“Your purpose is something you want to do and do because it expresses who you are”.

By Robert Allen

“Nothing changes until you get to truth” by Brendan Nichols

I stumbled across these two quotes other day and they hit a nerve and brought up a number of questions and thoughts, most important one being “What is my truth and what I want to do?”

To get what you want in life you have to be very clear about what it is you want without any doubt or conflict in your mind. Doubt and conflict will trip you up every time causing all sorts of sabotage problems.

It is very easy to confuse what we think we want with what other people think we should have. Believes and opinions about life come in from external sources. It might be that certain things are considered a social norm and so we may feel pressure to confirm without even realizing it. Or it could be that our desires are really desires of our parents or partners.

For example as a single, thirty something, never-married female I feel certain social pressure to find a partner and settle down. For years I felt a little like a failure

because I did not have a steady partner in my life. I took on this external pressure and thought it was my own. But when I am calm and centered and being totally honest with myself and in touch with my truth I know that having a partner is not what I truly desire.

--Louisa May Alcott

Remember your very first job? That all-grown-up feeling! Your own money to buy things... The independence?

Do you still have that excitement today? Do you jump out of bed, eager to start a new day? Or are you tired, maybe even slightly depressed?

Perhaps you've lost touch with your own special *dream* over years. What was it? Have you thought about your dream lately? Acknowledging it can free you up to remove obstacles.

Those Nasty Obstacles

What's keeping you from your dream? Start a small list of things you consider obstacles in your way. Are they *Time,* *Energy,* *Money?* Is your life just too stressful? Brainstorm some solutions and write them in column next to obstacles.

Each of above were obstacles for me. We were about $14,000 in debt (credit cards and school loans). I was working 40-60 hours a week -- just to pay bills. Using my energy to work for *things,* leaving none for pursuing my dream.

The Negotiation

If you could trade something for your dream, what would it be? If you wanted it so badly you could taste it -- how could you make it happen?