If I think back on my life several years ago, there was such a disconnect between what I wanted for myself, and what my life actually looked like.
I always had this future image of myself.
Who I wanted to be.
What I wanted to look like.
How I wanted to feel in my skin.
What kind of relationships I wanted to have.
Dreams of the effortlessly skinny body, the sexy romantic relationship, the confident aura I would exude, the laughter, joy and fun that would permeate my wonderful daily life…
These dreams always existed somewhere up in my head, but not in my actual life.
I was always waiting.
Waiting for the skinny body.
Waiting until I “had it all together”.
Waiting for someday.
Without even always consciously realizing it, I was always waiting.
I am actually tearing up as I am typing this to you… partly because I am sad for the previous version of me who always felt like she had to wait… and partly because I am so happy to be truly L I V I N G my life fully, today.
There is one difference between who I was then and who I am now…
It has nothing to do with my body, my confidence level, or feeling like I have it all together (because I don’t!).
The only difference is that I am no longer dreaming about the future “me”. I make the choice to take action today, and every day, to make my life as incredible as it can be TODAY.
Even if I don’t have the perfect body.
Even if I don’t have the perfect relationships.
Even if I don’t have the perfect business.
Even if – as I am creating this life I love – I am constantly stumbling and figuring it out as I go.
Because honestly, there is no perfect time to start living intentionally.
It’s simply a decision.
To start right this second.
To ask yourself what you really really want, how you really want to feel, what you value the most, and to start acting on it right now.
I will let you in on the truth: intentionally living a life you freakin’ love takes serious effort. Like, real effort.
If we live passively, we end up doing the same stuff, with the same people, and feeling the same way about our lives and ourselves.
Digging deep, listening to your deepest desires, and taking action on those desires is not for the faint of heart.
Sometimes it means taking big risks.
It might mean creating a new identity for yourself (maybe you don’t want to be the “health freak” in your family anymore or the “really smart one with the great finance job”.)
It often means saying no to a lot of things you would have ordinarily said yes to.
It may mean putting yourself in new situations that scare you.
It might mean taking a leap of faith, trusting that if you follow your joy, you’ll be okay.
It always, always requires listening. Slowing down and listening. To yourself, your heart, and your soul.
It takes questioning. Asking yourself – am I really loving how I am living right now? What’s not working? What do I really want?
And it takes action. Nothing changes without action. Forward movement.
I am so so so passionate about this topic.
As someone who went from living a life that I thought I “should” be living to someone who deliberately fights for a life she loves every day, I can’t tell you how much more fulfilling life is now.
It’s a challenging path, but it is so worth it.
A life that lights you up is the life you are meant to be living.
It feels different when we start to say “I want that for myself today…now.”, instead of pushing it off.
It’s a feeling that I never used to feel, but when I started to feel that sensation of CHOOSING NOW, I woke up.
One of my favorite workshops in my free workshop series is on this topic.
How To Intentionally Spend More Time Doing What You Love
I’ll be sharing the practices, systems and tools I use to make sure I am intentionally spending my time in ways that I love and that are in alignment with my values.
No more living on autopilot. Let’s get real and take some action.
Yes?
You can access the free workshop here.
Love,
Jamie
P.S. If you want to go into this work FULLY and are ready to really, truly start living a life you love, I would love to have you in my Signature Master Your Life Virtual Course, which opens again this fall. Click here for all the details.
