“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.  The moment one definitely commits one-self, then providence moves too.”

W.H. Murray

How many times have you met someone or watched a documentary about a person who totally mesmerizes you on the style of life they are living?  You start drooling when you hear about their dream job that they love and how they get to travel the world and work from white sand covered tropical beaches?  Or you are inspired to tears to learn about their astounding global or humanitarian impacts.  Perhaps you witness someone with the wildest dream and shake your head and roll your eyes when they talk to you about it.  And then you watch them kick some ass and make it happen!  You wonder to yourself… “hmmm.  If they can, why can’t I?”  “But, how the hell am I going to figure out what it is I REALLY want and really…. me?”  “Nah, that’s for the birds and all of those people out there that have money and don’t have to worry about anything.”  How many of you have gone down that dream crushing conversation with your ego?  All of us do.  However, the good news is… we have a choice.  To listen and believe it?  Or hear it and dismiss it for what it is.  That’s right, it’s a choice to go big, get out of your own way, take the leap of faith, and trust that it will work out.  Because if you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand.

Ok, so now what?  Where do I begin you ask? 

So, here we go, some of my secrets to living a Radical Life:

#1:  DESIRE: 

First of all, before you do anything you have to WANT IT BAD.  Whether it’s a new lifestyle, career, relationship, fitness, diet, or you name it whatever else you might desire, the insatiable craving and desire for change HAS to be there.  That’s your springboard into embarking on living a Radical Life.

#2:  DECIDE

Deciding is freedom, indecision is torture.  Get good at deciding.  Stop hemming and hawing over this or that or.. “I don’t know, what should I do?!?”  “Should I do it?”  “What if it doesn’t work?”  “What if I fail?”  Enough is enough!  If you want it with all of your heart, decide to do it!  A quote I had on my mirror when I decided to quit my job and put my heart and soul into my dream job was, “If it excites you, do it.  If it drains you, walk away.”  Just make the decision.

#3:  COMMIT

After the decision, put every ounce of love, sweat, determination, and passion into your vision with an un-wavering confidence into what you want and be ‘the last one standing.’  Don’t let anyone get in the way of what you want.  In order to change your life and start living a new one that you’ve never lived before, your faith in miracles and your faith in yourself, must be greater than your fear.  You’re going to get knocked down, ruffed up, look stupid, cry, laugh, and everything in between.  But don’t stop until you get there.  NO.MATTER.WHAT.

#4:  GET INSPIRED

Find a mentor, life-coach, therapist, or anyone that can guide you to where you want to go and can support you along the way.  We all need help sometimes, we’re human!  Especially if you are embarking on something you’ve never done it is CRUCIAL to have some guidance along the way!  If you hang out with a bunch of nah-sayers, think about meeting some new friends that are kicking ass at life and on top of the world!  That’s where you want to be and, well, our friends are a reflection of our own selves so, maybe it’s time to widen the circle!  There are also tons of books and online resources at your fingertips!  Here are my top 3 picks for some good motivation to get on it and make it happen!

1:  “You are a Badass” by Jen Sincero

If you need the fire lit under your ass and want to feel like an un-stoppable power house ready to break the ceiling, READ THIS!  Her style of writing is totally real and raw and it cuts all the BS.  Not to mention how many times I was laughing out loud! 

2:  “Spirit Junkie” by Gabrielle Bernstein

I loved this book because I could relate to some of Gabrielle’s ‘old’’ ways of living and battles she speaks of and conquered.  She shares her story and how she transformed her life from one of fear and destruction to one connected to spirit and happiness.

3:  “Living an Inspired Life” by Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer is an incredibly wise man and lived his life helping people by teaching 6 spiritual principles to live by in order to discover a freedom, comfort, and an empowering guidance system for living an inspired life!  There are also a lot of inspiring youtube videos online of his on finding your purpose, the right attitude, and creating a new life. 

#5:  DO YOGA

IT WORKS.  I can say from personal experience that it has changed my life.  I always ‘played’’ with yoga.  I went through phases of practicing once a week, to once a month, and then sometimes it would slip away for a few months.  Until I recently committed to a yoga mentorship program, I had no idea the effect and role it would have in my life.  Not only has it enhanced my well-being but it has helped me embrace my ‘shadows’ and look with ‘awareness’ rather than judgement which has allowed me to make the changes in my life that I have been seeking.  If you need more convincing, I advise you to do a quick google search over the proven research of yoga practicing yoga.  I will briefly state that studies show that it can help improve your quality of life, reduce stress, lower heart rate and blood pressure, help relieve anxiety, depression, and insomnia.  Not to mention improving overall physical fitness, strength, and flexibility.  Sold yet?

#6: AWARENESS  (mindfulness/meditation)

In order to really ‘know’ ourselves we need to become still and quiet.  Half of the time people don’t even know what they want or if they are happy or desire something more because we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off so busy with the responsibilities of our lives and we forget to stop and look around much less; within.  If you are feeling like there is something more or perhaps you are looking to change your life whether it be career, health, fitness, etc., you have to start with becoming still and really knowing what your thoughts are and what messages have been playing in your mind.  It doesn’t mean you have to meditate for hours on end, even just 5 minutes a day can make a HUGE difference!  It will make you healthier, happier, and more successful!

#7: ASK

Seek God, spirit, universe, or whatever you call that bigger life force!  Truthfully, I went through some resistance for a period in my life with ‘God’.  I went to church growing up and believed in ‘God’ but I always had inner conflict and questions with some of the religious teachings.  I started exploring other philosophies and Buddhism and Taoism spoke to me loudly and the teachings resonated more peacefully with me.  I weaved in and out of belief in ‘God’ but always felt connected to something greater and more powerful than myself.  In more recent years, I have called it ‘universe’ or ‘spirt’ and now I’m ok to use the word ‘God’’ again.  For me, it’s all the same.  I am certain there is a greater force guiding us and when we surrender to ‘it’s’ power, watch out!  Mountains move and things take shape.  I have committed to my spiritual practice and called on ‘it’, asked, and have been amazed at the doors that have opened and how every time, I have been blessed to receive. 

#8:  GET REAL

If you want to make changes in your life, you have to square up to yourself, face your ‘shadows’, and take a hard look at what you’ve been denying or avoiding.  We often do things or have destructive habits that we know aren’t serving us, but we put off dealing with them because well, it’s hard to change!  But you have to sit down and be really honest with yourself and take inventory of what’s just not working in your life and then make a plan to replace it with something that will serve you better.  Breaking old patterns and habits is work, but when you know something isn’t working, do you really want to keep beating that dead horse? 

#9:  CUT THE BULL-SHIT

If you want a better life, stop doing things you don’t like or want to do!  And also, stop hanging out with the nah-sayers and people who bring negativity to your life!  It’s all about creating a life that feels good and makes you happy!  If it’s a hell yeah, DO IT!  If it’s a hmmm, maybe…. DON’T!

#10:  DEFINE WHAT YOU WANT

In order to pave a new way, you need to know where you are going!  Get really clear on what you want your life to look like.  Write it out.  But most importantly, you have find what moves you inside because it’s all about feeling.  You can write and state things all day long, but if it doesn’t move you inside, there isn’t a vibration that can attract what you so desire.  So once you get clear with what you want, set your intentions.  An intention is a clear and positive statement of an outcome you want to experience.  It’s like planting a little seed in your mind. They can be goals, or visions, that guide your activities, thoughts, attitudes, and choices.   Hence, your intentions influence your actual experiences. INTENTIONS ARE EVERYTHING!

#11: MANIFEST

In order for energy to manifest into matter, there must first exist something to draw energy into focus.  That something is thought.  When you combine focused thought with strong emotion, you can create, have, or be anything you want.  Affirmations are powerful statements you can practice daily to draw in and embody that which you are desiring.  Always state it in the present.  Using words like I am or thank you for (whatever you desire) as if it is already yours.  Another way to manifest your desires is to create a vision board.  Once you have clearly identified what you want, you can look for pictures and make a collage onto a board of all the things you want.  Make sure that the pictures evoke a feeling inside of you!

True story:

I’ve made vision boards for years and they work!  In fact, in 2009, I made one that had a picture of the Oaxaca Language Institute in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico along with other pictures of the surrounding area.  In 2015, I found myself at the doorstep of the school enrolled in Spanish courses and living in Oaxaca for 5 months…. Pretty amazing!  And that is just ONE of my experiences of manifesting my desires!  Not to mention, Oaxaca has turned out to be kind of a big deal; hence being Womens Radical Pursuits first International trip!  Seems like something ‘greater’ helped me on this one!

#12:  ALLOW IT!

If it’s the right path, the universe will bring it to you!  And trust me, you will know!  Everyone always said that if you follow your hearts’ desire, the doors will open.  And take it from me, it’s true!  Don’t deny yourself what you truly desire and deserve!  You are worthy of all the love, abundance, and delight in the world!  One life; DO IT!

And with every step of the way, ALWAYS practice gratitude for what is and what you have been given.... 

Women Radical Pursuits