Hello friend,

“Follow your Bliss.” This was the concluding advice of the brilliant Joseph Campbell, a student of all of the world’s spiritual traditions.  These three words mean so much to me that I put them on my holiday card every year, right next to the pictures of my kids.  Follow your Bliss.

What does it even mean, though, your “Bliss”?  For me, it means that thing that lights you up inside just thinking about it, that thing that you feel called to do from a place deep within you.  It is the thing that you can stay up all night doing or reading about because of the adrenaline rush that it gives you.  Can you think of the last time you met someone—or read an article about or saw on television or whatever—and were absolutely captivated by their profession or hobby?  You went away thinking, “She’s got the best gig in the world.  I would give anything to do that every day.”  Can you remember what you were doing in the moments of your life when you felt the most happy, most connected, most alive?  Ever thought about what you would do if you had only two years to live?  Or, try it this way: if every job in the world paid the same amount, which one would you choose?  Your answers to these thought experiments are pointing you in the direction of your Bliss.

When I was writing my first blog post a couple of nights ago, the adrenaline rush I felt was absolutely amazing, better than any drug I could imagine.  Even as I spent the previous week setting up the website—and believe me, I am awful at that kind of thing and am in no way called to work at The Apple Store—I was so thrilled to be building this thing that was going to help me put out my message and lead people to know themselves better and love themselves more.  Even as I type these words now—and it is well past my bedtime—I am so energized by the idea of sharing them with you and the thought that you might use them as inspiration to write a journal page that will help you see yourself more clearly.  The sheer exhilaration I feel in writing and teaching indicates to me that I am, indeed, following my Bliss.  If I had two years to live, I would surely choose to write to you in hopes of helping you live a better life.  The interviews with writers and life coaches are the ones that captivate me most.  When I imagine myself writing blogs and books, giving inspirational speeches in auditoriums full of eager listeners, conducting workshops for small groups, and coaching individuals to greater happiness and fulfillment, I tingle all over.  That tingle is communication from my soul.  It is the still, small voice inside me that is my most authentic guide to fulfillment.  I haven’t always done the best job listening to it and letting its message get through, but it has never stopped trying.  I am listening to it right now.  The tingle tells me so.  I love that tingle!

So, what makes you tingle?  What lights you up?  What would you do for free if you could afford it?  What is your Bliss? Right now get out your pen and journal or open up a Word document on your computer; it is time to start writing.  You don’t have to pick just one answer, and don’t judge.  Just write.  And then share.  Hit the “Leave a reply” link above and tell me about your Bliss.  Let’s get the conversation going.  I can’t wait to hear from you.

Be happy & write often,

William