I will never forget the first time I met Angela. I walked into a Yoga/Meditation center in Nashville, Tennessee, called the "House of Bliss." And there to greet me was this amazingly vibrant being. Her spirit was on fire, literally glowing. There was a lively passion and enthusiasm in her voice. There was this radiant magic about her entire presence. I had heard about people who were this happy, but had never personally, until that day, had the chance to actually meet one of them. I was in awe to say the least. It was a cosmic meeting and event for me! Angela was as her name suggested, an ANGEL with an extra A at the end. She was definitely in her dharma, or following her life's purpose, or bliss. There was no hiding it. It was TOTALLY self evident. I couldn't help but to be inspired to create and experience this kind of zeal, this kind of passion and enthusiasm in my own life. Needless to say, Angela soon became a great friend, role model and mentor to me!
I remember ever since I was young, my mother always told me that no one likes their job. She said I was never gonna find a job that I loved. But, I never really bought into her philosophy. There was something inside of me that could not accept this belief. And meeting Angela that day proved my mother's theory wrong. I am 100% absolutely certain that everyone has passions, things that totally inspire them, things that light them up. I think a lot of people just bury them. It seems from an early age society almost tries to get you to put your dreams aside, to be realistic, to get you to "conform to the norm." But, I have never been one to do that. I have always liked walking my own path, even at the mercy of my families, peers and friends ridicule. My family used to make fun of me all the time for doing what I was passionate about. Looking back now, I think they were just jealous of me because I was actually inspired by something, and none of them ever really pursued anything they were truly passionate about. None of them ever had the drive, the fire, the inspiration that I had, so they tried to put mine out too.
Over the past 15 years of my life, I have done a lot of things I am passionate about. I have always been one to follow my bliss and go against the grain. I don't want to be like everyone else . I don't care what anyone else thinks about me! I have a lot of passion, creativity and different ideas about life, success, happiness and personal fulfillment. I am not afraid to take a different path. And if I can't find one I want to walk, then I will just create my own.
It has taken me a long time to figure out what I really want to do with my talents and creativity. But, I finally have it together, in more ways than one. So for me, what lights me up is studying spirituality and motivational material, writing uplifting, positive and inspirational material, songwriting, recording my music in the studio, creating work shops, seminars and inspirational products. I love to create. And I love to share what I have created with others. That is what lights me up.
So what about you? What gives you that feeling of total joy in your soul? What lights you up and puts that magic in your life? If you bury these things, you bury with them the greatest part of yourself. And as you bury these passions, these things die and the greatest part of you dies along with them. What lights you up is one of the Universes/Great Spirits/God's gifts to you. What energizes you? What gives you that inner zeal, inner enthusiasm to keep going in life? I challenge you to follow those things, to pursue a more authentic experience of life.
You might as well do what you are passionate about, do what lights you up. If you don't, you will always feel a constant nagging in your soul. Also, what lights you up, lights everybody else up too. And ironically enough, when you share these authentic gifts/passions with others, abundance often follows. So, if you don't let your lights shine for everyone else to see, you are taking away from the light and joy that your gifts could offer yourself, others and the whole world as well.
Copyright Justin Topik 2009
I remember ever since I was young, my mother always told me that no one likes their job. She said I was never gonna find a job that I loved. But, I never really bought into her philosophy. There was something inside of me that could not accept this belief. And meeting Angela that day proved my mother's theory wrong. I am 100% absolutely certain that everyone has passions, things that totally inspire them, things that light them up. I think a lot of people just bury them. It seems from an early age society almost tries to get you to put your dreams aside, to be realistic, to get you to "conform to the norm." But, I have never been one to do that. I have always liked walking my own path, even at the mercy of my families, peers and friends ridicule. My family used to make fun of me all the time for doing what I was passionate about. Looking back now, I think they were just jealous of me because I was actually inspired by something, and none of them ever really pursued anything they were truly passionate about. None of them ever had the drive, the fire, the inspiration that I had, so they tried to put mine out too.
Over the past 15 years of my life, I have done a lot of things I am passionate about. I have always been one to follow my bliss and go against the grain. I don't want to be like everyone else . I don't care what anyone else thinks about me! I have a lot of passion, creativity and different ideas about life, success, happiness and personal fulfillment. I am not afraid to take a different path. And if I can't find one I want to walk, then I will just create my own.
It has taken me a long time to figure out what I really want to do with my talents and creativity. But, I finally have it together, in more ways than one. So for me, what lights me up is studying spirituality and motivational material, writing uplifting, positive and inspirational material, songwriting, recording my music in the studio, creating work shops, seminars and inspirational products. I love to create. And I love to share what I have created with others. That is what lights me up.
So what about you? What gives you that feeling of total joy in your soul? What lights you up and puts that magic in your life? If you bury these things, you bury with them the greatest part of yourself. And as you bury these passions, these things die and the greatest part of you dies along with them. What lights you up is one of the Universes/Great Spirits/God's gifts to you. What energizes you? What gives you that inner zeal, inner enthusiasm to keep going in life? I challenge you to follow those things, to pursue a more authentic experience of life.
You might as well do what you are passionate about, do what lights you up. If you don't, you will always feel a constant nagging in your soul. Also, what lights you up, lights everybody else up too. And ironically enough, when you share these authentic gifts/passions with others, abundance often follows. So, if you don't let your lights shine for everyone else to see, you are taking away from the light and joy that your gifts could offer yourself, others and the whole world as well.
Copyright Justin Topik 2009
