| Other times, choosing to take another path is something that you ease into after lots of thoughtful meditation, just like a cold swimming pool on a hot day. Some people jump, others take their time. I don't think that one method is better than another. As long as you choose to make a change, it is a time to get excited and to go for it. The excitement is an important part of the decision, as it has to override the inevitable fear or belief system that you have to step through to make the change. I have found that it is very difficult to maintain a course in my life if I am not balancing it with activities that bring me joy. Simple actions can be taken to speak to these core parts that require expression. There are a multitude of projects that can stimulate whatever light is within you to inspire it to shine more brightly. It's always fun to look at the things that you loved to do as a child. When we are young, we are so much closer to the truth and play is something that happens naturally.
When you are determining that first step of bringing more joy into your life, it doesn't always require that you do something that you think it productive as much as it puts you into a space of being childlike, that place of being playful and in awe of life that brings you fully into the moment. Sometimes there are classes or lectures that will facilitate this same response but initially, when you are embarking upon a long journey, it is good to remind yourself how awesome and exhilarating this journey can be. So, choose one thing ... be it climbing a tree, playing a game of scrabble with a friend, taking a hike in one of your favorite places, playing baseball with someone ... whether you think you're good at it or not ... laugh, dance, frolic and bring yourself back to center.
It is possible to create the change you are longing for in new ways of choosing your destiny, instead of waiting for a drama to erupt and acting out of that scenario. If you know that you are not living the most passionate life that you can be and you choose to take steps on to that path, you remove the need to create outside forces to create it for you. The steps that you take to make these shifts in your life don't need to be extreme (unless, of course, that is what's called for in the situation).
I remember seeing the film, "What About Bob," and laughing my head off. Anyhow, Richard Dryfess's character wrote a book called, Baby Steps, which helped Bob (played by Bill Murray), one step at a time, to make a new start for himself in life. By taking baby steps, Bob was able to step into the life he had always wanted to live and it affected everyone around him. Well, taking the first step is a bit like the "baby step" philosophy in that you only have to take one small step to begin the process of living your dreams. Then, once you've taken that small step, you take another and another.
So often the end goal distracts us, when the simple joys of life are in the real treasures of the journey. Making too many plans, too far in advance, is to miss the opportunity to discover your true passions and to fall into the trap of stressing out when you could be enjoying the "moment" instead. |
