A lot of people it seems are so afraid of failure, that they never really try and push their boundaries and go for what they really want and/or desire. Yet there is a danger in living this way. It keeps you locked in the "comfort zone," which is often synonymous with the "fear zone." And let's be honest here, in life amazing things rarely happen when you are in either one of these places. And that's simply because if you are not growing or expanding, then you are shrinking. If you are not pushing the limits of what's possible for you to achieve or experience, then you are most likely bound to be stuck in the muck of mediocrity. And if you're stuck here it's only because you are afraid to live. Joseph Campbell said, "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."
We all have fears. It's a normal, natural part of life, but instead of letting your fear debilitate you, why not transform your fear into action? You have to live boldly and authentically to be truly free. You have to really throw yourself out there and put your whole self on the line in order to reap the harvest of a splendid life. But it's so worth it and you can do it. All you have to do is exercise a little bravery, a little bit of vulnerability.
In relationships, business, the pursuit of excellence, or any type of personal fulfillment, risk equals reward. And there is no way to get what you want without breaking out of the "fear zone." The thing about life though is you will always be scared and feel vulnerable taking a risk for something you want. There is no getting around this, yet it's only in really throwing yourself out there that you ever attain a life that is enriching, enlivening and empowering. I'm here to tell you the risk is so worth the reward. Stepping outside of your "fear zone" is where magical, unexplainable, incredible things often happen. It's just a matter of taking that first step into uncharted, unknown territory. It's always a little scary at first, but it's absolutely necessary to get you where you ultimately want to end up. Live Outside of The Fear Zone and you will find a life truly worth living. As you break out of fear, you will break free into a brighter, happier reality. When you want something bad enough to risk everything, then you will feel the rush of life truly beginning. And when you are ready to live as you were meant to live, you will also be ready to walk out onto the scary limbs in search of the juicy fruits. Let's face it, without the risk, there is no possibility of attaining the fruits of your desire...
Copyright Justin Topik, Peace
Passion Positivity 2014,
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Breathe deeply, take it all in-The Beauty That Surrounds You. The world all around us is picturesque, astounding and absolutely mesmerizing. Sometimes you have to slow down and be still to take it all in. Stopping to appreciate the intrinsic beauty in everything and everyone opens you to a whole new world.
Take time to look for things to bless and appreciate. Keep yourself focused on what you love and appreciate about your life. As you do this, you are practicing gratitude, one of the most powerful and underused tools in all of the world. How this tool works is actually very simple. The more you can bless and appreciate about life, the more life will give you to bless and appreciate. It works just the same when you're moaning and groaning as well. As you complain about what you don't have, life gives you more of these things to be unhappy about. Wherever attention goes, energy also flows. Life works in a great circle. Whatever you put into the circle is sooner or later going to swirl back around.
The moments of life we're given are a gourmet experience. And if we're too busy to stop and really appreciate them, the moments just pass. Whenever you are taking time to appreciate something, you are blessing it. As you do this, you give energy to the object you are focusing on. And as energy is given, energy is reciprocated back to you. So throughout your day today, I encourage you to pay extra attention to The Beauty That Surrounds You, the beauty that is all around you. Appreciating the beauty in all of creation will help you develop more gratitude, which is the highest honor you can pay the creator. Muhammad, the founder of Islam once said this about gratitude, "Gratitude for the abundance you have received is the best insurance that the abundance will continue."
Copyright Justin Topik, Peace
Passion Positivity 2014,
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It seems like people are always saying, "be careful not to Get Your Hopes Up too high, just in case things don't work out." But I've never been one to support this type of philosophy. I personally think living like that is absurd and ridiculous. Truth is, you should most certainly Get Your Hopes Up and keep them up. If you want something, you've gotta fight for it, hope for it and keep your focus on attaining it. And if you think about failing, or things not working out, that is exactly what will happen. Will Smith once said, "There's no reason to have plan B, because it distracts you from plan A."
People who get what they want from life always have high hopes and high expectations.
Our expectations, hopes and beliefs are self fulfilling prophecies. They hover around us in an invisible force field and attract, or repel the very things we desire. So always expect the best, look for the best and hope for the best in all situations, and that is what you will experience. And when anyone tells you not to Get Your Hopes Up too high, just smile and tell them perhaps they should not to set their sights too low.
Don't live your life in fear of life letting you down. Instead, live an amazing life. Put yourself out there. Don't back down under a little pressure, or from a little failure. Life will give you whatever you ask, but sometimes you've gotta break down the door first. It is only we who let ourselves down. It is only we who ultimately decide what we will allow into our lives and what we will keep out. So aim high, fly high. Step out of your comfort zone often and just see what life can do for you.
As you learn to keep your hopes up, you will experience life taking you on a grand, thrilling roller coaster ride. Keep your hopes up and life will raise you victoriously for all the world to see. And you will be a living, breathing example of what is possible for anyone who never gives up and holds onto hope. With enough hope and belief ANYTHING is possible...
Copyright Justin Topik, Peace
Passion Positivity 2014,
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If you are not fully satisfied with your life in any area, there are things you can change instantly now. I challenge you to take back your power and Own Your Life. Stop blaming, complaining, whining, justifying and rationalizing. These five things will only poison your life and make your power go down the drain. They will also keep you in a mindset of why you cannot have something or do something constructive in your life. So do yourself a favor and toss them all overboard in your life story.
You are the captain of your life, the captain of your ship. So why not live with passion and make the voyage unforgettable? Quit playing the victim card and instead, take out your sword, dagger and shield and play the hero in your own life story. Be the hero you have it in you to be. Use your sword to cut down anything standing in the way between you and your dreams. Use the dagger to defeat fear that keeps you stuck and use the shield to fend off people who tell you it isn't possible to have or create the life of your dreams.
Truth is, once you start really exercising your power, you will find yourself to be far more resourceful, more witty and empowered than you may have ever even imagined. Now is the time to take back the power you have been giving away. It's time to live an electrifying, fascinating and provocative life. Simply decide what you want and go after it. Get serious about success and happiness. Practice "doing" instead of merely "talking." If you want more money, do what it takes to create more money. If you want more happiness and inspiration, do the things that bring you joy and inner satisfaction and things that stir inspiration in you. If you want to reach a goal, whatever it may be, then start out on your journey toward that goal today by taking the very first step today.
Always remember your life is in your hands. You are not at the mercy of life, but rather you are creating your life experience each and every moment. So take advantage of the ability you possess to refine and mold yourself, to create whatever kind of life you want to create. You are the only one holding you back from whatever it is that you desire. Once you take back your power and Own Your Life, NOTHING can stand in your way. Use your God given strength and inner tools for making your life extraordinary. You have these things within, so for heaven's sake, don't let them go to waste, use them!!!
Copyright Justin Topik, Peace
Passion Positivity 2014,
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Sometimes in life you've gotta go Where the Doors Swing Open for you. Every once in a while life throws random, unexpected opportunities your way. And if you wanna see just what they may hold in store for you, you've got to walk through that door to see where it may lead and what's on the other side. In fact, some of the best things in life come from unexpected opportunities, whether it's an unplanned, joyful, loving child, an amazing job or business opportunity, a chance encounter with a stranger which totally shifts your life for the better, or coincidentally meeting that dreamy significant other. It's really a trust thing a lot of the time too. You've gotta learn to trust the rhythm and timing of the universe, not knowing where it may lead you next, yet following that unpaved path anyways. The universe is unfathomably wise. It will open the doors, but you've gotta take the next step.
Some of life's greatest experiences come from walking through mysterious doors that swing wide open. When you trust the infinite intelligence, or the power that created you and go down roads which you feel it guiding you on, you are blessed, sometimes even rather abundantly. Oftentimes life is just waiting for the opportunity to put gifts in your basket and to shower you with possibilities. Actually the universe is like Santa Claus with a never ending array of gifts to give out. Your only job is to ready yourself to receive the gifts and walk through conduits Where the Doors Swing Open.
You never know when or where doors will open for you, but when they do, seize the moment. Walk through them and observe the rainbow of possibilities that show forth impressively and vividly guiding you along. Always remember, swinging doors often lead to fruitful adventures, treasured moments and golden opportunities. Walk confidently, willingly and trustingly Where the Doors Swing Open. You just might find yourself in a world of amazement when you do...
Copyright Justin Topik, Peace
Passion Positivity 2014,
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There are so many books out there about Finding Your Dharma, discovering your purpose and mission, or your divine destiny. The answer is though, no one has all the answers for you. Your purpose is yours and yours alone. So although these books, CD's and resources may assist you in helping you uncover or discover your mission or dharma, you have to look within to discover your call of duty, or what is your work to do...
Dharma can be a complicated concept and there is definitely more than one meaning. So what is dharma you may ask? Dharma is a Hindu and Buddhist term. In Buddhism, the wheel of dharma represents the 8 fold path to enlightenment, while the Hindu meaning states that we have all taken on a physical form to fulfill a divine purpose. It is this particular meaning I am going to focus on here. Dharma then, according to Hindu philosophy is uncovering your life purpose, or doing what you were meant to do. It can also mean the way YOU should go, the way that feels natural or inspiring to YOU. Emerson, a great poet and writer once said, "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. " To be unique and follow your bliss, your passionate voice is one of the highest achievements for anyone. This is finding and following your dharma.
Where I find my power, my inner voice is in quiet mornings of reflection. This is the source of inspiration and illumination I have come to rely on more than anything else. If you don't have a time of inner reflection, I challenge you to make one for yourself, to study, pray and meditate, and also to really put it before God or spirit-the question of what is your path. Looking to everyone else as a "How to" guide for finding life fulfillment without going within, is bound to lead you to complete and utter confusion.
Dharma is finding your mountain to climb, your sea to sail, your path to trod. Your true path is etched in your soul. When you attune to the divine within, you will attune to the melodic, rhythmic melody of your life calling, or purpose. Everyone has a unique mission, a unique spiritual purpose for being here. When you find your dharma, you will find the source of great power in your life. Finding Your Dharma is like finding a path that was always there, you just have to uncover some of the overgrown weeds to see it.
An important point to consider about your destiny, or dharma is that it may be more than one thing. For me, it is writing music, poetry, books, doing yoga and meditation just to name a few. Whatever it is for you, when you find your way, you will know, for you will feel alive, renewed, refreshed, invigorated, full of passion and purpose when you are doing it. You will be radiant with the stuff of life. Being in your dharma feels heavenly, dreamy, like you are soaring to breath taking heights, riding on the wings of eagles. Rumi said, "Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do."
I would like to end this with a poem I wrote recently called:
Let Dharma Unfold
Entertain the possibilities,
begin with a single step,
dance to the melody you hear
inside your heart of hearts,
carve out the path etched in your soul,
roll out the carpet,
let dharma unfold...
Copyright Justin Topik, Peace
Passion Positivity 2014,
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Enthusiasm, inspiration, joy, love and positivity are keys to longevity, as well as essential parts of any life truly worth living. They are also tickets to a dynamic life experience and a zestful passion filled existence. And here's the thing, the more excited, passionate, on fire and alive you are, the more good things will flow into your life.
By maintaining A Zest for Living, you open the flood gates of life energy and tap into the well springs of joy and positivity. Living this way brings with it countless other blessings too, some of which include: youthfulness and vitality, both of which are deterrents to sickness, disease and depression.
Being excited about life is a cure for all that ails. When you are living with zest, you are adventurous, spontaneous, able to be inspired and in the moment like a child. You are a joy to be around. You are magnetic and full of irresistible charm. And just like the soap maker Zest's slogan says, "You're not fully clean unless you're zestfully clean." The same applies to living with zest. You're not fully living unless you're zestfully living. Really though, why would you want to live any other way? The reality is every human being can live with a heightened sense of life, overflowing with rich passion and inspiration. It's a choice, just like everything else in life. So if you're not living in this fashion already, I challenge you not to wait for the perfect moment to turn your life experience up, but instead do it now. Live with zest, jump into the flow of passion, joy and positivity. And let it carry you into a new life and a new you.
Copyright Justin Topik, Peace
Passion Positivity 2014,
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