Are you living an inspired life?

Everything we do in life is inspired by one thing or another. Whether its positive or negative, life has the cause and effect flow to it.

When we make conscious choices, we find we make better choices. But where do those choices come from? Those choices come to us intuitively, inspirationally or even sometimes by chance.

Most of us work hard, take care of families, extended families; some are even caregivers to ailing or aging parents. Sometimes we get so busy making a living, that we forget to make a life.

I, like most of  you, traveled down that same path. I was living a life, working full time for a national pharmacy chain, taking care of my family, including my terminally ill dad, and still trying to keep my head above water. It was hard. We sometimes become so autonomous that we forget (either by choice or by default) what is means to really enjoy life and allow inspiration to touch our lives. It seems all my life I had been a caregiver in one form or another. This is a role that I readily took on and have no regrets about.

But, after time, when things settle in your life; people move on or move to the next phase in their journey or pass into the spirit world, we are then faced with the question, 'ok, so what do I do now?'

Last year in 2010, that was my question. My kids had moved out and on with their lives, my beloved dad transitioned to the spirit world and after some health problems of my own, I found myself unemployed and more time on my hands than I knew what to do with. There was no one to take care; no decisions to make; no deadlines; no crisis to solve; nothing.

I knew enough to know that this new phase of the journey had to be about me. But, I had never focused on my own life. I had been the co-pilot for many others, but I had always put my own life on hold. I had dabbled for a few years in different things; took workshops; graduated from a massage therapy program and even started a business. But I found I was losing my passion for the things I enjoyed the most.

This past year found me wandering aimlessly in my life. It was as if I was waiting for a neon sign to direct me where to go. I was good at being a co-pilot, but not good at piloting life by itself. Choices over the last several years were based on kids, family, etc. I was finally left to my own devices and I had no clue what to do with my life.

I have been a follower of Wayner Dyer and many other inspirational authors for many years. I read their books, listened to their programs and at times, saw them in person for an event. I would watch intently, read with optimism and even 'dream' of what it would be like to be as inspirational and optimistic as they were. They made it look simple. If they could do it, why couldn't I?

But they had something I didn't yet have. There lies the crux of the problem. Motivation. I had the inclination; the know how; the time; the passion, but I lacked motivation. It seemed so simple to live an inspired life, but yet it felt like 'work'. I often said that living an inspired life shouldn't take this much effort. But it did. What was I doing wrong?

What I was doing wrong was that I had placed expectations to the outcome of my actions. I felt that if I did this, the universe would give me a high five and grant me the key to the next level in life. I planned and executed, but I still felt 'empty'.

Shame on me. I knew better. This was the first lesson of self-help 101; never place expectations on the outcome. This only leads to self-limiting beliefs and eventually self-sabotage. Two things that I seem to know alot about, quite proficiently I might add.

I knew I needed to change my life. I was not a negative person by any means, but like most people, there is always room for improvement in our lives. I knew I had to make changes and that included looking at the 'ugly' parts of my life that I had shunned for so long.

I felt as if I lead two lives. When I sat with a client, I shined. I knew what I was talking about. I felt passion, confidence, compassion, intuition, insight, inspiration and more. I would light up like a christmas tree when I was doing something I was passionate about.

But, when it came to my own life, it seemed that the light was very dim inside. I am not one of those people who need praise or accolades to feel good about themselves, and those who know me know how uncomfortable that makes me. Helping others has always given me gratification and pride that goes beyond explanation. Its a joy that I feel from my head to my toes when I know I can be a source of support for someone.

The trick was, how do I take that feeling and apply it to my own life? It was challenging, but I did realize that I have been given a gift. The gift of TIME. Those who know me know that I connect to the spiritual parts of life as well as the metaphysical. I am not ashamed to say I talk to my angels, spirit guides and loved ones in spirt. When I started listening more to my intuition and to divine guidance, and stop listening to the ego inside that made me doubt myself, I was able to start sorting through the muck in my life and start understanding what I was here for.

Most of us ask the question, 'why am I here, and what is my purpose'. This is one question I get asked over and over again and one that I ask myself over and over.

And I'm here to tell you that there is not one perfect answer. I define 'purpose' as to what gives you the most joy. What brings you passion and inspiration?

And that leads us to how we can live a more inspired life.

By listening to your soul, by listening to your intuition, by stopping for a few minutes each day and being grateful for what is, instead of what isn't; to be in a place of compassion and peace for just a few minutes each day will help you lean toward living a more inspired life. And the secret is to be as compassionate and loving toward yourself as you are to the people in your lives. We must fill our own cup before we can fill the cup of others.

Most of want to feel this euphoric feeling, to feel unending peace and light ino ur life, and most of strive for this. The sad part is, most of us cannot grasp it because we think of it in physical terms. Its not a material thing; its something that speaks to your soul, something that gives you the utmost joy; its something that isn't tangible, but instead something that you feel with every fiber of your being. It is a feeling that defies description.

So my friends, think about your life and when you do, don't look back and think about what you should have done, could have done or might have done if you had made a different choice. Look instead in front of you, to the road ahead of you and chart that course with excitement, with inspiration, with intuition and with a heavy dose of gratitude.

Because without this combination, you may end up leading a life that is filled with sadness and despair. I want more for you; the universe wants more for you. And I know YOU want more for you.

No matter where you are in life, whether you are wealthy or poor, living pay check to pay check or have a hefty savings, we are all equal when it comes to the basic emotions of life. We all have to make choices, so choose wisely. Choose to make tomorrow the first day of the rest of your life. Don't look back, look forward.

I would like to leave you with this question, 'What would you change about your life if you knew you would not fail?'

Now, go out and start making it happen!

With Gratitude,
Donna