This morning, the air was thick, it was already 88 degrees and I was in the mood for some blues to accompany me on my walk. Jeff Beck fit the bill. His album was one of the first I bought as a freshman in college. Something about “Brush with the Blues” and its slow pace was absolutely perfect to walk to. If I did not have to get to work, I would have walked a few more miles, just to hear it over and over. Why is it that we love certain songs and they touch us so deeply? This was not a journey into my past memories, it was the perfect song for now. Which brings me to the thought of taking steps in life.
The beginning of your new chapter begins now. Today. This morning. That song that inspired you can be what you need to go in a new direction.
First, make a commitment. Decide what is important to you and decide to put that first. For me, today, its exercise and music. I want to get back into both because they make me feel great.
Next, ask yourself what is taking up your time that is not lifting you up or feeding your soul? As you get clear on that, you will now be able to go deep into those ideas. It is not straightforward- you will not get clear and then everything starts happening your way, nor will you always be clear, so take the time to get clear- by doing things you need to do for your satisfaction and to make you happy. It’s a continual journey.
I find that being curious and open to explore those things that once made you very happy as a kid or teen, can be immensely satisfying. A friend on Facebook recently posted that she returned to sewing because she did it as a kid and it now gives her so much joy to go back to those things that shaped her, creatively.
Curiosity also leads to some pretty cool surprises in self-discovery and more clarity about your own life purpose.
So next time you feel aimless, take a step towards curiosity and see where that takes you. It may start with meeting new people, making new friends or cultivating some older friendships you have ignored.
“Choose to be with positive people who bring out the best in you.” That advice came from my Mom whose simple wisdom still holds true. If they are not feeding your soul or lifting you up, don’t waste time with them, she used to say.
Trust your gut. I love this quote from Steve Jobs. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
It takes courage to challenge ourselves, remain open, listen to that quiet voice, trust our gut and make choices. Start today, listen to yourself, maybe sparked by music, a walk, picking up a past hobby, or being with positive people. Just maybe, listening to the blues will do it for you.
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