The Guts and the Glory

In this life you have to have guts.  Guts to say how you feel and do what needs to be done.  You also have to have the guts to do what is right for you, because it’s your life.  You ahve to be willing to sometimes make people upset, if it means that you are following your truth and what will make you happy.  Basically, you have to have the guts to have the life you want, a life that feels the way you want it to feel.

I have long said that instead of asking what job title you want, or what things you want to accomplish, or put on your bucket list, think about how you want you life to feel?  For instance, you may want a job title of VP…but what if that means that you are working 100 hours a week, never have time for your friends and family, and are always tired?  Is that how you want your life to feel?  No?  Then you probably will not be happy as a VP.  Instead, what makes you happy?  What inspires you?  Go after what will make you feel that way…not the job title, or zip code, or flashy car.  If you have to work all the time to afford that big house on the hill, maybe downsize so you can afford a house and sometime off (maybe a vacation?) Go after the feel.

And do to that, you have to have guts. And you have to follow your guts as well.  That means following that gut instinct that tells you where and what will make you happy, what will make you feel fulfilled and good.  Follow that positive energy that feeds the soul.

Oh, but that can be hard can’t it?  But it’s worth it. And that is what a good friend reminded me today as I was making a decision .  Go after the quality of life that you want, and don’t try to force it because of expectations.  And a weight was lifted off my shoulders.  It was a decision that I already knew, but wanted to run past someone to validate that I was not crazy. And indeed, having a the guts to follows your gut instinct is what will lead you to happiness.

How do you measure success?  By my quality of life.  That doesn’t mean fancy, expensive things.  That means being happy, being fulfilled, having a purpose and loving what I do.  Having a life I am excited to live every morning.  Sound corny?  Not at all.  Happiness is priceless and your guts will never lead you wrong.  Do it and start building the life you want.

The Fire in the Flood

It is amazing to me how things can just fall into place.  How many times, after such hard work, it can all come to fruition.  But first we have to make room for what we want in our lives.  And that can take a lot of work, and some time.  But the result is beautiful, as I have witnessed in my own life.  A great career where I can follow the quality of life I want.  My family is good and a wonderful relationship that amazes me every single day with how much happiness it brings into my life. Life is beyond good.  It is bliss.

But first, we all have those times in life, where we have to let go of that which does not serve us any more.  And this serves a great purpose in our life, even though it may be hard.  It makes room for the good a wonderful and positive. But we have to let go first. Even if it is family. And many times it is, or those with whom we have been close in the past, but whose path is different from ours.

Sometimes it is letting go of those who do not have the same values as we do, or those who actually may do us harm to have in our lives.  You have to let those people go, or they will deplete you of everything you have that is good.  They will replace love and light with their own darkness and hate filled skewed version of the world.  Let them go.

I have often wondered why some people insist on hanging on to what is not good for them.  I may never understand, but maybe we all f=do to some extent.  I know that I will try everything that I can before having a to walk away. So that when I do, I do so with the peace of mind knowing i could do nothing more, and to try would be damaging to me.

When we let go, there is a silence. It can be deafening at first, even heartbreaking.  But then there is peace. And joy. Written by a friend:

I should be use to the sounds of silence. Although it rings loudly ever still , I am no longer surprised by it. I see the weakness in it. I feel stronger in the echoes of it…because I know what causes it. And it’s not me. I know there’s no changing it and I don’t plan on trying to anymore. I will allow the hush to cover over me and I will find safety underneath…I will use it as my shield of protection that guards me from what I don’t want to feel anymore or deal with any longer. And that which covers me, will separate me from what hurts. And it will take away what could have been or should have been and make it something that doesn’t ever have to be. And that sound of silence will be a gift, that allows me to become someone else and a memory of sorts to those who have yelled and screamed and made known that ever present silent disapproval. And they can have it. It can be theirs. Continuing to deafen their own mind and heart, telling lies. But I won’t hear it. I will only listen to the music of love. And there I will find myself, my peace, dancing in the tranquil sounds of harmony in every note, every voice, every person that wants to shower me with song. And I will sing back in a beautiful, meaningful conversation with those who chose to speak.

And when we do let go, often the flood gates open.  At least this has been the case with me. And I have found the fire within the flood.  A fire in my heart that burns so pure and bright, it is blinding to all those who wanted to do harm, even a whisper of it. It will not pass.

And in this flood of goodness, light and love that is flowing ever so swiftly in my life, there are so many possibilities. There are smiles, and laughter and weddings of friends.  There are cabins in the woods, late night conversations and early morning coffee talks.  There are wine glasses and concerts and travel and fun. And sweet, intoxicating kisses, that last a lifetime in an instant. And there is happiness.