"Don't Die With Your Music Still In You" is a quote by Wayne Dyer and it's a quote I think everyone should have somewhere, where it can be seen every day. There's another similar quote which I really like by Norman Cousins it says "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live". I believe both these quotes are great reminders to all of us that we all have innate gifts, desires and passions that need to be given full expression. This is what gives our lives joy and fulfillment.
What would
it take for you to really believe that your heart's desires, your dreams, your
passions, your longings, could actually happen? You, not some person you read
about or hear of. The you who reads the quote and feels the sad truth behind them. Are you brave enough to admit that you are one of so many people who might die with your dreams,
passions and/or desires lying dormant, perhaps unrecognized or repressed?
What would
it take? Money you might think? A whole different life, a different childhood,
upbringing, different decision regarding marriage and/or children? What if it
was something as simple as Faith? Faith in what you might ask? No, it doesn't
have to do with religious faith or some deity (or image)of someone up in the sky, looking down
and judging us. What if it were as simple as just having faith in yourself? In
the belief, that even if you might not recognize them or even if try to deny
them, you have a gift, a passion that makes your heart sing, just waiting to be
rediscovered, released and/or shared with those around you and the world.
Wayne Dyer,
wrote and talked all the time about his message to himself many years ago,
after reading an inspirational book he wrote to himself “Wayne, don't die with your
music still in you”. I want to encourage you to write this same message to
yourself.
Many of us
believe that more money will make us happy and then we can do the things we
enjoy or that we believe will make us happy. However, for most of us, getting that
money can become a distraction and really is an illusion. Studies have shown
that after a certain level of comfort (when all basic needs are met),
additional monetary resources does not make a person
any happier. What makes a person happy after basic needs are met? Living a life
of purpose and fulfillment of their heart's yearnings, whatever it may be for
that unique individual. I am not talking about having to become a world-renowned
artist, singer or composer (or even earning a living doing these things) but I am talking about engaging and having art, singing or writing music being a
part of our lives (daily if needed) if those are our heart's passions/desires/gifts.
Studies done by psychologist Abraham Maslow approximately 40 years ago and then again recently
by Christaine Northrup M.D. bear the same results.
Those that are happiest in their lives, are people who are engaged in a
purposeful life, living their passions, living a life of fulfillment.
So how do
you discover or rediscover what your gifts, passions or what your "music" might be? There are many ways but for starters you can
begin by asking yourself the following questions:
What did I
want to be when I was child? What did I tell my parents/siblings I wanted to
be?
What do
people say I am good at?
What would I
do every day, all day if money were not an issue?
If I only
had one year left to live (and my family was taken care of and all the
vacations I wanted were completed), what would I do with my time?
Now, I truly
believe that having Faith is the most important element of discovering/rediscovering your
gift/passions. Faith is akin to self-love, allowing yourself to be worthy of
your dreams, passions, gifts no matter how “crazy, different, absurd, etc...”
they might seem to others or even yourself.
Faith is the
most important step, begin with that one first and begin to allow yourself the
right to dream and eventually express the gift that Life has given you. Be proud of yourself, it is
not many who can take this very first step. Once you have taken this step, the
next one will be taking action, don't worry baby steps allowed. And, I will be here to help Guide you toward living the Life (Vida)you dream about.