Lisa for Real

324. Nothing but original

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“Originality always needs to express itself.”

I just read this in a book titled I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was by Barbara Sher, and I wish I could highlight it a thousand times!

These words are so so true but I can already imagine little, pesky voices on your shoulder telling you – “But you’re not original. You don’t have anything original to say or show. It has all been done before. Stop trying.”

Tell her to SHUSH!

You are original for there has never been another version of you nor will there ever be again. Everything you create is original. Every cup of coffee, every doodle, every word out of your mouth will never be intonated exactly the same way.

Tell her you can handle the scary feelings that come from doing original things. Tell her that those thoughts are no longer needed as there is nothing less original than a voice trying to keep us small.

322. No choice but to burst open

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We’ve been told throughout our lives to stay small to stay safe. Don’t cause a ruckus. Don’t run too fast. Be grateful with what you are given. Don’t ask for more because there isn’t enough.

And so we listened.

We listened because we trusted the people who told us.

We listened because we wanted to keep them safe.

We listened because we weren’t shown another way.

But what happens to a butterfly who is told to stay in her cocoon?

She certainly can’t stop growing, or she’d die.

She has no choice but to burst open and trust that the new world, beyond the cocoon, will have enough space, enough air, enough food, enough for her to survive. Enough, perhaps, even to fly.

320. Time to start documenting

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I love documenting things. Or rather, I love the ability to look back on things that have been documented. This includes photos, artwork/report cards/sticker collections from childhood and especially writing.

Documentation equals history. And we all know that history is written from the perspective of the person/people who write it. No one is going to better track our personal history besides us.

Studying history is meant to help us understand the past so we can make better decisions for the future. Studying our own history does just the same.

So if you have not started looking back so you can move forward, ask yourself – “what’s stopping me from doing so?”

318. Your wisdom is waiting to be heard

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If I could bask in any section of the bookstore, it would be the “Living Your Best Life” section (formerly called Self Help, Self Development or Personal Growth – the self-help section has evolved! haha). There are hundreds of amazing books to be read and people to learn from about all the different ways we can become the best version of ourselves, reach our dreams and make a difference in the world.

My stocked bookshelves and copious notes from courses will tell you that I love learning from others. But what is way more powerful is learning from ourselves.

Just as in learning about any subject, get curious. Observe your reactions (e.g., happiness, anger, impatience, sadness). Then ask questions to learn more. My favorite questions are “what does this mean about me?”, “how old was I when I first felt this emotion/this way?” and “is this true?” Lastly, listen. Your wisdom is waiting to be heard.

314. What does an inspired life look like?

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I am so thankful for the inspired life that I live and am trying to live. For a long time, I was living an INSPIRING life where I sought external approval and accolades because I was trying to inspire others. But I realized that what I actually wanted was an INSPIRED life, to be inspired, one where I am lit up and doing things that excite me. That is my priority and then others may or may not find it inspiring but I am/try to be unattached to that thought.

Living an inspired life may sound unattainable but it is actually quite simple (with some conscious effort). In today’s episode of my podcast, I share the three things we need to do to live an inspired life and the beauty of following the breadcrumbs to inspiration.

An inspired life can be created by doing these three things:

  1. Know yourself – this is on all planes – body, mind and spirit. Examine who you are and why you are, know your likes and dislikes, and have a relationship with the body, notice the things it is telling you.
  2. Follow your curiosities – what makes you curious? What peaks your interest? Follow those breadcrumbs
  3. Create your art! – Creating in any form is acceptable whether that be in the standard forms of art (paint, sing, dance, write, etc.) or in your own form (e.g., community building, cooking, parenting, herbal infusions)

I believe everyone, especially you!!, deserves to live your inspired life, and I am intent on supporting anyone who wants to do that. I hope you take a listen to today’s episode, and then comment below and tell me – what does your inspired life look like?