The Persistent Ache of a Thirst Unquenched

Are you living the life you were meant to live or do you feel an ache somewhere within, a hint of a Dream for something else, something more? We all have a deep desire for meaning from our lives and ourselves. There exists within the recesses of our deepest selves for something greater than what we settle for in the daily monotony of our lives. Do you feel it while the world slumbers and you lie awake, wondering? Sometimes we catch a glimpse out of the corner of our eye only to look and realize it has vanished.  We then question if it was ever really there to begin with and, in our efforts to shield our fragile hearts of the truth, we convince ourselves that it was not.

The quest to find meaning in our lives is not an easy one. It is fraught with difficulty, suffering of our own making and plaguing doubts of the choices we have made. It requires a deep dive into our souls to ask questions that we are afraid of asking for fear of the answers they may bring. It challenges us to face the remnants of Darkness that threaten to steal away our humanity. Yet without doing so, we thirst for something more in our lives. And despite how much we drink, we find the thirst never to be quenched. Perhaps it is because we have been drinking from the wrong glass for far too long?

So the question becomes this: If we want more for our lives, if we have the courage to look beneath the surface to behold the truth of our very selves, where do we start? With a vision – a Dream if you will – of something more. Discover what inspires you, what makes your heart flutter and your mind race at the very thought of possibilities. Allow yourself to Dream and ask the question: what is it that you ache to do, to be, to live for? Find this answer and you will have taken the first step of a journey…to an inspired life. May your travels be all you hope them to be.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?

Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

– Maryanne Williamson

Simple Moments of Inspiration

Life is a series of moments. There are moments that shape us, change us, threaten to either break us apart or forge us into the people we were destined to be. And through it all, life is as much about finding meaning in the moments we live as anything else. It’s easy and often all too convenient to see meaning in the broad, sweeping, life changing ones that alter the very direction in which we were headed. The difficulty lies in finding it in all the ones in between, in the little things within the simplest of moments. These are the easiest to overlook and the hardest to hold on to.

But it’s the simple moments, the ones that happen every day, that make an inspired life. A look, a thought, a seemingly inconsequential action…all hold and transcend time. These are the ones we must treasure, to appreciate for what they bring to our lives.

The question before us then is this: will we only live inspired during the “big” moments or in all the ones that exist in between? For this is what makes the difference between a life of normality and a life of inspiration – it’s living a series of inspired moments connected together through the meaning that we choose to find. And once we make that choice, happiness becomes a natural reflection of the meaning we have found within ourselves.

Article: Do More Meaningful Conversations Make Us Functionally Happier?

The article Talk Deeply, Be Happy? asks the question does talking about what matters more often increase our overall happiness? Based on a recent study, the article seems to suggest so and makes a good case for it.

An Excerpt from the Article

“By engaging in meaningful conversations, we manage to impose meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world,” Dr. Mehl said. “And interpersonally, as you find this meaning, you bond with your interactive partner, and we know that interpersonal connection and integration is a core fundamental foundation of happiness.”

But based on the conclusion, does this mean that these conversations add to our functional happiness or can the opposite be true: people who are happier have more meaningful conversations? Read the article and leave a comment to tell us what you think.

Read Full Article

Talk Deeply, Be Happy?

The Problem of Others: Warrior of the Light Online

From Paulo Coelho’s Warrior of the Light Online

The Problem of Others

There was once a well-known scholar, who lived in a mountain in the Himalayas. Tired of living with men, he had chosen a simple life and spent most of his time meditating.

His fame, however, was so great that people were willing to walk narrow paths, climb steep hills, swim rivers – to meet the holy man who was believed to be able to resolve any trouble of the human heart.

The wise man, as he was full of compassion, gave some advice here and there, but kept trying to get rid of unwanted visitors. Still, they appeared in larger groups, and once a day a crowd knocked on his door, saying that great stories about him were published in their local newspaper and that everyone was sure he knew how to overcome the difficulties of their lives.

The wise man said nothing but asked them to sit and wait. Three days passed, and more people arrived. When there was no room for anyone else, he addressed the people who were outside his door.

Video: The Science of Happiness

This Today Show interview provides a few tips and information regarding how to be happier on a daily basis. As always, we must find our own activities and thought patterns to live a happier, more inspired life, but it never hurts to be given a few pointers.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Hope for a Better Life: An Article about Realizing Your Dreams

Dream Wedding For US Homeless Couple

Article Excerpt

During his 14 years living homeless on the streets of Washington, Dante White, 28, never realized that so much opulence existed. Nor had he had much luck in love in his life, having been thrown out of his mother’s home when he was just 14.

Last week, White married Nhiahni Chestnut, 39, a woman whose battles with drugs and alcohol had left her on the streets of the US capital as well. Both are unemployed.

This article shows that no matter who you are or your position in life, no matter your current adversities or lack Functional Happiness for Homeless Coupleof “needs”, we can all pursue our dreams and live a life of functional happiness. Though the author did miss the point at the very end of the article. The last line should read “Love will get them through so much until they get housing.”

Read the full article

The Happiness Focus

There is a psychological principle that can be applied to daily life and our pursuit of happiness. When one is about to run into a tree, do not look at the tree, but rather where you want to go – typically away from the tree.  The mind naturally leads you in the direction that you are focused on as it processes information in a very direct manner. Thus, if you focus on where you don’t want to go – your brain will take you there, ignoring the don’t part of the equation. You already know this if you have ever told yourself “Don’t do XYZ” and what happened? You did XYZ.

So how does this apply to our lives? Simple really. Focus on what you want to happen – your goals, your Dreams, your life passions – and not the things that stand in your way. If you can’t fathom a path beyond a roadblock, how will you ever get around it?

As Randy Pausch said, “Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something.” Appreciate the brick walls for the value they bring to your journey, but don’t focus on them. Instead, turn your attention on what’s behind them and let the path lead your way.

Seth Godin on Creating Art in Our Lives

I sat in a video conference this week with none other than best-selling author and marketing guru, Seth Godin. I was able to ask Seth a question about brand values. His response included a stint about how the purpose in business (and life) should be to create art. It doesn’t matter what your art is, but you should be creating something new rather than managing the status quo.

There has been a great shift in the business world in the last decade towards this way of thinking. Businesses want people who create something out of nothing. They want employees who can look at problems and see solutions that others cannot, or will not, see. Organizations not only want these types of people, they need them to succeed.

The same is true for a life of happiness. We must be able to create a life for ourselves that goes beyond just conforming to the status quo. We must look at our lives from our own perspectives, not merely the way others look at their lives. What works for others may not work for us, but even if it does we should look for how to do it even better. We must, individually and collectively, strive for something more, something better, something extraordinary. We must, as Seth Godin puts it, become “artists” within our own lives. And creating art is something that drives our inspiration and happiness in ways that nothing else can. For when you’re an artist of your own life, you’ll find that the world truly is your canvas.