all have FASCINATE me (and sometimes scare me).

A few weeks ago I was doing my thing on Twitter when I came across a thread about self-care. I didn’t know the writer of the thread, but from what I could gather, they had been studying abroad here in the US and had been presented with some upsetting views regarding what it means to practice self-care.

Given that I am someone who regularly preaches the importance of self-care, I dove into this person’s Twitter thread. What this person felt had been presented, was basically, as a human being, you can do anything, literally anything, for the sake of self-care. More specifically, you can ignore loved ones, you can close yourself off, you can avoid responsibility, and you can be inconsiderate and unkind, so long that you’re “taking care of yourself” in the process. This person felt very confused and overwhelmed as in their home country, they were taught to be more conscious of others and of community.

So of course, as someone who loves to take in content like this and find some teachable moments, I felt compelled to write a little more about what self-care is and what it isn’t. Because it seems that there’s some confusing messages out there, and I’m always here to clarify, when I’m able :).

I feel like the whole concept of “self-care” stemmed out of a society that never actually taught us how to prioritize and to even consider our own wants, desires, and needs. I can only really speak from what it’s like growing up in the US, but I can say for certain that the notion of caring for yourself, was never taught, at least in a formal sense. And so, we have lived in a society that exalts martyrdom over balance, extending beyond our limits in order to achieve, and overworking instead of taking pause.

The movement of self-care was to encourage people to simply consider themselves in the equation of their lives. We so often put everything and everyone in front of our own basic needs, and society is begging for us to care for ourselves just as we would care for others.

Here is where I think people get self-care wrong, and misconstrue it into something less pleasant: self-care doesn’t give you the permission to be a jerk. Caring for yourself doesn’t let you off the hook of simultaneously caring for others. Self-care shouldn’t be your excuse for isolation but rather, your foundation for community.

The whole point of self-care is to bring a semblance of balance back into life’s equation, not tip the scales in the opposite direction. We take care of ourselves, so that we can show up in an aligned and empowered way. We take care of ourselves so we can take care of those around us. We take care of ourselves so that we can live out the unique paths and purposes that we are all meant to live.

And the beautiful thing of self-care is you can define what that looks like for you. Self-care doesn’t have to be bubble baths and pedicures, but it can be if that works for you. Self-care for you doesn’t have to be quiet alone time like it is for me. Self-care practices are the choices that you cultivate that soothe your mind, body, and spirit, and leave you feeling filled up, so that you extend into the world in the wonderful ways that you are meant to shine.

In the spirit of redefining self-care, what does it mean to you?

I can’t wait to hear.

xo,

Michelle

The post I Want to Clarify A Few Things About Self-Care appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

Why I Want to Stop Being Nice

For most of my life I have held a deep desire to be nice. I’m not exactly sure where that intention was sparked within me, but I think the virtue was likely ingrained in me as a child. “You must always be nice”, “be a nice person”, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”. I truly worked so hard at being nice, it felt almost like a competition to me, how could I become the “nicest” person I know.

About a week ago, I was having a conversation with my mom, and I made a comment about being nice, and in an unusually terse tone, she asked me, “what do you mean by nice? what does the word nice mean to you?” Her questions stopped me in my tracks, because in my whole life I had never considered what “nice” really meant. I just felt like I had to embody it, as if it was some universally sought after trait. It’s what “good girls” do. I gathered from her tone, though, that my mom didn’t really hold the word “nice” in high regard, which shocked me. So I naturally, looked up the word nice in the dictionary to find the following definition: pleasing, agreeable.

I was pretty shocked to see that, to be completely honest, because certainly, being pleasing and agreeable are not the foundational values I tend to hold in my life, but as I began to look closely at my life for 33 years, it’s definitely played out that way.

Holding so tightly the intention of “being nice” has shown up as:

people pleasing compromising of my values and beliefsinconveniencing my life for someone or something elsekeeping quiet about things that matter to me for fear of confrontationinauthentic interactions and relationshipsshallow conversationwasting of valuable time in said shallow conversationsmaking false promiseslacking of boundariespoor communicationloss of sense of self

As you can imagine, these aren’t really habits, behaviors, and experiences I wish to continue in my life. Which left me feeling challenged to redefine this guiding intention of my life. I no longer wish to be “nice”, so what do I truly wish to be?

I pulled out the dictionary again to see what words resonated, and these are the ones that truly stick for me:

kind: of a good or benevolent nature or disposition



compassionate: sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it



caring:feeling or showing concern for or kindness to others 

These three words feel so much better and much more aligned for me! I can vividly see how these words will play out in my life, in a healthier and more meaningful way, which I’m so excited about.

Is there an overarching intentional word in your life that’s no longer serving you? What will you replace it with? I can’t wait to find out.

xo,

Michelle

The post Why I Want to Stop Being Nice appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

Remembering Your Power

I was talking to a friend the other day, and she was ranting to me about someone she follows on social media. Based on her commentary of this person, she didn’t really like the person, she didn’t understand the person, and she wasn’t gaining a whole lot by following and engaging in this person’s content. I asked my friend why she didn’t just unfollow this person, if they were truly this distressing. While giving a blank, and serious stare, she replied, “I can’t do that, I’m too invested now”. And so, she decided to continue to “hate follow” this stranger on the internet.

This whole conversation gave me great pause. There I was with my wonderful friend, and we were spending our precious time together discussing an irksome internet personality, and yet, the proper action, to end this dysfunctional online relationship, was not on the table as an option and solution. My friend was giving up so much of her time and energy taking in this person’s content and subsequently complaining about it to me. So much of my friend’s day was spent on this one person!

I deeply believe that our greatest source of power in this life, is our energy, our time, our presence. Are we really aware of how we are spending this power? Are we choosing what we give our presence to, or are we complacent and passive, allowing whatever comes in, in. Where, what, and to whom do you give your presence, your greatest source of power?

I then started to think about instances in my own life where this dynamic shows up. Where I give my energy to someone or something that really doesn’t serve me, willingly. I was truly shocked to unearth how much I allow into my life, that I really don’t want there.

Even though I felt a little saddened by the conversation with my friend, it was incredibly beneficial, as it really highlighted this important dynamic I needed to examine in my life, and perhaps you do, too.

When we give someone or something our time and presence, we are energetically supporting that thing, whether we like it or not. When we ruminate about a troublesome situation without taking proper action, we give away our power to that situation. When we follow people online and take in their content, even when they are not aligned, not only are we giving away our most precious resource, but we are also supporting those misaligned people, boosting them up, and aiding their successes.

This aspect is what really got me the most. Not only am I giving away my power to something I’m not in agreement with, but I’m also helping that thing become more powerful and more successful in doing so?

Nope, that can’t fly anymore.

It’s time for us to take our power back by making conscious choices on how we choose to expend our energy, and where we wish to place our presence. What types of people, places, and circumstances do you wish to have in your life? What do you want to support with your energy? You have the power to make these choices.

Though this topic might seem a little esoteric, I think it’s an important one. As more and more of our time is spent online, it’s crucial that we start being more discerning with who and what we prop up with our engagement. With the divisive and troubling nature of our world today, the boundaries of how much we take in must be in place. The particular times that we live in today, are begging us to realign with how we truly wish to expend our power.

So here is the good news! We can start to remember to use our power wisely, by consciously choosing and releasing. My favorite part of this whole revelation, is knowing that I will be gaining so much of my time and energy back, when I begin to release the people, places and energies that do not serve me or feel aligned. What a relief. Very exciting, right?

With all this being said, I deeply want to acknowledge and thank all of you who give your precious energy to me, this blog, and Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life so regularly. I truly recognize that there are so many areas of the internet that you can spend your time, and I’m deeply grateful that you continuously choose to be here with me. I will never take that for granted.

Here’s to all of us owning our power today and onward!

xo,

Michelle

The post Remembering Your Power appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

Remembering the Power of Our Words

A short while ago I received a private message from someone on social media. I happened to be on vacation, and some how the notification for the message popped up on my phone, allowing me to read a majority of what was sent, without even really choosing to do so.

The message was pretty harsh, very critical of me and my life, and was sprinkled with judgments and jabs at my character and my work. I know I talk all the time about not taking the things other people say and do personally, but in this instance, I took it all very personally.

The words written felt like a punch to the gut, like I was completely misunderstood, and it made me really sad. In that moment, I felt incredibly vulnerable, and allowed myself to really take in what was written to me, and even ponder if what was written could actually be true.

Luckily, through my own mental practices and the support of loved ones who I had shared the message with, I was able to remember that what was said to me was not my truth, write a kind but aligned response in return, and move forward. The words this person wrote to me though, did take a toll on me internally. In fact, I can still feel their energy, the questioning, doubts, and validity still enter my mind, so I am very personally reminded of how powerful the words we speak, write, and think, really are.

This past week, I was again reminded of the power of the words we use. I was catching up on current events, and I was troubled to read what the President of the United States wrote and spoke about women of color in the US. I know speaking about current events isn’t typically on brand; however, in this case, I feel enormous responsibility to make this connection in regards to the power of spoken word, especially when it involves powerful world leaders. I don’t really believe this topic to be political, but rather, an example of how we have allowed ourselves to speak so harshly and so cruelly, without stopping to examine the consequences.

We, as caring and mindful human beings, must begin to take responsibility for our thoughts and words, and hold each other accountable in being aligned with the language we use. It’s on all of us. The thoughts we think influence our beliefs, which influence how we speak, which influences how we behave. I believe it’s incredibly important to recognize and be present to the connection here.

My hope and intention for this week’s blog is to encourage us all to pause and take note of our language and the words that we use in our daily lives. Here are ways we can do this:

Take inventory on the thoughts you think to yourself. Are they kind, loving, and compassionate? Are the thoughts you think ones that are helping you to be the very best version of yourself?

Become mindful of the things you say to your loved ones and those closest to you. How do you engage with the people in your life? What are your conversations and interactions like?

Start questioning and monitoring the words you use when discussing and describing the people you don’t even know. Are your thoughts judgmental? Hateful? Envious? Loving?

Be honest with yourself and see what comes up. Try not to judge yourself for what you find. Remember, by taking the time to really go within and see the language and words used, we can start to make shifts and positive changes.

I know this topic can feel a bit challenging, but I promise the work of going within and making these shifts within ourselves will help to produce the positive changes that we hope for externally.

Thank you for reading and for being so open minded on this topic with me.

xo,

Michelle

The post Remembering the Power of Our Words appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

10 Lessons I’ve Learned In 2019

It’s hard to believe that we are a little half way through 2019! How’s everyone feeling about these first 7 months of the year? I felt like it was a great time to reflect on on the lessons learned so far, and to set intentions for what I wish to create for the rest of the year! These are the tops lessons I’ve learned for 2019, they’ve really provided me with a solid foundation and knowledge to give my all to these next few months of year and for my life! Check them out!

Stop questioning and quieting your truth. If something feels wrong, speak up. If something is bothering you, speak out! Your voice matters, honor the truth that lives inside of you.It is completely okay to say no to things that don’t serve you. You don’t have to feel bad about saying no, you don’t have to make excuses, and you don’t have to feel regret or remorse. Honor yourself by saying no, and not looking back.It is okay to disappoint people, and you will disappoint people! Piggybacking off of number 2, when you start to say no, and honor yourself, there will be people who don’t like it. This is okay. It is not your job to make other people happy or live up to other people’s expectations.Live your life for yourself, and stop seeking other people’s approval. We spend so much of our precious energy seeking validation from the external world. And for what? Let’s spend more time creating what we wish to see and less time worrying what other people think about it .Inspiration and creativity are constantly in flux. When living a creative life, it’s easy to fall into the desire to always want to be creating. Know that inspiration comes in phases, ride the waves. Your worth isn’t measured by your productivity. Know that it’s okay to have periods where you don’t feel productive, and learn to really honor down time! Measure your relationships by quality not quantity. You don’t have to have a large inner circle to be loved, valued, or appreciated.It’s okay to let people go. Not all relationships are meant to stick with us for the entirety of our lives, it’s true what they say that relationships can be with us for a reason or a season. Know that it’s completely okay if relationships end.It’s okay if people don’t like or understand you. Don’t take criticisms personally and know that people view life through their own unique, personal lens.It’s okay to not have life completely figured out. Because none of us really do, and that’s what makes life interesting!

What are some of your favorite things you’ve learned so far in 2019?

xo,

Michelle

The post 10 Lessons I’ve Learned In 2019 appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

The Truth I’ve Learned About Purpose

For much of the past few years I’ve felt completely obsessed with purpose. I distinctly remember years ago, hearing in a seminar that finding your purpose was the key to unlocking the life you truly wished to lead, and that once you knew your purpose you would certainly succeed in life. I really, really believed this, and so I went off on the journey to uncover what my purpose really was. I wanted so badly to find “the one thing” that my soul was brought here to do, so that I could live that fully aligned, happy, and successful life.

The interesting thing, though, is that on my journey to finding my purpose, the clarity, or that major “aha” moment never really showed up. I would get glimpses of things that interested me, and causes I wanted to pursue, but that high ideal of true “purpose” didn’t really completely grab my attention and light up my soul.

The traditional callings didn’t seem to fit. I didn’t feel pulled to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a teacher. And once I stepped into the self-help/wellness world, I didn’t seem to fall under those traditional categories either. I wasn’t a coach or a healer. None of the labels that I saw others feeling right at home with didn’t seem to match up for me. So, for a long, long time I felt like something must be wrong, or oddly different with me. Maybe I don’t have a purpose? Maybe I’m someone who isn’t meant to have a specific purpose? Maybe I should stop trying to figure “it” out and just “be normal”. Am I a failure?

These sabotaging thoughts were persistent, but thank goodness, there has always been a louder, more persistent, strong voice inside of me that didn’t want to give up on the concept of purpose, and I’m so glad. Because over time, I have learned so much about what purpose really means, more specifically what it means to me, and how I can integrate the concept into my life in a way that feels good, aligned, and meaningful.

So here is what I have discovered and what I know for sure, of me, about purpose. “Purpose” doesn’t have to be a grandiose, overarching concept of my life. I learned that I can make it smaller, and more manageable to fit labels and concepts that work for me, and it’s fluid! Purpose is not stagnant, “set in stone”, it can be constantly changing, just like my interests and ideals. Our greatest power, is following the little bread crumbs of the things that light you up, and knowing, with great certainty, that these jewels will lead you to something truly magical.

What I truly love, when it comes to the conversation around purpose, is releasing the pressure of “figuring it all out” and just allowing whatever shows up to teach me and accepting completely what will be, to be. Let’s follow our interests, desires, and soul’s yearnings, rather than our brain’s need to know what that one thing is that we will do in life. To remember that in each and every day our purpose can be different. For some of us, in some moments, our purpose can simply be to get up, and be the kindest, truest version of ourselves, and to keep striving for that day after day, after day, until the very end. What a completely valid, worthy and meaningful way to live, right?

We don’t need clear labels to live a meaningful, powerful life. We simply have to be open, receptive, a little curious, and willing to listen the calling of the soul, each and every day.

My search for purpose has been a long and winding road, and what a worthwhile, important journey it is. I offer my experiences as encouragement for you to find your “definition” of what purpose means to you, especially if you feel like you fall short in defining it in your life. Remember, you don’t have to find your purpose, you simply need to be present to what this day and this moment is calling for you to do, be, or create.

xo,

Michelle

The post The Truth I’ve Learned About Purpose appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

How I Learned to Be Brave

I never really considered myself a brave person. Growing up I was always very shy and reserved. I didn’t like too much attention put on me, and I certainly didn’t like to ruffle any feathers. Confrontation of any kind was my biggest enemy, and I always sought to follow the rules and get through life relatively unscathed. I thought because I held so many of these traits, I just simply wasn’t a “brave” person.

I used to feel that in order to be brave, I had to do “big” things. I had to be notable, or different or revolutionary. I thought that only heroes and extraordinary people could really live up to the definition of brave.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a period of time, you’ll remember that part of my New Year’s ritual is to choose an intentional word for the year. I try not to over think it, and allow whatever word organically comes to mind be the one. Interestingly enough, my word is “brave”. The word that I never really felt I could own or call mine, popped into my mind, and I just knew I had to allow it to be a new theme of my life. I put every effort and intention I have into honoring the words that I choose for each year, it means a lot to me, so since I have chosen “brave”, I knew that brave was my word for 2019, but deep down, I had no idea how I was going to live up to it.

What has been happening to me so far this year is, with the intention of being brave, simmering in the back of my mind, I find myself acting, speaking, and presenting myself differently. I notice that when I’m faced with a challenge, or difficulty, or an uncomfortable moment, I face it, and move into it rather than shy away. I speak up more freely and boldly about topics and issues that mattered to me, and I share deeply personal stories from my life. I am making more aligned decisions, and I say no a whole lot more than I ever have!

When bravery shows up in my life, it isn’t grand. There is not a hugely heroic moment or courageously defining circumstance. It is simply me having the courage and the confidence to be completely myself, after so many years of being afraid, and backing off. It is me honoring my own desires rather than trying to shift to fit someone else’s mold. It is me speaking my truth and not being afraid of the opinions and judgments of anyone around me. And this feels really, really powerful and nice.

This first six months of 2019 have taught me that bravery doesn’t have to display itself in large, heroic moments for it to be very real in our lives. In fact, it’s those small moments where we are presented with the option to be a little braver, that really make an impact. I believe that cultivating bravery, is a lot like strengthening a muscle: it requires practice, effort, and diligence. It can feel hard at first to make a brave choice or decision, but the more we do it the more comfortable it gets. The more I recognize bravery within myself, and honor what feels brave for me, the more empowered and emboldened I am to continue to do the brave things and my brave muscle is getting stronger.

The great, amazing thing about all of this is that bravery can show up in completely unique ways in our lives, and it is all equally as meaningful. So, I hope this week’s blog encourages you to examine your own relationship with bravery, and look within yourself to see all of the places you have been brave, but maybe you haven’t given recognition to, and inspires you to exercise YOUR bravery muscle.

Remember, that bravery comes in all shapes, sizes, and circumstances, but here are some ways that bravery shows up in my life…

Bravery is listening to the whispers inside your self that tell you when to speak up or take action, and actually do it.

Bravery is making a personal decision that you know is for your own best interest, even if no one else understands why.

Bravery is saying no to people, places, and circumstances that make you feel bad about yourself.

Bravery is having the courage to disagree.

Bravery is the courage to tell the truth.

Bravery is taking responsibility for your actions, and knowing that it’s okay to make mistakes.

Bravery is owning and honoring exactly who you are in each and every moment of your life.

Bravery is releasing the need to have the acceptance and permission of others.

Bravery is not being afraid to ask for what I want.

Bravery is knowing that something is hard, and doing it anyway.

Bravery is honoring the calls from within your soul.

Bravery is the ability to change your mind.

Bravery is being okay with letting people down.

Bravery is apologizing when it’s necessary.

Bravery is loving yourself, even when it’s hard.

In what ways will you honor yourself now and be brave? If you feel called, share it with me in the comments. I can’t wait to read!

xo, Michelle

The post How I Learned to Be Brave appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

My 5 Favorite Summer Reads

It’s officially summer! I’m so excited to finally be able to say Happy Summer. At least to my friends in the Northern Hemisphere. To my friends elsewhere, Happy Sunday!

Honoring Your Desires

The other day I was driving down A1A, one of my favorites drives in South Florida as it’s right on the ocean, and out of nowhere, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. Honestly, for no apparent reason. Racking my brain for what could be the cause, I noticed that along my journey, I had been driving behind a Jeep for the past few miles, and my answer became clear to me.

You see, for most of my growing up life, I wanted a Jeep. As a kid, I dreamed of turning 16, getting my license, and saving up my money to make my dream car, a reality. When the internet became a thing, I would go on the Jeep website and test out all the different colors and options, so I knew exactly what car I would want, and its price, when the time came.

When I turned 16, and got my license, I didn’t get a Jeep. In fact, I didn’t even go to a Jeep dealership to test drive one. I ended up finding another car, one that was completely opposite of the Jeep that I had been coveting for so long.

In fairness though, I really liked that car too, and I made it mine for the next seven years. When the time came to get a new car, I thought to myself, “this will be the time I get the real car that I want.” It was time for the Jeep, but I never went to the dealership, for some reason. I discovered another SUV, similar in nature to the Jeep, and bought the new car, still leaving that inner soul desire unchecked.

I think the wave of sadness that came over me in that moment on that particular day, almost 20 years later, is that I never allowed myself the opportunity to really try to make that deep desire a reality. I allowed myself to dream, but I didn’t allow myself to act on it. And so, that dream had no place to go, but to hover in my subconscious for all these years.

Now I know that in the grand scheme of things, not getting a car really is no big deal, but it got me thinking about all the other little (and big) life desires that I let go by the wayside. What was it within me that held me back from going for what I really wanted? Why did I choose in opposition of my desires? How many hidden desires are still lingering within me to this day?

I wonder what would be different or what would happen if I allowed myself to act on these desires rather than just dream about them. I wonder how could I feel inside, if I choose to honor my desires rather than just see them as a dreamy possibility?

The truth about our desires is that they are unique to who are, they give us insight into our life’s path, and they provide a sense of clarity. When we don’t honor the desires that burn brightly inside of ourselves, we start closing ourselves off from that inner knowing of what we want, and the belief that we are worthy of these deep desires.

Long ago I had a life coach tell me that life’s desires are like little bread crumbs, guiding us along our path in life. You see something, you feel a pull towards it, and you go. You feel connected to something, and you incorporate it into your life. All these little desires add up to a rich and meaningful life.

But we have to listen. And then act.

When we feel that deep calling within to go somewhere, or to experience something, or to talk to a person, or to buy that thing, listen to see where the yearning inside yourself is coming from. Then ask yourself, “How can I honor it?”

Take the action with excitement, but no expectations, knowing that whether or not you actually get the thing, achieve, or cultivate that desire is truly irrelevant because you’ve actually moved in the direction of your soul’s calling.

The moral of this story is that it’s not about getting what you want. It’s the bravery, the courage, and the way you honor yourself while you explore the things you desire. I’m excited to start living life from this way, and seeing where I end up. Maybe I’ll finally go take that Jeep for a test drive!

I’d love to hear if you feel the same way too, and how you’ll start to honor your desires.

xo, Michelle

The post Honoring Your Desires appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.