Be Who and What You Want to Be

A life authentically lived is a great honor, a grand prize to hang on your mantle of life's victories. To be successful and happy in life is a major achievement in and of itself. And you know, it doesn't really matter if you make a gazillion dollars and have millions of fans. What is important is being you, on whatever level you can, just starting somewhere on the road to authenticity and seeing where it leads you. In this world it is too easy to get bogged down with all the responsibilities and details, and end up putting your dreams and passions upon a shelf where they eventually rust and become dusty or rotten.

In my journey to authentic living, I have come to understand success in a whole new light. The first book I ever wrote was a book of poetry. In a few years time, I sold a thousand copies of it, which is small potatoes in the large spectrum of things, but you know something, I felt magical out there doing book signings, and a book tour, having my books selling in many large bookstores in several states. I was in the playing field with the pros. It didn't matter to me that I was not world famous. I was being authentically me, living according to the dictates of my soul. I was letting out my light for all the world to see. A lot of people responded to me well too. In his book 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, Wayne Dyer says, "Listen to your music, and do what you know you have to do to feel whole, to feel complete, and to feel as if you're fulfilling your destiny. You'll never be at peace if you don't get that music out and let it play. Let the whole world know why you are here, and do it with passion."

If you wanna be an athlete, an artist, a speaker, teacher, inventor, songwriter, architect or whatever, then get yourself into motion. Figure out what these people do and start imitating them. Success always leaves clues. I have observed that people who are happy and fulfilled are out there doing what makes them happy, whenever and however they can. Some people make a living sharing their gifts and passions, others do it as a side hobby, or even just for fun. Either way, they are all expressing their unique gifts and talents. They are all coming from a place of giving, joy, enthusiasm and love. You might as well do something with those gits and talents. Your passion and enthusiasm are gifts from the Great Spirit. If you fail to use them and share them with others, then you miss out on one of life's most delicious experiences.

There is a price for living this way though. Others may ridicule, scorn or mock you and even call you a fool. On the other token, others may be dazzled by you and flock to you. By doing what you love and feel moved to do, you spark a fire inside your soul, which turns into a flame within. Others see and feel it in you. Your magic soon becomes visible, electric and magnetizing. You may start to attract spectators. You may even attract fame or fortune.

To Be Who and What You Want to Be, all you have to do is listen to the whisperings in your soul, in the inner recess of your being. Look within for guidance. There is a charted course laid out for you to follow, a course set out and designed by the highest part of yourself-your soul. When you access its wisdom, you will be living from the core of who you are and who you were meant to be. The soul will constantly guide you to your highest good, your ultimate calling and destiny. It will carry you on colorful, feathered wings over life's despairs, disappointments, and illusions to magical places, toward an enchanted destiny waiting for only you...

Copyright Justin Topik 2009

The Reward of All Rewards

From the time we are born into this world, we can be easily seduced into thinking and believing that the greatest rewards this world has to offer us are: worldly honor and fame, prestige, glamour, power and wealth of all manner. And along with this, we are culturally taught that the pursuit of and accumulation of more and more of these things, is what will bring us more joy and happiness. As a society, we are drawn to game shows where people win large sums of money, or expensive material gifts. The treasures of this world are indeed charming and alluring, such as fine jewelry and adornments, fancy clothing, large, glamorous houses and expensive, sleek cars. The problem with these things though, is that they originate from outside of us and history proves these things alone do not satisfy the inner longings of our souls. Some of the wealthiest and famous people of all time have ended their lives tragically, brutally, or have even ended up strung out on drugs and alcohol.

It is not until we attain some of these worldly treasures that we begin to realize it was all a lie from the beginning-that these things would indeed bring us happiness. All these rewards are like sand that you hold in your hand, which at anytime may be blown away by a sudden windstorm in a fraction of a second. They are perishable. All the riches and rare treasures in the world don't bring the highest pleasure, the highest happiness. There is a reward though, that is imperishable. There is a jeweled crown that most of the world knows nothing about. Its splendour is stunning, shimmering beyond the beauty of the Taj Mahal, or a storehouse of red rubies, green emeralds, glittering, sparkling sapphires and diamonds, opals, pearls, bars of shiny gold, and metallic silver. And unlike earthly treasures, this reward cannot be taken from you once you attain it. It is a permanent gain. So what is this treasure I am referring to you may ask?

In the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu holy book) in chapter 6, it speaks of this sacred, holy treasure. I am going to paraphrase here. It refers to a man of Yoga attaining a state of consciousness where he knows there is no higher attainment, where his mind becomes clear and peaceful and he enters absolute joy, his passions are calmed forever and he is utterly absorbed in God. In this state he gains true freedom and finds an infinite joy.

This state of consciousness is known in eastern religions as SAMADHI or NIRVANA. Samadhi means oneness and union with God. Nirvana, on the other hand is the state of being free from suffering. Nirvana literally translates to "blowing out" — that is, blowing out the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion within oneself. It is considered the highest happiness. In eastern religions such as Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, when you reach this level of peace and bliss, you are considered by many to have graduated so to speak, to have reached enlightenment and attained the crown of life, or The Reward of All Rewards. To reach this state is to graduate life with Honors. This inner treasure of inner peace, or true satisfaction and inner bliss is The Reward of All Rewards I am referring to here.

A great cause of many peoples miseries in this world is seeking for impermanent treasure that never satisfies. You can have it all and yet feel miserable, and empty inside. The Upanishads, an ancient Hindu text says that "bliss is our natural state, our birthright, but mankind remains unhappy since he hasn't learned how to obtain it, and that the inner self, or spirit within is the place where bliss and lasting happiness can be found. And the closer we get to the inner self, the more happiness we experience."

Bliss is the fruit of being charmed, or allured into a mystic union with God, or universal energy. It is The Reward of All Rewards, because once you attain this peace and happiness, you will never hunger and thirst solely for pleasures, treasures and desires of this world, which are so unquenchable. This constant thirst and hunger keeps us always striving for more, without giving us what we are really after. Ultimately, everyone wants happiness, peace and bliss. We can all have it too, once we tap into the source of the mystic fountain within and let go of our attachment to worldly treasures, worldly rewards. There is a reward waiting for you that is so lavish and rich, and once you taste it, you will hunger for nothing else. Wayne Dyer said in his book Your Sacred Self, "When the divine light within you is experienced directly, it adds a radiance to life unlike anything that can be described with words, or pictures." Seek it, this divine light and inner ecstasy. It is the ONLY thing that will really satisfy and it is much closer than you may realize!

Copyright Justin Topik 2009

What Lights You Up

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

Dare to Live the Life of Your Dreams

If I told you that you have in your back pocket right now, the instructions for living the life of your dreams, would you take them out and read them? And after that, would you actually apply them? Now these are kind of tricky questions. Some of you are probably thinking, yeah duh... of course I would, while others may be thinking, hmmm.. I am not so sure. That sounds a little bit frightening. Some people decide to live the life of their dreams, and they just go out there and really live it up. They create a sublime experience of life, a masterpiece so to speak, while others, although they may really want to have this kind of life, are afraid of taking responsibility for, and of creating and designing this type of life. They are afraid of the work and commitment involved.

There is a Chinese proverb, "Better to make a net than to yearn for fish at the edge of a pond." I know it may sound a bit funny, but to live the life of your dreams, you have to plan to succeed, work your plan and be proactive. Those are the essential ingredients for the recipe of success. There are also other essential ingredients. These include: practicing positive thinking religiously, risking looking like a fool for your dream, studying successful, passionate people's lives, and modeling what they do. Then, there is visualization, actually seeing yourself doing what it is you want to be doing. And last but not least, you've gotta take action.

You absolutely have the choice to live the life of your dreams, to live deliberately. We all do. Everything in life is a choice. And with that being said, everyone has something valuable to offer, something to contribute, to do from his or her essential nature. Thoreau said, "I wish to learn what life has to teach, and not, when I come to die, discover that I have not lived."

Be who you are, do what you do,
stick to your ideals, and love to be you!
-Justin Topik

So you wanna know how to live the life of your dreams starting today. Mike Dooley said, "The best way to live the life of your dreams is to start living the life of your dreams Today, in every little way that you possibly can." Quit waiting for the perfect day to take action and do something you believe in. We all know people who complain endlessly about what they're gonna do someday, how they're gonna live someday, and so forth. You know the type-everything today is horrible, but someday, it’s all going to become magically perfect, right? The funny thing is, most of these complainers have one thing in common, they always speak of "someday," but never really have a plan for how to get there today. They don’t take those crucial steps toward making someday be TODAY.

Purpose, intention, vision, and determination, these four things are crucial on the path to reaching your goals. The only way to reach your goals is to SEE yourself doing them now. Focus your intention and clearly SEE yourself in your dreams, reaching your goals today. And each and every day, do everything in your power to live the life of your dreams in every small way that you can. Now just go on and do it! Don’t think about it, don’t worry about it, and don’t be afraid of anything! As Nike says, just do it!!! Live bold, or die trying.

Copyright Justin Topik 2009