10/15/2017 0 Comments The Day the Voice Came BackTo trust, look within, and listen to that voice inside is the key to unlocking our full potential. Our deepest, most heartfelt desires are like street lights on the sidewalk, they are there to show us the way, creating pathways to our soul’s destinies. To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation, and our soul’s assignment is to realize what it is, connecting us to our deepest desires. Our destiny is what allows us to live our lives to the fullest and make our greatest contributions to the world. When we learn what our heart is telling us and start fulfilling these dreams, we are able to serve others from a place of bliss, generosity, and love. Our path to a fulfilled life begins with going within, listening to the voice in our hearts, and learning to our greatest truths. “Don’t ask what the world needs; ask what makes you come alive and go do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” —Howard Thurman When I was a little girl growing up, I was really into dancing. I took every kind of dance class there was; ballet, jazz, modern, tap, pointe. By the time I was in high school, I was a member of a modern dance company and was the leader of my dance team at school. I had the opportunity to tour around different cities in Texas, performing, going to competitions, and showing my skills to the world. I loved to dance and knew that this was my passion and the reason why I was put on this earth. When I had the chance to dance, I always felt so alive, I could feel and hear my heart singing. I knew this was my calling and I remember telling myself that I was one of the lucky ones because I figured out early in life what my passion was. Over the years, no matter how bad things became, no matter what struggles or frustrations I was going through in life, I knew that I always had dance, and that I was meant to be a dancer, and that was enough for me. Once I graduated high school, I felt, very real in my heart, that I had a decision to make. I could either try my luck at becoming a professional dancer and start auditioning, or I could take the safe route and go to college for something practical, like business. I started listening to the people around me who said things like “ballerinas don’t make very much money,” “your career will be over by the time you are 35,” “one injury and you are out for good,” “it’s too competitive.” I was scared of becoming one of those poor starving artists, living with 10 roommates and being 40 years old. So, I did the practical thing and decided to pursue a degree in marketing. As I took my final bows at my senior dance recital, I worried that I’d never again feel that same “dancer’s high” or bask in the glow of bright stage lights. Despite my fears, I took my bow, packed my bags, and left for college. Fast forward 10 years and after graduating college, getting a start on a career in marketing, I found myself feeling frustrated. While I was in a really great job in a fun company developing phenomenal marketing campaigns, I started noticing myself becoming resentful about going to work in a cubicle and regretting not trying to go after a career in dance. I found myself daydreaming about being back on stage, and I would find myself doing tap routines under my desk at work. I also noticed that my friends who had gone after the not so typical “adult” careers seemed to be happier and more fulfilled in their lives. They didn’t necessarily make a lot of money but they also didn’t seem to have a lot of the stress that myself and our other business professional friends were experience. When I looked deep into my artist friend’s eyes, I saw a glimmer of pure joy and could literally feel a sense of inner peace that they were illuminating. When I looked at my professional friends, I noticed that we all had started to talk and act a little bit different. We had picked up on our companies jargon, ways of thinking, and were saying things like “core competency,” “buy-in,” “empowerment,” and were quite frankly, drinking the “corporate kool-aid.” After a few more years, I found myself lying awake at night and wondering if I had missed my true calling in life, if I had meant to be a dancer and I ignored my intuition. It was as if I had turned my back on myself and it didn’t feel too good. I started questioning everything – was I in the right career, the right city, the right relationship? Did I miss my one chance at true happiness? Was my soul’s purpose just completely ignored because I had to go the safe route? What would I have done if I hadn’t been so scared? These questions kept me up for many sleepless nights. Then one day, I heard it. It wasn’t loud, but it was clear. There was a voice in my head that said “just dance.” “If you just start dancing again, everything will become easier.” So, this time, I was at a breaking point. I was either going to quit my job and move to a new city, or I was going to stop feeling sorry for myself and confirm what I already knew in my heart: that I live to dance. The next day, I was walking to the train station home from work and I noticed a dance studio with a master class offered at a reasonable rate. I decided to give it a try. I started attending more classes and even learned new forms of dance. When I started taking dance classes again, I found that I didn’t actually hate my 9-5 job that much, and it started to seem more fun. I found myself looking forward to going to it and on those days that I felt stressed at work, I found that the dance classes gave me confidence and something to re-assure me that everything was going to be okay. What I learned is that I actually have room for both things in my life! I can have a professional business career and I can still be a dancer. I realized I didn’t have to jump out of the marketing world and into the dancing world. I realized that if I am passionate about something, I will know because I will always come back to it, no matter how much time has gone by. So instead of stressing about the missed opportunity of a career in dance, I find inspiration every day and take time to hone my creativity. I can have room for both in my life and still feel fulfilled. The point is, your art will find its way back to you if it’s truly your passion. Now I would love to hear from YOU! What is your creative passion that you have always loved and has known existed but sometimes get lost over the years? What is the one thing that you always come back to? Please write in the comments below and remember that you have that special gift to Command Joy today, I am just here to help show you the way. Love and hugs.
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