Some people are afraid of what they might find if they try to analyze themselves too much, but you have to crawl into your wounds to DISCOVER where your fears are. Once the bleeding starts, the cleansing can begin. ~ Tori Amos
Discover
(Verb used with object)
1. to see, get knowledge of, learn of, find, or find out; gain sight or knowledge of
2. to notice or realize
The first time I allowed myself the gift of self-DISCOVERY, I was 39 years old and said, “Yes,” to an opportunity where I would get away from the city and my busy schedule. It was a silent retreat during a long, winter weekend in February. Not only was the idea of silence a foreign concept, but the thought that I would spend three days centered on me and release responsibility for everyone else in my life did cause many moments of trepidation. During the travels from Manhattan to West Cornwall, CT, my ego was on overdrive:
Do you know how much you have on your plate at the moment?
Who do you think you are to leave everything aside and go away for a weekend alone?
How will your business survive without you?
What if your family or friends need you while you are off on a self-serving weekend?
Wow, but the ego can sound so dramatic! As funny as those thoughts are to me now, they felt very real at the time. But I DARED to say, “Yes,” to me and I knew beyond knowing that the weekend would result in extraordinary “A Ha” moments.
Giving ourselves permission for self-discovery in order to reconnect with our passions and realize the unique gifts, skills and talents we’ve been blessed with can feel exhilarating and scary at the same time. The word “DISCOVER” is powerful. We are exploring areas we’ve yet to tap into and know there will be treasures in the end. YET…discovery can re-open old wounds and force us to face fears, blocks and obstacles that have kept us anchored to the past. The idea of this possibility alone prevents people from taking action.
Consider shifting your consciousness to love and healing.
When painful memories resurface it’s because you are ready to heal. It might be a layer of a larger healing, but it is still your heart guiding you toward release.
With the realization of who and what we are comes a journey. Once we’ve DISCOVERED how truly delicious we are, there’s no turning back. Although we might try and put on the breaks, or come up with a million reasons why now just isn’t the right time to move forward, we’ll carry the spirit of our discovery with us. Have you ever felt a nagging sensation at your core? Say, “Hello,” to your divine dreams, ideas and goals. Trust me, the nagging doesn’t go away until you do something about it.
My weekend of DISCOVERY brought about a two-year journey where I started my life over. I’ve never looked or felt better. I am living on and with purpose.
Are you ready to go DISCOVER?
Dedicate time in your week and create a safe and sacred space for you to begin. This part of your journey shouldn’t be done in the living room with the TV or radio blasting or under the critical eye of those who mean well.
Start with the questions:
1. What makes my heart sing?
2. What would I do right now if I wasn’t worried about how it would be realized?
3. When was there a time in my life so exhilarating that I would relive it often regardless of compensation?
Know this affirmation: I AM worth the time to DISCOVER my life purpose.
If one advances confidently in the direction of one’s DREAMS, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Dream
(Verb used without object)
1. to think or conceive of something
(Verb used with object)
1. to see or imagine in sleep or in a vision
Divine dreams don’t come from ego; they come from your heart ~ your spirit. Once you’ve started on the road of DISCOVERY, you are connected with these DREAMS. Some of them have been with you for a very long time and were waiting for your acknowledgement. Some of them are seeds that were planted and only need nourishment to flourish.
Being called a dreamer or a daydreamer is usually associated with someone who lives with his or her head in the clouds and doesn’t connect with reality. There also appears to be a false belief among some that there is an age restriction when it comes to dreams, dreaming, and witnessing dreams realized. These are all fear based responses by those who don’t DARE to DISCOVER and don’t DARE to DREAM. Nothing upsets a negative person more than someone who believes in the beauty of his or her dreams.
When was the last time you dared to DREAM?
I believe one of humanity’s misfortunes is when we stop dreaming. We need to DREAM BIG! We need to dream the way we did when we were five years old and could list without pause what we wanted to be when we grew up. And there was always a long list! We didn’t restrict ourselves to what is possible. Why? There’s purity in childhood. We are still so connected to spirit and understand (without truly being conscious of it) that there are no limitations to what we can do.
What were your dreams as a child?
What are your dreams as an adult?
Is there a connection between the dreams you’ve had your whole life?
I once had a seven year old tell me that he wanted to be an astronaut, fireman, policeman, a shortstop for the New York Yankees, AND a superhero like Spiderman. He was serious and I believed every word. If you look at the spirit, elements, qualities, gifts and talents that make up each of those items, you too know that it is entirely possible!
Know this affirmation: I DARE to DREAM!
Be DARING, be different, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers. ~ Cecil Beaton
Dare
(Verb used without object)
1. to have the necessary courage or boldness for something; to be bold enough
(Verb used with object)
1. to have the boldness to try; venture
2. to challenge
On January 15, 2004, William Hung walked into the American Idol audition and announced to Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, “I want to make music my living”. After performing Ricky Martin’s, “She Bangs”, Simon dismissed William’s performance (as did most of the world) by declaring, “You can’t sing, you can’t dance, so what do you want me to say?” William’s response, “I already gave my best, and I have no regrets at all.” William Hung went on to have a cult following. A couple created a website which received 4 million hits within its first week. He appeared on several TV programs: Jimmy Kimmel Live!, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Entertainment Tonight, The George Lopez Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Dateline NBC, Arrested Development and CBS’ The Early Show, as well as numerous commercials. Between the years of 2004 and 2005, he released three albums produced by Koch Entertainment. How DARE William believe he could have a career in music! Who did he think he was?
Now… What divine DREAMS do you have the AUDACITY to believe will be realized? It’s not enough to be audacious; you need to walk your talk! Are you sitting in the “waiting room” because you believe you either don’t deserve your dream or you haven’t suffered enough? Think about how many gifts and talents you have been blessed within your life. Most of us have no idea how they showed up, but there they are just the same. We put honoring and celebrating our uniqueness on the back burner.
Have you ever been watching TV or reading the news and learned that someone you don’t even know took your idea! They just out and out stole it and then proceeded to create it into something extraordinary! You were going to get to it eventually!!! The Universe doesn’t wait forever. If you aren’t going to use your talents and ideas, it will get passed along to someone that will.
Instead of spending your time focused on the nerve of what you believe are talentless individuals manifesting their dreams, it’s time to hold yourself accountable. It is your time, so what are you going to do about it?
√ It’s time for you to think outside of the box and get creative.
√ It’s time to remember those moments were you felt brave and courageous and apply those elements to what you want to create now.
√ It’s time to discover and own your WOW factor.
√ It’s time to look at how you spend the hours in your day. Do your priorities even make the list?
√ It’s time to step outside of your comfort zone.
Know this affirmation: I DARE to step out into the unknown and DISCOVER my life purpose! I know beyond knowing my divine DREAMS are in the process of realization!
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Humanity’s misfortune is when we don’t realize the very gifts we are! We don’t serve the rest of the world or ourselves by playing small. Live your life big! Own your truth! We must embrace the knowing that we deserve to live a life we love, one that supports who and what we are. We need to be willing to say, ‘Yes! I choose me!’
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© 2011 Michele Mattia. All Rights Reserved.
Michele, a nationally recognized speaker on both tv and radio, is an Inspirational Speaker, Best Selling Author, Life Design Coach, New Thought Leader and Creative Strategist. During a silent retreat five years ago, she asked herself the question: “What would I do right now if I wasn’t worried about the “how”?” What manifested next was nothing short of extraordinary! Specializing in Life Design, Michele’s mission is to inspire, support and co-create all possibilities her clients and audiences are courageous enough to demand. She motivates others to claim their unique gifts and talents, while owning that they deserve to create a dynamic and delicious life. Michele believes we must embrace the knowing that we deserve to live a life we love, one that supports who and what we are. We need to be willing to say, “Yes! I choose me!” To learn more about Michele and receive Michele’s Daily Dash, an empowering eZine, go to www.MicheleMattia.com
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