What Will It Take

What will it take to live the life you were meant to live? What will it take to get fed up and take that leap of faith and become a writer, artist, traveller? What will it take for you to be happy?

If you are like me, your stomach just dropped and you felt a little twinge of fear. These are big, life altering questions. They require an element of bravery.

Oh I know what you will say to anyone who is daring enough to ask you. You will say, I’ll get there one day, when I have some extra time or you will say, I need more money or more education.

Or maybe you are not even to the stage of wishful dreaming and are still in the denial phase and you use phrases like, I will never get the chance, others need me more right now or I am not allowed. What will it take to overcome these barriers?

Two words: I deserve.

You deserve to fulfill your dreams. You deserve to be whoever or whatever you choose to be. We all do.

I am not suggesting that you become an uncaring, selfish person and I am certainly not suggesting that you become negligent to your responsibilities. What I am asking you to do is put yourself on the same level as everyone else in your life. If they are worthy of your time and your energy, then so are you. You deserve the same as everyone else.

Being selfish is not excepting that you have a right to happiness. The universe created you as an unique soul with the purpose of experiencing this life to the fullest. By living small or in the shadow of others you are keeping your true essence to yourself so the world does not get to experience your gifts. That’s being selfish.

Replace self talk phrases like, “I wish” or “if only” or “maybe one day” with “I deserve.” It is a simple and as scary as that.

I deserve to be happy. I deserve to be a chef, a teacher, or a… insert your dream here. When you rephrase your self talk, you alter long held shadow beliefs that have held your life hostage in a negative, limiting cage. Your re-program your brain and outlook on life.

Of course crap is going to happen, that’s life and failure at times is assured. But I would rather have failures on way to living my dreams than failures while just existing and supporting others in theirs.

Take a piece a paper and write on it in bold letters. I DESERVE. Tape it to the mirror in your bathroom or bedroom where you can see it everyday along with your reflection. It’s hard to ignore this simple mantra when you are staring straight at yourself.

As you go through the day and are faced with choices and requests, ask yourself, “Is this what I deserve?” You will know the answer by the gut emotion that surfaces. React according to your truth. You deserve to live in a way where your actions align with your dreams and goals.

What will it take to break the stalemate that is holding you in place? How can you get from where you are to where you want to be? The simple shift of your thoughts and two incredibly powerful words; I deserve.