“You gotta dance like nobody's watching, dream like you will live forever, live like you’re going to die tomorrow and love like it's never going to hurt.” —Meme Grifsters

The summer I turned 40 was a summer I’ll never forget. As I reflect, it was when I truly started living my life.

It all started week before my birthday. I was driving home from airport with my husband. We had just dropped our youngest child off for a month long bicycle expedition, and I was looking forward to a glorious, leisurely month of time together. I had a full agenda of projects I was excited to complete. I was ready to play.

As we were driving down highway this seemingly innocent thought popped into my mind.

” You are about to turn 40. How will it be when you get to end of your life and you look back? How will you feel about life you lived?”

The thought passed. I was distracted by next moment and I continued on. That night I woke up in a cold sweat, with my heart pounding and my mind racing with crazy thoughts. Could this panic attack have been triggered by simple thought I had in car that afternoon?

You bet it was. Over next several months I proceeded to spiral into waves of anxiety and depression so powerful that I almost lost ability to function. Not only was I in a state of internal panic but also I was also confused because my life had felt so good. I was happy, had a successful marriage, two wonderful kids, and a job I reasonably enjoyed. What was my problem?

My problem was I was hitting my head against my own “glass ceiling” and not realizing it. I was poised on a precipice of knowing there was more and not knowing how to break through and access it. What’s more, I had let my “practical” and fear-based side convince me that my passion and dreams had died.

In retrospect whole painful experience was a profound wake up call.

I did wake up. Today, five years later my life looks similar on outside but on inside has profoundly changed.

These are my top ten shifts in perspective that helped me move my life to next level. I invite you to consider them to assist you in breaking through your own glass ceiling to create life you really want.

What kind of picture did you just visualize from title of this article? Did you see final product flying and alight upon a flower? Did you see intricate pattern on wings? Did you smile as you thought about times when you've watched this delicate and lovely creation testing many different opportunities for nectar and then moving on to discover even more delectable treats just around corner? Through this analogy of growth of a cute, fuzzy bug into one of nature's most delightful creations I hope to awaken you from a slumber period you might be experiencing in some part of your life.

Yes, at times we need to be securely wrapped up in order to then slowly crawl out and spread our wings. Unfortunately, many of us stay tightly secured in our safety zone (cocoon) as it is a known factor, uncomfortable as it may be. I know there are areas in my life where this applies. I realize that breaking free would be beneficial but for various reasons I don't muster necessary muscle to burst through to show off my colors.

Each year, people have dreams, make resolutions, and set goals. Perhaps you've said something to effect of: What I don't know I will no longer allow to intimidate me. I will instead view it as an opportunity. Maybe you even added thoughts such as: I won't be shackled by my yesterday's, could have been's, I should have done's, or why didn't I do that. The past is unimportant except that events and outcomes are lessons to be learned. Today is what counts most with a can-do outlook for tomorrow. If so - I'm impressed. And congratulations - you're on your way to achieving more success in your life.

But even without such uplifting attitudes and motivational thoughts - you too will make progress, as long as you keep struggling against mostly self-imposed restraints you see as roadblocks. Remember that each person develops at his or her own pace. You cannot hurry growth; you can only make room for it and thereby encourage it to take place. By letting go of hurts, other peoples expectations of you, and feelings of inadequacy can you take a major leap into bigger world known as freedom.