There are so many things that I know will make me feel better or more productive or more healthy or more peaceful….or more alive. They work. Like a charm. When I do them.

The problem is I don’t do them consistently.

Why?

Because my spirit resists doing them for the results I am hoping to get. Because all of those things have the beauty of their own. And my spirit wants to acknowledge that beauty. And do it for that beauty.

My spirit wants to enjoy the process. Not the destination.

My spirit doesn’t like the vibe of striving. The vibe of - let me do that to get this… because without doing that I won’t get this.

It thinks:

I don’t want to do something inspiring in the morning to make the whole day more productive and inspiring. I don’t want to meditate to get more clarity. I don’t want to write to get more subscribers.

I don’t want to do those things with a desperate desire to get some particular result.

I want to do them…for the sake of doing them. Because it feels good to do them.

Another example:

It feels good to escape to our little garden first thing in the morning with my baby and spend some time there reflecting, looking at the flowers and watching her explore. It feels good. And the day does flow afterwards.

But as soon as I notice the effect it has on the rest of my day, I want to keep doing it to get that effect. I forget why I liked it so much to begin with. I stop being present. I see a more “important” benefit and now I want to do it for that benefit.

But the thing is – my spirit refuses to do it. It doesn’t like the result oriented mentality. And so I don’t escape to the garden in the mornings anymore. I do it later in the day, but the magic of doing it in the morning before anything else –that magic is forgotten.

Do you make the same mistake?

Have you ever started meditating and felt good and then noticed the profound effect it had on your day and your mind…and wanted more of that effect?

Have you ever decided to spend more time in nature and loved it and felt more at peace and more inspired and more connected and gained more clarity and more focus as a result…and then wanted to spend more time in nature to get more focus and more clarity?

Have you ever done things that make you come alive and felt really good,  felt that special high …and then noticed that it was  easier for you to do other things that make you come alive – bigger things, bolder things…. and it all felt good and so you decided to do all those little things that make you come alive to help bigger things to become a significant part of your life? Because you want to your bigger alives to be a significant part of your life.

I have done all of the above.

And that is the problem.

Because the intention of getting the particular result turns all of those things into a chore. And my spirit resists chores.

Now I see the problem with the project Alive that I started. I started treating it as chore. I started doing it purely for the result I was hoping to get. And my spirit screams – No.

Should I stop the project?

No.

But I should stop and reconsider. I should maybe stop calling it a project for God’s sake. I should stop and go back to why I loved feeling alive and doing things that make me come alive to begin with.

And that is what I plan to do in the next few days.

More later.

So I took my slowing down advice to heart and didn’t write yesterday. Or maybe I didn’t have much to say. The latter is more likely.

I have this idea in my head that every post I write should contain some deep insight. I tried publishing other kind of posts, like here is what we did yesterday and let me do my stream of consciousness. Those never felt good. It felt like I was wasting your time .

I know that I am wrong, because even those kind of posts can inspire. And I want to inspire.

Anyway, I didn’t have any deep insights. So I didn’t know what to write. And then I realized that instead of focusing on doing things that make me come alive I started analyzing myself and trying hard to come up with insights on how to come alive.

This is not good – I thought. Insights don’t happen when you are looking for them, they happen when you are living, engaging, taking action.

Then I asked myself – why was I doing it?

The answer was –  I was trying to make this project more meaningful, more useful. How funny is that? The most useful part of this project is to serve as a reminder. To do what lights you up, what feeds your soul, what makes you come alive. It really can’t get any more useful.

I was making things more complicated than they should be as usual.

So I decided to stop and not do that anymore.

It is really all very easy. There are only two things that make us come alive – making progress on what matters to us and expressing who we are.

Just two.

We need to commit to doing both every day. To make progress you need to know your long term goals that are important to you right now. To express yourself you need to know what lights your soul .

There will be lots of other things that make you feel alive but seem to not fit into those two categories.

Like I wrote in one of my first posts that I feel alive when I engage in meaningful conversations with like-minded people. Conversations might not look like progress or self – expression but really they are.

With like-minded people I am much more likely to express myself without holding anything back. I am much more likely to share my dreams. I am much more likely to brainstorm for ideas and make progress. I can get inspired. I can learn. I can grow.

So many things can help you express yourself creatively and make progress.

It all comes down to knowing who you are and what you want.

It always comes down to it. And then going out there and doing what need to be done to be who you are and get what you want.

And that, my friends, will make you come alive.

Hey, that was a deep insight, don’t you think?

From now on I won’t look for insights. I’ll welcome them when they come, but when they don’t I am here to just remind you to do something that makes you come alive. Everyday.

Let’s make it a habit. Because it’s a good habit to have.

I saw time stretch yesterday. Literally.

Most of our Sundays are hectic. We are intentional about Saturdays. That’s our special family day. But Sundays are filled with housework, errands to catch up on and the list goes on. Plus of course there are kids who need to be fed, entertained etc.

And no matter how many times I said we need to change that, Sundays usually fly. Fast.

But yesterday… Yesterday was different. I took 2 two-hour naps. I am not kidding. I cleaned the house and did the laundry. I escaped to the bookstore to have my me time and then even got my pedicure done. I read a book. I juiced. I wrote.  I spent lots of time online mindlessly browsing gardening tips and sustainable communities in GA. I did some gardening. I dreamed. I wasn’t productive. I wasn’t even trying to be productive.  I slowed down.

All of that while attending to kids needs with one child being a little sick. Well, of course I also had a supportive husband who helped me by making sure kids were taken care of while I was away.

To some of you it might not look like a lot. But if you have small kids in the house, you’ll know what I mean when I say that time stretched.

By attending to my inner needs first, I ensured all of the needs were met. And I felt alive. Because my inner needs include doing things that make me feel alive. And because I was not rushed and didn’t feel guilty while doing them.

So I am putting intentional slowing down on my list of things to do to help me feel alive.

I suggest you do the same.

Short post today, but I hope you take this message to heart.

Your task for today:

Slow down. Ask yourself what your soul wants you to do today. Find time to do it.

Other little things that make me feel alive right now:

We made a garden for my son. I think I am enjoying it more than he does. That’s my new favorite spot to sit and dream by.

I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

I started our project Alive last week. I haven’t been very diligent about it I have to admit, I am still getting used to the fact that I need to focus on what makes me feel alive every day.

But even if I am not always diligent about it, I am doing the small things. And when I am not doing them, I am thinking about my alive. And that is good enough. For now.

Remember – what you focus on expands.

If you focus on feeling alive and doing small things that make you come alive, life will start sending you more of those things. And soon bigger things that make you come alive, like your big dream, will become part of your everyday too.

So I focus. I do the small things.

Yesterday I poured myself some tea and read even though I had “more important” things to do. I wrote in my journal and thought about my dreams. I went on Pinterest and looked at things that inspire me and got my creative juices flowing.

I decided to make a little garden just for my son. He’ll plant there anything he wants and I got him a little bench to sit and meditate by his garden. Or maybe he’ll read a book on that bench. Or play with his sticks and rocks.

I also of course write. And do things for my business.

And all of those things make me come alive. Spreading out as many of them as possible throughout the day helps me to maintain that feeling. Again I am not diligent about it, but I am getting there.

Which brings me to the important point I want to make in this post.

The most important part of doing those little things is the intention behind why you do them.

The vibe.

It is important to do them with the intention to make yourself feel alive and spread that feeling everywhere around you.

It is important to NOT do them to escape from your reality. From your to do list. From everyday mundane tasks and routines.

Don’t try to esacape.

Otherwise that’s where your focus will be – on escaping. And that’s what will expand as a result – more things to escape from. Stop that escape mentality.

The goal of this project is to help you always feel alive. Even if you are doing things that are not your alives, you can still feel alive.

When the things that make you come alive have a permanent place in your everyday life, it changes how you feel about everything else – how you go about your day, how you treat people, how you feel about yourself. It changes everything. That’s the whole point of this project.

With that said, let’s do some categorizing today. I know, that doesn’t sound too inspiring. But bear with me. I had another insight.

Look at your list of alives. Come up with 2 or 3 categories that most of the things on your list fall into.

For example, on my list – I have kids and my business as my main categories. Most of the items on my list fall under one or the other.

Now ask yourself  – what progress means to you in these two (or three, or four) categories? Remember how we said that progress or specifically taking action that will lead to progress makes us feel alive? Making the little and big steps that will propel us forward – that’s what gives us that special high.

So what progress means to you in those categories that you just came up with?

To answer this question you should probably know your long – term goal for each of the categories.

My long – term goal with my kids is to help them grow into their best selves and realize their highest potential.

My long term goal for my business is to serve lots of people all over the world helping them gain clarity, dare, live consciously and follow their dreams.

When I know my long – term goals, it is easier for me to see what action will help me to make progress. For example, writing and promoting this blog is a progress. Brainstorming for ideas is a progress. Creating a new product is a progress. Not giving up is a progress.

Many things can be considered a progress. And doing them will make me feel alive.

Many things won’t be considered a progress. Like doing the same thing that is not working over and over again.

So what’s your long term goal? How can you make progress on it today? And what else will you do to make yourself feel alive?

That’s all I have for today.

Remember, don’t treat your alives as your escape from reality. Intention behind why you do what you do matters.

Figure out your long – term goals and take steps to make some progress in reaching them. Every day.

And that will make you come alive. Promise.

I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

I had a big post planned for today but suddenly felt a lack of inspiration to write it. Like a complete lack of inspiration. I spent a good 30 minutes reading some blogs and checking Facebook status updates until I couldn’t stand it anymore. I have only that much time these days…while baby is sleeping. And wasting that time feels painful.

Anyway…

Her name is Resistance…

I know her. She usually shows up a few days after I start a new project or come up with a new idea.
New means change. She doesn’t like change.

I bet you’ve experienced it before too. You start a new project. You are excited about it. You have tons of ideas. You have a plan of action. And then… all of that excitement turns into self-doubt and lack of any inspiration to do what you so wanted to do just a few days ago.

I could have forced it and written a post I was planning to write. But I decided not to. I am going to let her win today. I will prevail though, because I know who I am dealing with. Because this time I am mindful of her.

So I am going to write about her instead. I will acknowledge her. And respect her. I’ll pay attention to her. I’ll listen. I’ll be very nice to her. And I think that will cool her down. And my inspiration will be back in no time. In fact I already feel it coming back.

When do you feel resistance?

Let’s look at our list of alives and think of when resistance tends to show up. So we can recognize her and be mindful of her when she does. And that will help to make her not so loud.

Resistance is present in my business a lot. When I start taking action on my big dreams I have for it. When I do something outside of my comfort zone. And pretty much everything that involves taking steps and making a progress means going out of the comfort zone to some degree. So resistance is always there. Watching. Ready to jump in.

But this time I am going to be ready for her. I will even plan for her. In a way I even like here. She is like a good friend who is always there for me.

I recommend you do the same. This is your task for today. Look at the area of your life where resistance often stops you from taking action. Look at your alives and see which of them bring the most resistance out you.

Make a mental note of it. So next time you can recognize and acknowledge it. That’s all you often need to weaken her grip.

Here you go. That’s my post for today.

What will you do today to make you feel alive?

I’ll do some dreaming and strategizing. And more writing. And maybe I’ll even make myself some tea and read an inspiring book. Plus I always have my kiddos. I’ll do something fun with them.

Have a good day you all! I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

I am on a mission to find all the little and big things that make me feel alive.  And make them a priority in my life. Join me.

–
Action is about living fully. Inaction is the way that we deny life. Inaction is sitting in front of the television every day for years because you are afraid to be alive and to take the risk of expressing what you are. Expressing what you are is taking action. ~ The Four Agreements

I realized after reading this that action is what everyone should add to their list of alives.

Action makes us feel alive. All of us. Regardless of who we are and what our dreams are.

But not any action.

We take action every day. Wake up. Eat. Get dressed. Drive. Cook. Talk… Those are motions.

And, no, I am not necessarily talking about action toward our dreams either. Even though that’s the action that will make you feel alive.
Any action that makes you feel like you are making a progress will make you feel alive.

Progress is a keyword here. And it is all up to your own definition of progress. Whatever makes you feel like you are making a progress, will make you feel alive.

I feel alive when I am writing this post. Because I am making a progress toward my desire to serve more people and do meaningful work. I also feel alive when I plan our activities with my kids because I am making a progress in helping them grow and develop into hopefully creative, loving and passionate individuals.

I feel alive when I change something. Our diet. Our parenting approach. Things that are not working. Because change is progress.
So I am adding the action toward progress to my list.

Please do the same. And start today. Make progress a priority today. See what action you can take today. To move forward. I bet you’ll come up with lots of ideas.

How was your weekend?

We had two birthdays to attend, garden to finish and the list goes on. I did find time for my alives. Not as much as I would like to but just the fact that I am consciously thinking about it and consciously trying to make it happen is a pretty big deal. I didn’t do that before.

So my challenge for you today – think where you can make some progress.

Don’t think about the end result you are hoping for, but think about progress. What little steps can you take?

I’ll be back tomorrow with some questions to ask yourself to gain more clarity on your alives.

–

You can sign up for Project Alive email list below. I am sending more personal reminders to my email subscribers. To help you stay on track. To remind you what truly matters. To share some challenges and insights that’ve had and things that worked for me.  Let’s figure out this whole alive thing together.

Email:

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We went for a walk in the woods yesterday. Just me and the kids. Nature walks and gateways with them make me feel alive. I will put it as a separate category on my list of alives.

I thought at first it would go somewhere in between creative activity and taking them places. But today I realized I specifically love exploring nature with them. When we look at different plants, pick up sticks and other little treasures to bring home, find bugs and colorful butterflies.

I always loved nature. I love experiencing it with kids. I love seeing their imagination at play. Nature provides so many opportunities for imagination to flourish and their little minds to develop. No amount of fancy toys can do that.

But I realized today that I don’t always allow myself to fully enjoy our nature outings. Like when I think we should hurry and get home on time to get other things done. Or when I have something else on my mind. I am not always present.

I am watching myself more closely in the past few days.

And I notice myself ruining my alive experiences right and left. I don’t allow myself to fully enjoy them. To fully emerge in them.

Alive is a conscious choice.

The choice we need to make every day. The choice to not only do what makes us feel alive but also to be present and enjoy it.

Consider this project to be an invitation. To give yourself a permission. To enjoy. To love. To savor your alive moments.

Give yourself this permission now.

Now that we have that out of the way, how are you doing? Are you working on your list?

If you were just reading and warming up to the idea of doing it, now is a great time to start.

Today we will start destroying the limitations (most are in our heads) that prevent us from doing and fully enjoying our alives.

Awareness is the first step as always. And we will start by asking some simple questions.

Look at the list of your alives that you’ve made and start going through each item on the list one at a time asking yourself these questions:

What prevents me from doing this more often? What prevents me from fully enjoying it?

Just write whatever comes to mind. Don’t try to figure out the solution just yet. Let’s take it one step at a time.

Here is my example:

The first thing I wrote on my alive list was – I feel alive when I do creative projects with my kids.

What prevents me from doing it more often and fully enjoying it?

Here are some things that come to mind immediately. I won’t edit or filter, I’ll just write.

I often don’t make it a point to do creative projects with them. During the days when we have a lot going on, I don’t make it a priority. Sometimes those days turn into weeks.

I often try to lead even though I discovered that the best way for all of us to have fun is to let them lead. I often try to direct the process the way I think it should go. And push my vision and expectations. It usually ruins everything.

I sometimes go overboard and plan too many activities for us and then I burn out and don’t want anything to do with them for a while.

Those are the things that come to mind right now. I am sure I’ll have more in the next few days.

I am going to do the same with every item on my list of alives. I’ll go through each item and write down things that I know prevent me from doing it more often and enjoying it fully.

Here is your task for this weekend:

Keep contemplating. If more things come up that make you feel alive, write them down.

Then go through each item on your list and think of all the things that prevent you from fully enjoying it, from being fully present when you are doing it and from doing it more often.

Most importantly consciously observe yourself.  You will start having insights now that your mind has a specific task at hand. Write your insights down.

–

I originally planned on doing this series on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but I decided to add Mondays too as Tuesday sounded like a very long time until the next post. So I’ll talk to you on Monday.

I also created a special  email list, Alive email list (how cool does that sound, or maybe a little creepy) for those of you who want to get more personal and unfiltered insights and little reminders to keep you going. I’ll send emails every other day or so. This is for you if you really dig this project.

Please sign up below. And I’ll talk to you soon!

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Here is the paradox.

We want to do what makes us feel alive. We really do. It feels good to be alive. But we run away from it. There are other things on our to do lists. Other priorities.

I don’t know where we learned this weird way to prioritize.

Guilt is an important thing to watch out for. Guilt that says – you need to be doing something else, you are wasting your time.

It is so important to be productive in our culture. But what if we tried to slow down and shift our priorities from our to do lists to what our soul wants us to do lists. Maybe the to do list would get tackled faster as a result. And maybe we’ll get more creative and our big and bold dream won’t look as big and bold anymore. And will become quite doable. And we’ll start taking steps toward it. All because we allowed ourselves to slow down and pay more attention to things that make us feel alive before we pay attention to anything else.

When do you feel guilty doing something? When do you get the you are wasting your time kind of thoughts?

Yesterday I wrote that one of the things that make me feel alive is reading books that inspire me. It was hard for me to see it at first because I haven’t really read in a long time. I have tons of books that I started and never finished. I have tons of books in my head that I want to read. But I don’t read. And even if I allow myself to do it once in a while, I do it in a hurry. I don’t allow myself to fully enjoy it.

My plate is full right now with two babies to take care of.  I have a long list of to dos and reading is not on it. I don’t make time for it. I don’t remember when was the last time I dedicated the whole evening to curling up on the coach with a cup of tea and a book. Even thinking about it makes me feel weird. I have so many other things to do, are you kidding me?

So I didn’t even think of reading as one of my alives at first. But then I started remembering things that I feel guilty about if I ever allow myself to do them . Things that I love, but rush through. Because they are not my “priorities”. And it lead me to reading.

Did you make the list of your alives yesterday?

Today we are still working on it.

Think of when you get the - I am wasting my time, I should be doing something else kind of thoughts. What activities provoke those thoughts?  Is there your alive hiding somewhere there?

Obviously, if you are on Facebook and your mind is screaming – this is not what you need to be spending your time on, maybe you should listen.

Keep brainstorming today. Keep watching your feelings closely. Keep thinking of your alives and writing them down.

Tomorrow we’ll start dissecting each alive and figuring out what the right way to handle it is.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

Yesterday when I wrote the post about going on a Mission: Alive (by the way, mission is too dramatic, so we’ll call it a project) I felt that there was something that still wasn’t clear about my intentions behind doing it. Like I didn’t fully understand what I was trying to do myself.

Everything I wrote yesterday is true. I feel that figuring out the what makes me feel alive and how I can do more of it thing will change everything – how I relate to people, how I interact with my children and my husband, how I feel about myself… and much more. I feel that it will help me get unstuck. I feel that it will change things that need to be changed.

And those are great reasons to do it. Really, they are. But there was something else.

And today I realized what it was.

There is one thing.

Even though I said before that I don’t believe in one thing.

This one thing stands out. It is the one that brings me the most creative joy. And it is also the one that is one of the biggest sources of resistance at this point in my life.

I want to do this project to help me get unstuck in this one thing.

Why one thing?

I don’t believe in one thing when it comes to trying to find one passion, one life purpose, one big goal in life (whatever you call it).

But there is one thing at this point in your life that brings you the most creative joy. The one you are passionate about the most. The one that brings you the most aliveness. And the most resistance as a result.

This one thing might change completely tomorrow and another thing will stand out.

This one thing is not set in stone. And it is not predetermined.

But right now…right where you are, you have one thing.

For me it is writing. And creating products that will help people gain clarity, dare more and try more. This little blog is my one thing right now. It stands out.

My kids stand out too. They are my constant source of inspiration and creative joy and often frustration. But I feel less stuck when it comes to parenting them. In fact I almost don’t feel stuck at all. I feel overwhelmed and frustrated at times but not stuck.

So that’s probably the main reason why I want to do this project.

I believe that if I gain clarity on, learn how give a priority to all the things that make me feel alive, this one thing that stands out for me will start flowing easier. I will have less resistance doing this one thing. I will get unstuck where I am stuck with it.

I think it will do the same for you too.

So let’s start, shall we?

Project: Alive. Day 1.

Let’s ask some questions.

Tell me, what makes you feel alive? When do you feel alive? When do you experience that special high?

I started a notebook. I’ll also be documenting my insights on the blog. Please do the same. You have to write it down.

Seriously, find something to write on right now.

Our goal for this week is to dump everything out of our heads and put it on the paper.

We will do sorting, categorizing, prioritizing, weeding…etc later.

Right now let’s just take it out of your head.

Write everything that comes to mind.

Do you feel alive when creating culinary masterpieces for your family? Write it down. Do you feel alive when you are walking in the woods with your kids? Write it down. Write all the little and big things – your big alives and small alives.

Most importantly write down that one thing that stands out for you right now.

Here is what I have:

- I feel alive when I do creative projects with my kids. Or when I do something creative for them. When I come up with ideas that will engage their little minds. When I see their eyes sparkle. When I find a winner and they want to do it over and over again. When they surprise me during our creative endeavors. And they always do.

- I feel alive when I take them to new places. And old places that we love. I feel alive when I take them places, period. We love getting out of the house and have our little adventures.

- I feel alive when I create our own little special celebrations. When I create memories for them. It often takes extra effort, but I never mind.

- I feel alive when I engage in meaningful conversations with like-minded people.

- I feel alive when I travel. Explore. New places. New flavors. New beauty.

- I feel alive when I see beauty. It could be beauty that I found browsing Pinterest – like simple and clever room design. Or beauty of the forest. And the trees. And the sky.

- I feel alive when I read something that inspires me. Makes me think. Makes me ponder the possibility.

- I feel alive when I dream.

- And my main thing – I feel alive when I write. When I have an insight and share it and get an email from someone who found it valuable. I feel alive when I work one on one with people. And dream with them. Big Bold dreams. I feel alive when I see their Vision clearly. And help them see it. I feel alive when I lead. I liked doing it ever since I was a child. Group projects where I get to be the organizer, the leader – I love that.

Those are my alives, the ones I can think of right now. I suspect I’ll be adding to this list. I’ll be  watching myself closely and writing more down.

As you see, some of my alives are very general, some are much more specific. Right now I am writing down all the things that come to mind.

What are your alives? Make your list.

I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

–

If you know someone who needs this series please share this article with them. Thank you for reading. It makes me feel alive to write for you.

I haven’t been updating my blog recently because I had an idea brewing in my head. A project I wanted to share but couldn’t figure out the right way to do it. A nagging thought that kept coming back over and over again.

An inspiration. A revelation in a way.

But I couldn’t get fully clear on what it was. And what I wanted do with it.

But let me give you a little preface first.

I think I said it many times already, but this is one of my favorite quotes of all times.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -  Howard Thurman

 Alive.

What is alive? How to figure out what makes us feel alive?

How can we be more alive? Do more alive?

How would our lives change if we did?

I thought of how we don’t give alive a priority over other things on our to do list. How we are scared to give it a priority. How we allow autopilot to steer us away.

I thought of how we often don’t recognize it when it comes.

I thought of how I want to start paying close attention to my alive. And make it a priority over everything else.

Because I believe that it would change everything.

It would create a shift. It would help me get unstuck in places I couldn’t even see I was stuck. It would bring more love. More peace.

How can I do it? – I thought.

I need to be aware of all of the things that make me feel alive. I need to know exactly what those things are. All of them.

So I thought of starting to take pictures of when I get that special feeling. Then I thought of starting a journal. Then I thought of starting a challenge.

But it was all not very clear.

And then I had an insight.

We spent the weekend planning an outdoor playspace for the kids, browsing Pinterest for ideas and inspiration and going to Home Depot to get more ideas and inspiration. And we started our first real garden. Here are our sprouts.

My excitement might look silly to you, guys. But I am a city girl, I grew up in a small apartment, I never grew anything. So to say I am excited is an understatement. I am super excited my kids will have this experience.

I felt alive doing all that. But this time I closely observed this feeling. And since I was right in it, I was able to analyze it.

I was analyzing my aliveness. Sounds weird.

And I had an insight.

I realized that I didn’t fully understand before what alive meant.

I always thought it was a synonym for passion. And inspiration. And felling really good.

But now I figured the difference between feeling alive and simply feeling good or excited or passionate or inspired.

The difference is subtle sometimes. But it is there.

Alive is not necessarily about enjoyment. Even though enjoyment might be present. It is not about passion. Or excitement. Those are there but alive is something else too.

You might be inspired and passionate and feel good when you are shoe shopping, but it is not alive.

Alive is a special kind of high.

It is a weird mix of inspiration and urgency and love and pain sometimes.

Alive is more of a synonym to awake.

Alive doesn’t always feel good.

You need to know how to handle it. It easily turns into the source of frustration.  One day you feel good about it, next day you are burned out because you started expecting certain results from doing it and turned it into a chore.

Alive might also make you feel guilty. Like when you think you need to be doing something else instead of doing your alive. Or other people expect you to be doing something else. And, of course, you can’t fully enjoy it when you feel guilty.

Sometimes alive is scary. Because it involves taking risks, doing something outside of your comfort zone.

So alive is not all feel good, fly high kind of thing. Otherwise everyone would be doing it.

We give up. Because we don’t know how to handle alive. We don’t know that it needs special treatment.

So what can we do about it?

I am glad you asked. Because I decided to go on a mission.

Mission: Alive.

Starting tomorrow.

I hope you’ll come along.

The goal of the mission?

To find your alive. And learn how to keep it.

To figure out how to handle it so that it doesn’t turn into the source of frustration, fear, burnout. And so you don’t stop doing it.

Why?

Because once you figure it out you’ll be able to do more of your alive.  And inspire other people do more of their alive.

And then we’ll see people doing their alive everywhere we go. Just imagine that! Imagine how the world would change!

Or forget about the world. Let’s take care of ourselves first.

Think of how your life would change. Where would you get unstuck? Probably in many places.

I think it will change everything. I really do.

How we are going to do it, you ask?

I’ll be posting exercises here on the blog. And questions to ponder. And reminders. And share my experience and results along the way.

I’ll be doing it on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

We’ll do it for 30 days. Because I think it’s worth it to work on your aliveness for 30 days at least. We’ll see how it goes after that.

Are you in?

Let’s figure out this whole alive thing together. So that we can do more of it. More often. With more awareness. And more gusto.

And more love.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

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These two little people make me feel alive at the moment.