The reason I go out of my way to keep my regular workouts on holiday, no matter how far I need to travel or how early I must rise before festivities start, is because I know I’ll then (continue to) go out of my way to live out dreams or other passions.
After visiting the Cliffs of Moher, it poured — I wanted to sit, tea and read [did that later], but remembered what I also wanted (move this body in this particular way — I revel in it), so I drove 20 minutes mid-day to this (pictured).
Because…to push those dreams or projects uphill or help them along as they coast (winning) downhill or hold them on the days when they are (or are not) working as we’d like…you need strength for that (& there’s no app for that).
It’s a *true trust test* — with yourself. Say that 5x really fast.
It comes down to who you be and what you choose when external circumstances, say, the city, the people, the rain, the pocketbook, schedule etc. are tempting you to abandon what simple things you know makes for your content and expressive life.
It’s all connected.
I’ve been an active woman for a long time, save for just before I got pregnant and a short stint in college not playing a sport, but I think many of us do find it getting harder to choose self in this way, specifically, when motherhood or business ownership or hormones are telling you that you might want to stay put.
I’m sure there’s something you enjoy doing…maybe it’s for your own physical or mental health or, maybe, even something you love to do with or for your family or romantic relationship, but, when things get shifted or shaken up, even the slightest, it’s the first thing to go —
Start doing *that* thing that you know for certain brings joy, no matter what, and do it as often as you think about it (it’s probably a lot more than you’re currently doing it), not just every now and again when it’s “convenient”.
Dreams aren’t convenient most days, weeks, months and years, either.
Make it fun — make it a challenge, a practice…an experiment to see what happens when you stop saying “tomorrow” to these moments you know you want…then, feel the satisfaction, trust and strength that will come internally and, how this thing you now do begins to not-so magically help you step into the larger projects, shaping your beautiful, creative and interested life (notice I didn’t say interesting, though that will happen, too).
It’s THIS thing that you keep wanting to do more consistently daily or weekly (but don’t do) that is your driver or spark for the other larger stuff.
Legacy level passion is tied to a daily joy or passion.
When you have the (an) idea, the desire or passion to do something inside, then don’t do it, over and over again, you, in essence, break your own heart ~ you break trust with yourself.
The more we break trust with ourselves, the less that we end up believing that the life we want is there for us…
The less well we feel, the more defeated we feel and the less spark or gung-ho we continue to be for the bigger stuff or larger expressions we know we need to get after before we depart this planet.
To lose trust in ourselves makes us feel like we are losing or have already lost, but it’s not necessarily true.
Gain the self-trust back with commitment and a devotion to your happiness in the simplest of ways and you’ll trust deeper in yourself to get after the harder, heavier or most meaningful stuff that’ll lead to a purpose-powered life.
Be like a dog on a bone with that (simple) everyday thing you love or wish to do.
It’s not just a workout or a _______ or a ______ or a _______.
It’s tied to the things or experiences you most want — the self-realization, peace, and elation tied to the commitment and devotion to your greatest ideas.
So, be —
Tenacious.
Persistent.
Because it’s these simple things that bring us joy (that simple thing ~> could be health-related as it is for me, in however you define health or movement for yourself) that can be the parallel passion needed to bring other grander ones to light…(match to flame).
Stick with it, stay committed to what you want or to the way you want to feel and the more you’ll make good on the larger dreams, experiments, challenges or movements you want to build.
Keep building..self from all sides.
Enjoy your business, enjoy your life!
Life is good,
Michelle Ghilotti
Success Designer, Brand Activator & Social Entrepreneur