“When working with people, I am often asked what it takes to have a strong sense of personal power as they go through life. I have noticed these days that even though many have done some amount of personal development work, when it comes right down to it, there is at least one of eight practices that is being dropping out of their daily life. It is this thing or things that cause feelings of lack of personal power, lowered self-confidence, depleted energy – all of which lead to unhappiness and feeling unfulfilled.

To aid you in seeing what elements are crucial in creating and maintaining a deeply fulfilling life, I created The 8 Practices of Authentic Power: Creating a Foundation for Personal Mastery.“

Listed below are the practices that have already been explored:

Inspired 365Practice #1
Heal Your Fear, Surrender to Love

Practice #2 
Be In The Present, Pay Attention

Practice #3
Maintain a Vision That is Larger Than You

And here is Practice #4 –
Do What Inspires You. Take Actions That Are In Alignment With Your Vision.

When embarking on the path of a fulfilling life, questions that often emerge are, “What should I do?” “How do I know what’s the best choice?” or “What is I choose wrong?” Some become overwhelmed by the options available and shut down; while others don’t see options because they are fearful of making a wrong choice; while still yet others go helter-skelter in their attempt to find which way to go.

Practice #4 is intended to support you in choosing a path that will bring you fulfillment and happiness, as quickly as possible.

Whether you are just out of college, in your 40’s and in the midst of a career change, or simply questioning what’s next in your life, getting clear on and maintaining your vision (practice #3), and taking actions that are in alignment with that vision are crucial.

If you speak with people who are confident with who they are and happy with their lives, most likely they are practicing some version of what I have mentioned above. Those who are walking in alignment with their vision are the ones everyone seems to want to be around. People and opportunities just seem to gravitate to them. Why? Because those who are taking action in alignment with their vision are in the flow of life!

As Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi points to in his book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, happiness involves the continual challenge to go beyond oneself as part of something greater than one’s own self-interest. Flow is comprised of moments of peak concentration, immersed in and doing what you love and know how to do best.

When confronted with the question, “What do I do?” the answer is, “Do what you love, and do what you are inspired by. Do what allows you to feel in the flow with the best version of yourself.”

Whether you make $100 a day, or $100 thousand, unless you function from this place, you won’t know real and lasting fulfillment. And let’s face it, life without fulfillment is not a life anyone would choose freely.
Most who have their mental facilities, at some point or another have a thought to increase their enjoyment of life by expanding it to include doing something that allows them to feel the larger flow of life. It is natural. Life force is always seeking to expand.

So what inspires you? Is it creating a painting, meditating daily, climbing a mountain, replacing a carburetor, introducing the next Internet revolution, or discovering a new planet? When one follows their impulses and their natural talent, they can be lead to myriad experiences that can alter their life, and in effect, the world around them.

Why do it?

Do you want to make a living by doing what inspires you, or simply do it for your own inner well-being? The answer is, it doesn’t matter! Since life’s meaning is the meaning we give it, it truly doesn’t matter what you do. This said, the purpose of life is to bring as much love into it as one is capable. When we do this, either for ourselves or for others, the effect is the same. Lives are made better.

I once had a friend who LOVED to play Texas Hold’em (a type of poker.) And he was very good at it. But he felt guilty playing because he had a thought that he should not love something so shallow.

When he was engaged in a process of creating his ideal life on paper. I noticed that making money at playing poker was not on his list and I asked him why. When he told me that he didn’t think he could make a living at it, I asked why. He explained that he thought he could not…or should not because it was not reputable or lofty. I asked him, “George, other than spending time with women, what is it you love doing most in life?” He responded, “Directing films and playing poker.”

After working with him a bit, he was able to disconnect from what he thought others might think of him. He went on to win or place well in several poker competitions, and he was TRULY thrilled to do it.

His passion may not have saved lives, but it made him happier, which in effect made others who were in his life happier.

The point in all this…and the point of these Points of Authentic Power? To find deeper fulfillment. To live your life as if the things that are important to you are important. You matter, and so does that which you envision. You never know where it is going to lead you!

So get clear on your vision and take daily steps towards having it be part of your life. Remember, a small step is better than now step at all! Just watch to be sure the steps you are taking are in alignment with what you want. If you’re not super clear on your vision and commit yourself to taking steps each day, it’s easy to get distracted and side-tracked. Taking action in alignment is EVERY BIT as important as having a clear vision.

So, whether you want to take a few classes, getting a degree, plan a trek across Europe, work on your new business venture, or volunteer at a place that’s making a huge difference in the world, stop thinking about it and just do it!

It’s OKAY to do something just for you. And it doesn’t have to be lofty, important or meaningful to anyone but you.

Donna Thomas
Intuitive Life Coach, Healing Conduit, Mastery Group Leader, Author

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This blog, and all my writings, are explorations into the wondrous, deep, and ever-evolving process of living, loving and growing. My intention with Pebbles for Thought is to empower and uplift, one post at a time.