What makes you come alive?
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. — Harold Thurman
I am passionate about people taking the time to discover what they were created to do and then lining their lives up with that vision. We waste so much time pursuing relationships, careers, businesses, good ideas… that take us away from what they were created to do.
Do you know the answer to the question, what makes you come alive? How long ago did you turn that part of yourself off? When did you lose hope? When did you stop dreaming, stop believing that you could do your life’s work and be financially successful?
What would it take? Here are a few important questions for you to consider on this Good Life journey:
What is preventing you from moving forward? This question is not about WHO, but WHAT. We give other people to much power over us when we act as victims in our current situations. Other people can’t hold you back, if you don’t allow them to. There comes a point when you must make the decision that your life is not going to change unless YOU do something about it. Remember, if nothing changed around you, everything would be different if you changed.
Do you have the right people around you? If you can’t share your dreams with the people in your life, then maybe you’re surrounded by the wrong people. I’m not talking about about your spouse, your children or your relatives. You don’t throw these relationships away. You may have to be selective or limited in what you share with these people. The people I’m referring to are the people you chose to be in your life aka your friends.
Do you remember the quote, misery loves company? You might have MiSeRaBlE friends, if your friends… always have drama, always have a bad day, always have to gossip about someone else, think everyone else has the problem, have the same issues wherever they go and always want you to wallow in their in self pity… As a result, you are probably miserable. Choose your friends, wisely.
How have your attitude and your choices brought you to where you are right now? You must take full responsibility for your life. At some point in our lives for reasons we do not (and probably can not) understand we have all been hurt, lied on, lied to, cheated on, discouraged, abandoned, gossiped about, mislead, misunderstood and/or mistreated. If you haven’t had all or at 1 or 2 of these experiences, as my parents would say, just keep livin’, baby.
A wise person once said, It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. Another wise person followed up with that and said, “what are you going to do about it? Are you going to stay stuck in those moments and allow them to define the rest of your life? Or are you going to allow them to propel to live your life with purpose?”
What’s wrong with baby steps? Completing small meaningful goals gets you that much closer to your dream and helps you feel as if you are making progress.
Who are you going to ask for help? You do realize TEAMWORK makes the DREAM work.
Please, leave a comment below with the answer to these questions: What makes you come alive? What other questions have you had to ask yourself to keep you moving forward?
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Angie Mozilo | August 18th, 2009 at 10:16 pm #
What makes me come alive???
It has definitely been returning to my education. As my kids got older, I realized that my role was changing. I knew I would never leave the role of Mom, but that role would and is changing as my kids got older and were less dependent on me for daily survival. I decided to be proactive with my life and not reactive. In being proactive, I have taken the time to figure out who I am outside my role as “mom”, prepared and contemplated my next phase in life, and educated and prepared myself so that I can best navigate the world outside mommyhood. The biggest factor in finding myself was returning to school. It has been an amazing adventure, and I wouldn’t change a thing about the journey!
One of the things I live by and am instilling in my daughters: Refuse to live as a victim of your circumstance. If you do, you give away your control over yourself and the outcome of your future.
goodlifediva | August 20th, 2009 at 5:59 am #
Angie, thank you for providing such a thoughtful response to the question, “what makes you come alive.” it is so great to read the adjustments that you made in your life. I am a firm believer in not allowing life to happen to us. Your preparation for the next phase or season in your life will make all the difference I’m sure. If they heed your advice, not walking through life as a victim will be a huge victory for your girls.
Rhonda Peters | August 25th, 2009 at 6:36 pm #
What makes me come alive is when I am working on projects, specifically in the food and nutrition area, that could help other people. I love sharing what I know and I definitely get excited when people seek me for food/cooking answers!
You are so right that “we” ourselves are what prevents us from moving forward not others. I had to make some hard decisions and put my social life on hold as I continued to work an 8-hour job while starting a business. It was a hard call, but I knew what I was called to do! So, rather than let others define what I should do, I stay true to what I was destined to do!
Thanks for the article!
Sonia Davis | October 11th, 2009 at 1:48 pm #
I need to read your article “why did I get married?”…For me, I think these two questions are very intertwined. “What makes me come alive?” is so entangled with marriage and family. I’m older and very deeply programmed with the responsibilities of being a good wife and mother, yet as your Good Life Diva website states…”I can do both.” Personally, working outside the home nor owning my own business “makes me come alive”. Tending to family affairs and teaching children that want to learn (seeing the light bulb come on) makes me come alive. I have a long term (goal) dream of some day home teaching my grandchildren (that do not yet exist).
The only thing that stands between me and my desires is overcoming the money/prosperity issue. That is where I am currently focused on & off the job. I work to provide a “giving” and I read, attend seminars, journal, research, etc. to get over the money “hump”. I have a deep revelation that I am redeemed from sin, sickness AND POVERTY. I am plugged into the source and my financial light bulb will click soon. These comments could very well be confusing to some, but I know that some of your readers will understand where I’m going with this. Thank you for your website and blog. This is fun!
goodlifediva | November 16th, 2009 at 4:57 pm #
Sonia, observing people living the good life God has prearranged for them makes me come alive. Watching them have successful relationships, operate in their gifts and talents and truly at peace in their purpose are all apart of them living the Good Life. I pray that you are living and loving your Good Life journey, while you’re learning the things that will bring you closer to the dreams in your heart.
What makes you come alive? – Good Life Diva Journey | The Good Life | January 31st, 2010 at 12:07 am #
[...] What makes you come alive? – Good Life Diva Journey. [...]
Julie | January 31st, 2010 at 12:12 am #
Your post has definitely inspired me, and I love your words of wisdom. I need to do some work, and it’s posts like yours that help inspire. Thank you.
goodlifediva | February 6th, 2010 at 4:12 am #
Thank you, Julie!