It’s easy to get sidetracked. Our busy lives pull us in a thousand different directions. How can we stay on track?

Can we balance all the things that must be done, and should be done, with the things that mean the most to us?

Is there a way to make sure our true passions are not forever relegated to the bottom of our “to do” list?

Be with Your Passions

Passions have a way of shriveling up and blowing away when ignored. It’s the principle of “out of mind and out of sight.” This is what happens when your passions are put on the back burner, day after day and year after year.

“Absence abates a moderate passion and intensifies a great one- as the wind blows out a candle but fans fire into flame.” - François Duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-80)

When the trivial details of daily life are consistently given preferential treatment, that becomes the primary focus of your life – a life built around trivial details. Do you get them all done? Maybe. Do you feel satisfied and inspired by prioritizing them? Probably not.

“‘Know thyself,’ said the old philosopher, ‘improve thyself,’ saith the new. Our great object in time is not to waste our passions and gifts on the things external that we must leave behind, but that we cultivate within us all that we can carry into the eternal progress beyond.” - Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803 - 1873)

It’s possible to attend to the details of life, and still make room for your passions. It’s a matter of attention. Allow room in your consciousness for the things stirring deep within you – your passions.

In your quiet moments, dwell upon them. Be with them mentally and emotionally. When they are deliberately included in the fabric of your life, opportunities present themselves that allow you to integrate your passions into your daily life. With practice, you will recognize these opportunities and serendipities because of your habit of regularly including your passions in your deep mental and emotional reality.

On the other hand, if your habit is to think about your passions only occasionally and briefly, before putting them back in your mental “later” file, the same opportunities and serendipities can easily go unnoticed.

Before your outer life can be a reflection of your true passions, your inner life has to be in alignment with them. If you ignore the true calling of soul, reflected by your passions, your life can turn out to be an exercise in “if only” and “what if.” The way to avoid a life of regret is to first recognize whether or not you have developed the habit of ignoring your true passions. If you have, this usually leads to an unfulfilled life.

So pay attention to your passions now, and continually incorporate them into your day-to-day life by energizing them with your attention, thoughts and emotions.

“As life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time, at peril of being judged not to have lived.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935)

Go Deeper

What if you go through this process of externalizing a passion and integrating it into your life, only to discover that it does not satisfy you? Your interaction may leave you feeling flat and unfulfilled. How can that be?

The problem may be you need to dig a little deeper.

What you had identified as a passion may not be a true passion bubbling up from the depths of your being. It could be any number of things, but most likely, it’s born of ego, and may be ego driven. It could be the product of the “little me” in your head, rather than the irresistible impulse of the universe itself seeking expression through the unique combination of skills, talents and interests you bring to the recipe of co-creation.

“It’s the soul’s duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion.” - Rebecca West (1892 - 1983)

Embracing Change

When drive is mistaken for passion and situations change, it’s easy to throw up your hands in resignation and give up. When you are inspired from the inside out by true passions, your outer activities bend gracefully with the winds of change. The outer manifestations of your true passions morph, as needed, to best reflect the inevitable changing circumstances. New circumstances require new approaches, and when you are in alignment with your passions, it will become apparent how to best maximize the potential of each new circumstance.

Your Passions Make You Unique

Fundamental passions come from the core of your being. As you become accustomed to living your life in alignment with them, you become less and less like everyone else and more and more who you really are. As your outer life becomes in closer alignment with your true passions, you grow into the unique individual that you are.

“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” - Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

The Ego-Driven Give Up Fast
Passion-Driven People Last

A passion-driven life does not come to an abrupt halt by a roadblock. Instead, from the inner place of stillness where you have invited passion to reside, an idea for the perfect detour springs forth. The detour itself could very well turn out to be a serendipity, bearing gifts and benefits that would otherwise never have manifested. It’s all a matter of attitude. The determined, yet gentle resolve that comes when you’re committed to living in alignment with true purpose, is fueled by your deepest passions.

“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)

Let Go of Resistance

Situations change. Perhaps the only constant in the universe is change. Change happens. It makes no sense to resist it. It does make sense to learn to roll with it gracefully and delight in new experiences and opportunities made possible by our ever-changing circumstances.

When situations change, we have a choice. We can become upset and resist the change. This approach wastes precious energy in complaining and blaming. Or, we can accept it as it is, settle our attention deeply inside, and become receptive to the next appropriate action based upon the new situation.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Unknown

When we focus our attention on this present moment and allow our true passions to be on-going companions, outer changes are not the enemy. Whatever happens, regardless of the mental labels of “good” or “bad” we give it . . . this too shall pass.

From the depth of stillness will come the impulse for the appropriate course of action now. This new urge for a specific action takes into consideration the most recent outer changes and your commitment to the deepest nudges from your inner reality. These nudges, rooted in true passions, represent your north star . . . you can trust them, and you can steer your life by them. (To help clearly define exactly what your passions are, see previous articles, “Your Passion as Your Compass” and “10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose.”)

When your outer activities are in the flow and inspired by your passions, your life becomes a work of art – an original expression of the teamwork between you and the universe itself.

“Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.” - Georg Wilhelm

“The worst sin - perhaps the only sin - passion can commit, is to be joyless.” - Dorothy L. Sayers (1893 - 1957)

“The more passions and desires one has, the more ways one has of being happy.” - Charlotte-Catherine

The Grandest You and Your Deepest Passions

In the stillness of your personal quiet times, re-connect with your passions. Revisit the stirrings of soul and refocus on what is genuinely important to you . . . not the “little you” – the ego, but the grand, bright and shining YOU – the one-of-a-kind embodiment of all-that-is, born into this world with a unique set of talents and tools to enable you to do what nobody else can in the entire world.

What is that? That is your true passion.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

	Miracle in Disguise Synchronicity is such a positive and hopeful idea, it begs the question, "Why not actively look for it and even expect it, as long as it feels good?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor11 Time of Our Lives Time is so fleeting, so elusive, it’s good to remember the importance and power of living right now. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor7 Take the Plunge Their advice is "for your own good", but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 Celebrate Life Create your own personal celebration of life by your choices, rather than allowing life to be something that merely happens to you, or around you. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor2 Do What You Love Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life’s greatest feelings of accomplishment. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor10 Live From Your Heart We all come from a long, long, long line of love. And our lives are enhanced exponentially when we interact with one another as if that mattered. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor13 You Gotta Have Fun Our moments are fleeting . . . and finite. Too few to squander on "bad news". We must steer our attention deliberately in order to attract the kind of life we were born to live. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor20 Songs by Tupelo
Your Passion as Your Compass Allow your passions to stretch their wings and the direction of your life could surprise you - in a good way. Celebrate life with passion! 10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose Of all the self-help ideas I’ve come across through the years, this one has been the most helpful. For me, it’s been the Rosetta Stone of personal development techniques. After getting a handle on the idea of “purpose”, other areas of my life fell into place more easily. How Do You Feel - About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us - inner guidance. Persistence and Perseverance for Winners - Losers Just Quit Giving up is easy. Most people make a habit of giving up. In fact, they make a life of it Persistence through a solution-oriented attitude is for visionaries, dreamers and other winners who refuse to take “no” for a final answer. Inspire Yourself on Purpose - Inspiration from Inside Out Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. Ego or Soul? Who’s Driving Even though I identify my sense of self with soul, there seems to be another “something” inside forever jockeying for position and making its presence known. This is the ego. What’s the difference? How can you know which one is in charge? What are their characteristics? Since I prefer peace to mayhem and contentment to perpetual, blind striving, my goal is to keep soul in the driver’s seat as often as possible. Instead of an either/or situation, I like the idea of soul and ego peacefully coexisting in a manner that best serves the greater good. Enhance Your Self-Image on Purpose Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. How to Live the Life of Your Dreams Through Intuition Intuition feels good. That should be enough of a clue it’s something that can be trusted. But, our culture has done a thorough job of instilling doubt about the wisdom of following our instincts. Instead, we are taught to think things through and be logical. These mental tools are important, but they were never intended to be used instead of intuition. They work better when used in conjunction with intuition. If we are open to it, we get nudges and insights to move us in the direction of our greatest joys, our most valuable contributions, and our most satisfying life. Those quiet whispers and gentle taps on the shoulder are examples of inner guidance in action - intuition. Know Thyself - Ignore Comparisons and Be Yourself The average person is content to base self-knowledge on comparisons to other people. If this is the measure of self-knowledge, it is based on someone else’s standards. This practice misses the point of “Know Thyself.” Instead, it’s all about how to fit in. We are all unique individuals with our own strengths, talents and nudges leading us to embrace our own best life. True knowledge of self is attained from personal insights of looking inwardly rather than outwardly towards others. Articles by Tupelo
	Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
	Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

I was recently interviewed by Alex Blackwell for his series called, “The Next 30 Blogging Heroes.” He asked some good questions, so I decided to reproduce the interview here.

Alex says, “Inspired by the book ‘Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World’s Top Bloggers’ by Michael A. Banks, this series features the next group of exceptional bloggers who are making an impact in the blogosphere.

“Blogging heroes create quality content and build a loyal, and very large, base of readers. This series will center on their best blogging practices as well as tips and advice. You will benefit from their helpful tips, advice and insight.”

“The Next 45 Years is proud to welcome author and musician Tupelo Kenyon of TupeloKenyon.com.”

It was an honor to be included in this series. For interviews with other bloggers, visit Alex’s site: “The Next 45 Years.” Here’s the complete interview:

What prompted you to start TupeloKenyon.com (please mention when it was launched)?

“Prompted” is a good choice of words. A few years ago, in preparation for one of our concerts, we were loading our equipment through the back door of the venue. An intriguing old man was sitting on an overturned white bucket, outside the door. He was ancient, with a joyous and mischievous sparkle in his eye. I slowed my step, even though the load of instruments was heavy. With no small-talk preamble, he looked me straight in the eye and said matter-of-factly: “I’m here to tell you it’s time for you to start writing books.”

I acknowledged his strange statement with a nod, took it in stride and continued with the task at hand. There were people behind me, also carrying heavy loads, so I kept moving to get out of their way. I was eager to go back for details on my next trip. When I returned, he was gone. I asked around and none of the employees recognized my description of the old man. I never saw him before or since.

I enjoy a good mystery and pay attention to “coincidences,” hunches and inner nudges, but this experience was over-the-top. The weirdness of the circumstances and the bluntness of his message percolated within me for a few years as I contemplated “writing books.”

The mystery man planted a seed and successfully prompted me to begin. When I discovered blogging, I recognized it as an ideal vehicle for outflow that combines some of my favorite passions with several personal skills: writing about personal development ideas, contemplating great quotes, song-writing, instrumental music composition and computer skills.

When I think back on the aspects of my life that have provided the most satisfaction and joy, I realize they all started with a hunch, a quiet whisper in my ear, or an intuitive tap on the shoulder. Gratefully, I did not write them off as musings from an overactive imagination and ignore them. Instead, I was willing to at least consider it might be an important “prompt.” Usually, I’ll play along and take the next step in the direction of my nudge, and then the next, and the next, curious where it may lead.

One of my songs is about this willingness to live on the edge with an adventurous spirit:

“So I’m taking off those blinders and throwing them away,
There’s so much more to living than the safe and narrow way.
The meek will surely inherit the earth . . .They won’t get very far,
While the bold go for adventure, exploring beyond the stars.
So I’ll encourage inspiration, and I’ll soak it up like a sponge,
Instead of terminal safety, I’m ready to take the plunge.”
From the song, “Take the Plunge” by Tupelo Kenyon

So, I took the plunge and started the learning curve on the mechanics of blogging in November of 2006 and launched TupeloKenyon.com on New Year’s Day 2007. The blog is titled, “Personal Development Inspiration and Uplifting Music” and the very first article was titled, “The Power of Beginning.” Perhaps blogging is the first step to the old man’s prompt to “start writing books” since I have already published enough content online to fill a couple.

Your blog is unique in the sense you connect your articles with your music. What is your musical background and experience?

I am mostly a self-taught musician, although I did take guitar lessons for a few months when I was about fourteen. (Thanks, Mom.) After earning my Associates of Mathematics degree, I changed my major to music at the University of Texas in Austin. That lasted about three months. I learned some valuable music theory, but soon realized I’d much rather be making music than studying it. So I moved to Alaska and began making a living singing and playing guitar by the time I was 21.

“Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule.” - Samuel Butler (1612-80)

The musical teamwork with my wife, Janey, has resulted in 11 music CDs and performances in all 50 states plus several foreign countries. We are known as “Laughing Bird.” We’ve also produced a feature-length video DVD titled, “Celebrate the Journey” of our unusual lifestyle as touring musicians for the last thirty years. (You can see a 7-minute preview online free.)

More information about our unique musical journey is in the article titled: “Benefits of Music for Personal Development.”

What is your process for choosing how you link a song to an article on your blog?

The songs I recommend at the end of each article are chosen to support the subject matter and tone of the article. Sometimes they are specific and the reference is obvious. Other times, the song may be a related tangent. Sometimes the songs are chosen to facilitate the listeners to come to their own understanding and discover their own insights about what a particular idea means to them. Those are always the best.

Choosing which songs fit best with a particular article is a fairly straight-forward process since I also wrote the songs. As I am writing an article, song titles will pop into my head as good choices for related themes. After I finish writing the article, I usually scan a list of all the songs we’ve recorded (112 so far, with more added regularly). This helps me make sure I don’t overlook any appropriate recommendations.

The instrumental selections available at the beginning of each article require a different process. I currently have three CDs of original instrumental music to choose from, so I try to match the feeling of the article with the instrumental selection that best supports it. It’s a more subjective process, so I try not to over-think it too much and just go with whatever feels right at the time.

Are you achieving what you set out to do with the site?

It’s a good start, and I’m enjoying the process. I’m also recognizing the benefits of surrounding myself with these powerful, empowering ideas in such an active way. I’ve been attracted to these themes of personal development and inspiration since I was 17, so these are the ideas I contemplate in my quiet time. The process of writing the articles gives me the opportunity to explore deeper and discover what I really think about these important topics. The act of writing clarifies ideas and inspires new viewpoints that I may never have considered otherwise.

The site has evolved into an extension of my own process of personal development and my dedication to living an inspired life. So yes, I am achieving that aspect of continually taking the next step in the expansion of consciousness that has been so important to me for about forty years.

One of my songs explores this theme . . .

“My feet are in the water, my head’s up in the clouds,
Floating on a fantasy, but living out loud,
Living out loud.
An’ I wonder if I’ll ever do you proud.

“I’m not exactly grounded, but I’m not entirely free.
I’m not exactly ready to go, but this never felt like home to me.
So I’m eager for that next step, even though I’ve come so far,
With my seat right here in the saddle . . . and soul in the stars.”
From the song, “Soul in the Stars” by Tupelo Kenyon

One of things I set out to do with the site was to supplement my income, and this intent is manifesting slower than I had hoped. However, my quality of life is more important than stressing over the blog’s income issues, and the blog has contributed to my excellent quality of life from the very beginning. I knew blogging was not a get-rich-quick scheme, so I began with lots of patience and a long-term attitude.

As I continue my focus on delivering quality content with the potential to make a real difference in the quality of life for my readers, I am confident that the readership and the income will continue to grow. Since we have other income streams from other passions (concert performances, CD sales, and our recording studio), there’s no pressure to risk compromising my vision by trying to prematurely squeeze money out of TupeloKenyon.com.

Although success is usually associated with money, according to Emerson’s definition of success, I am already enjoying a measure of success . . .

“The definition of success–To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived–this is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)

Where do you get your ideas for content for your blog and for your songs?

I enjoy reading a wide variety of authors, philosophies and disciplines. I consider myself a “free agent,” so I don’t prescribe to any one particular “brand.” Some of my favorite authors include Esther and Jerry Hicks, Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, Lee Carroll, Richard Bach, Paul Twitchell, Dan Millman, Steven Covey, Joseph Campbell, Neale Donald Walsch, plus many others.

There’s a page on my blog with brief reviews of the fifty or so books that have had the biggest impact on me. These books have moved me, opened me up, amazed me, thrilled me, and helped me feel something profound.

While reading, something will strike me just right, and an article title will occur to me. I use the original idea as a springboard and do my best to find a fresh perspective. Whether I’m writing an article or a song, I never know where it’s going. Instead, I trust the process and enjoy the ride. I am often surprised where it ends up compared to where it started.

I realize it’s an unconventional way to write, but it’s satisfying to me because it’s not as rigid and structured as strictly left-brained writing. Instead, it allows for the freedom of random associations and an overview of the big picture made possible by allowing the right brain to have free reign also. Since I enjoy the process of working this way, songs and articles get completed.

What do you find to be the more difficult aspects of blogging?

Time constraints are the most difficult hurdles I face with my personal commitment to publish a new article every week. My average article takes between 8 and 14 hours to complete. I decided at the beginning not to create a blog of short posts. There are plenty of excellent blogs with short posts, but in the interest of something for everyone, I decided to concentrate on the more in-depth coverage made possible by the technology.

I have published one new article per week since TupeloKenyon.com was launched on January 1, 2007. That may not seem like a big time commitment, but it feels like it with all the other activities that require so much time. Janey and I do major concert tours every year that keep us on the road for about six months. When we are at home, our recording studio, Riversong Studio, keeps me busy. I produce CD projects for other artists as well as our own. Busy, busy, busy. You know what they say about the self-employed: “You only have to work half-days . . . and you can choose which twelve hours that is!”

They also say, “Busy people get things done.”

“It is not enough to be busy. The question is: what are we busy about?” - Henry David Thoreau (1817-62)

Do you do anything special to increase your readership?

I stay focused on providing consistent, quality content that can make a difference in people’s lives. My intent is to make it so compelling that my readers won’t be able to keep it a secret and will share it and recommend it to the people they care about. I provide a link at the end of every article to make it easy to “email this article to a friend.” I also make it easy for people to submit each article to their favorite social networking sites.

I have also dabbled in carnivals, listed the site with blog directories, and have begun to learn more about the social networking phenomenon. All these things take time, so I haven’t explored them in depth.

I am not interested in spending my entire life in front of a computer screen, so I budget my computer time carefully. As I prioritize the limited time I am willing to stare at a computer screen, most of that time is spent writing articles.

Do you use SEO? If so, which techniques provide the best results?

I made sure my META tags include specifically chosen keywords that relate to the theme of my site. My decision to submit my articles to carnivals was driven, in part, by the hoped-for advantage of getting incoming links from related sites. I have a few hundred by now, but I honestly don’t know how much they help.

I try to use keywords in the article titles and in the body of the copy, but mostly I write in a stream of consciousness style better suited to human readers rather than search engine spiders. The algorithms used by the search engines will continue to get more sophisticated and keep getting better at catching on to the myriad ways used by people who try to “game” the system. The purpose of the search engines is to find the sites that do the best job in providing value and reward them with higher search rankings. If my purpose is also to provide value, the search engines will recognize that and everyone wins. And hopefully, I won’t have to spend too much time on boring, mind-numbing busy work like SEO. (Warning, this may be a blue sky, pipe dream with no basis in the real world of online traffic-building. Sometime in the future, I may change my tune and discover that yes, indeed, it is necessary to be more proactive in this area – but I hope not!)

What do you find gratifying about blogging?

It’s always gratifying to hear from someone who was touched by one of my articles or my music. It’s fascinating to hear how someone was able to apply an idea from a song or article to the unique circumstances of their life in a way that would never have occurred to me. I love to hear creative interpretations and stories of how something made a positive difference in someone’s life. The lyrics to one of my songs express this idea . . .

“The way we live our life is like a pebble dropped, into a quiet pond,
It carries on just like a circle growing.
The ripples that we make may touch another shore,
You may never know for sure,
How much you’ve helped someone without you knowing.

“Sometimes the ripples from our deed’s a gentle touch,
Doesn’t seem to matter much,
It’s like dropping flowers in the Grand Canyon.
And though we’ll never know just what becomes of them,
It’s all the same to them,
So drop them anyway, because you can.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting battles too,
Cruel wars within themselves, just like it is with you.
Be kind, because you’ll never know just how much good you’ll do,
A heartfelt word or two can soothe a hidden wound.”
From the song, “Be Kind” by Tupelo Kenyon

What are your future plans for TupeloKenyon.com?

I realize that big companies and corporations must have detailed, well-thought-out business plans for the future, but my approach with TupeloKenyon.com has been more organic . . . more in the moment . . . more about now. I take it one article at a time and do the best I can with the amount of time I have available.

I do have a vision for the future but have not nailed it down with any step-by-step action plan. I enjoy a wide-open approach to allow the universe plenty of latitude to take it in any direction . . . whatever is in the interest of the greatest good. I appreciate surprises, serendipities and “coincidences” orchestrated in the more subtle planes of consciousness, well beyond the one-dimensional confines of my best, well-laid plans.

My vision for TupeloKenyon.com is an ever-growing site contributing inspiration to those attracted to ideas of integrity and techniques of personal development and expanding consciousness.

It is personally satisfying when readers of my blog discover my music and when my music listeners discover my articles. As these readers and listeners continue to grow in number, this provides me with a ready outlet for more articles, songs and music. I see it as a full circle of contribution. I am gratified that all this is made possible by my own personal commitment to inner growth.

It feels like right livelihood. When people buy our CDs, download our music and contribute in other ways, it’s a vote of confidence that I am on the right track of making available something worthwhile for the good of the whole. That inspires me to become an ever-clearer conduit for ideas, words and music to flow through me, knowing there is an appreciative place in the world for it.

Now, after all that, here’s the short answer: My plans are open-ended. My vision is win/win.

What advice can you offer other bloggers?

Since I am a relative newbie myself, my first morsel of advice would be to take my advice with a grain of salt. One of the ideas that made a lasting impression on me came via Esther Hicks to a fellow-writer friend of mine: “Write for your own connection.”

To me, that means the act of writing should be done first and foremost as an exercise to deepen your own understanding and facilitate your relationship with your own inner self. It allows you to entertain ideas, concepts and feelings in detail that have the power to make a dramatic difference in the quality of your life. Instead of being motivated to write for money or fame or recognition or shallow ego gratification, write for you. Write for (and from) that deepest part of you, which cries out for its connection to the infinite. I am confident that this approach provides the greatest benefit for the greatest number, including the writer.

Actively engage the mystery in your life. Be unique, be yourself, be the brilliant individual you were born to be, and do it in your own way. Nobody else in the whole world can do what you do. Be sincere, be real and light-hearted, and be committed to excellence.

Learn whenever you can from whomever you can. Be aware of any advice offered. But also beware.

“No one can give you better advice than yourself.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC)

Instead of basing your direction on the advice of others, look inside for your own way. Listen for (and expect) nudges, hunches and intuitive taps on the shoulder from you inner self. Learn to trust them and discover for yourself that your intuition has your own best interests at heart.

Whatever you do, do it well, and others will recognize your commitment to excellence and will be attracted to whatever you have to contribute. Make it fun so you enjoy the process. Be in the moment. Give first without attachment to outcomes. Balance that with your expectation of great things already moving toward you. Receive the abundance of life graciously. Be grateful every day. Take nothing for granted – especially the wonder of life itself. Most importantly, do whatever brings you joy.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the song samples below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

Take the Plunge Their advice is “for your own good”, but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 Soul in the Stars It feels good to try to see the bigger picture once in awhile,and to focus on gratitude for what we have, rather than the frustration of what we are lacking. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor4 Be Kind Your example and the kindness shown to others can have a rippling affect that goes on and on. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor9 Do What You Love Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life’s greatest feelings of accomplishment. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor10 Celebrate Life Create your own personal celebration of life by your choices, rather than allowing life to be something that merely happens to you, or around you. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor2 Songs by Tupelo
The Power of Beginning The most important part of any project is the beginning. Just begin and follow through and you will be amazed at the momentum. . The creative power of the universe responds by lining up the details to bring it into manifestation. Coincidences begin to occur. Your job is to choose and then begin. Benefits of Music for Personal Development All music is not created equally. This article takes a look behind the scenes to catch a glimpse of how the intent of the composer translates to the feeling evoked in the listeners. Many links are included to streaming mp3s. Celebrate life through music! Take Time for You Don’t put yourself at the end of the list. You deserve to be first, at least some of the time. Don’t let your entire life slip by with everything else (and everyone else) getting preferential treatment over your most important priorities. Their needs are important, but yours are important too. Celebrate life by taking time for YOU! The Law of Attraction With anything as important as the law of attraction, it’s a good idea to hear it described many times from many different angles. This article looks at it from several viewpoints as well as revealing how to get the understanding of the law of attraction from the prime source. Many links are provided including links to streaming mp3 songs that incorporate the principles of attraction in the lyrics. Celebrate life with an ever-clearer grasp of how the law of attraction determines your life experience. Relax and Rejuvenate for Balance and Productivity Whatever you do, taking time to relax and regenerate helps you to do it better. If you don’t pause occasionally, shift your mind into neutral and recharge your batteries, your productivity plummets and you may not even realize it. You need time to let your mind wander - time to imagine new possibilities - time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life - time to nurture soul. Life is more than an endless to-do list, and many of its most important gifts come when you allow yourself to put the daily details on pause and just experience the simplicity of life in the moment with nothing in particular on your mind that needs to be done. How to Live the Life of Your Dreams Through Intuition Intuition feels good. That should be enough of a clue it’s something that can be trusted. But, our culture has done a thorough job of instilling doubt about the wisdom of following our instincts. Instead, we are taught to think things through and be logical. These mental tools are important, but they were never intended to be used instead of intuition. They work better when used in conjunction with intuition. If we are open to it, we get nudges and insights to move us in the direction of our greatest joys, our most valuable contributions, and our most satisfying life. Those quiet whispers and gentle taps on the shoulder are examples of inner guidance in action - intuition. Inspire Yourself on Purpose - Inspiration from Inside Out Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. Goal Setting or Let Go and Let God There are two approaches people use to manifest their desires. Some set goals. Others surrender and presume the universe is conspiring to deliver to them their every desire without strain, in its own way and in its own time. Which way is better? Can these two methods be used together? Work - Just a Job or Visible Love Do you love what you do and do what you love? Here’s a step-by-step method on how to put your passions to work and start living the life you were born to live. Your Passion as Your Compass Allow your passions to stretch their wings and the direction of your life could surprise you - in a good way. Celebrate life with passion! Articles by Tupelo
Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. “Inspired on Purpose” newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

This profound quote, “Know Thyself,” is attributed to at least six ancient Greek sages, including Socrates and Pythagoras. It was inscribed in the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi - according to the Greek writer Pausanias. At least a few of the ancients knew the importance of self-knowledge and self-awareness.

Then, as now, the average person is content to base self-knowledge on comparisons to other people. If this is the measure of self-knowledge, it is based on someone else’s standards. This practice misses the point of “Know Thyself.” Instead, it’s all about how to fit in.

“The creative individual has the capacity to free himself from the web of social pressures in which the rest of us are caught. He is capable of questioning the assumptions that the rest of us accept.” - John W. Gardner (b. 1912) - President, Carnegie Foundation

Socially Conditioned to Accept Comparisons

Comparisons are inevitable. They are a fact of life. We are compared to our siblings the moment we are born and compared to other children even before we understand the concept. We are compared to other students in school and graded accordingly. Then we are compared to our peers throughout our careers.

The trick is to recognize the majority of people have always used the yardstick of comparison to define their own sense of self-knowledge. Unfortunately, this same yardstick is also used to measure self-worth and even self-love. The secret of true self-knowledge is the realization that comes when all comparisons are ignored. True knowledge of self is attained from personal insights of looking inwardly rather than outwardly towards others.

“Total self-esteem requires total and unconditional acceptance of yourself. You are a unique and worthy individual, regardless of your mistakes, defeats and failures, despite what others may think, say or feel about you or your behavior. If you truly accept and love yourself, you won’t have a driving need for attention and approval. Self-esteem is a genuine love of self. Stop all adverse value judging of yourself. Stop accepting the adverse value judgments of others. Purge yourself of all condemnation, shame, blame, guilt and remorse.” – Unknown

Find Your Own Inner Genius

In school, we were conditioned to the idea of comparison by the grading system known as the bell curve. This system ignores the fact that we are all unique individuals with different strengths and different ways of learning to access our own inner genius.

“Education must provide the opportunities for self-fulfillment; it can at best provide a rich and challenging environment for the individual to explore, in his own way.” - Noam Chomsky (b. 1928)

A Swiss psychiatrist, Jean Piaget, made an important discovery about how students learn. In his research, today’s accepted standard teaching method of lecturing and testing produced the typical results of the standard bell curve. About 66% of the students achieved average results (C grades). About 12% were above average (B grades) and about 12% were below average (D grades). About 3% got A grades and about 3% got F grades. About 2% achieved results that could be considered in the genius range and 2% exhibited no retention whatsoever. (If drawn in a graph, these results would resemble the shape of a bell, which is why it became known as the bell curve.)

The surprise came when the method of instruction was changed. No matter which teaching method was used – drawings, small group discussions, video, reading, etc. – the bell curve remained the same, with similar percentages in each area. But with each method of instruction, there were new heroes and new zeros, and the individuals were redistributed in the average areas. These results can be interpreted to mean that we all have our own unique genius within, waiting to be awakened by the method or methods that best interface with our individuality.

“The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursing his own education. This will not be a widely shared pursuit until we get over our odd conviction that education is what goes on in school buildings and nowhere else.” - John W. Gardner (b. 1912) - President, Carnegie Foundation

Most people never discover their own inner genius because they are conditioned to accept the comparison method as the last word. Imagine the individuals in the smallest percentage of the bell curve – the ones who just don’t get it by hearing a lecture. Perhaps they are just as intelligent, just as interested and just as capable as the people at the other end of the bell, but they’re simply not auditory learners. They may be visual learners or they may learn best by a more tactile, hands-on approach. With this dramatically different way of teaching and learning, they may be at the other end of the bell curve. The comparison system could just as easily label these same people geniuses simply by changing the way the very same material is presented.

“If you treat an individual … as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

If we were taught to “Know Thyself” instead of “know where you fit on the curve related to other people learning a specific subject via one specific teaching method,” what a difference it could make in our quality of life. Our own self-exploration would reveal our own strengths and affinities as well as which methods work best, based on our individuality.

“Brilliance is typically the act of an individual, but incredible stupidity can usually be traced to an organization.” - Jon Bentley

If our educational system taught “Know Thyself,” we would be more eager to discover our own areas of genius and be less inclined to accept the judgment of others. We would be better able to recognize brilliant self-awareness in others and could more easily avoid those who are enmeshed in the limiting comparison method of self-knowledge and self-worth.

“The invention of IQ did a great disservice to creativity in education . . . Individuality, personality, originality, are too precious to be meddled with by amateur psychiatrists whose patterns for a ‘wholesome personality’ are inevitably their own.” - Joel H. Hildebrand - Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley

Educate Thyself

Education, self-realization and enlightenment are all things that happen to one person at a time. Each person has a unique approach and a unique experience. Don’t make the mistake of trading your precious individuality for membership in the club of the masses.

“Man as an individual is a genius. But men in the mass form the Headless Monster, a great, brutish idiot that goes where prodded.” - Sir Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977)

Don’t lean on the crutch of outward opinions, methods of the moment, or current social trends for your sense of worth.

“Never violate the sacredness of your individual self-respect.” - Theodore Parker (1810-60)

Education is incredibly valuable because so many of life’s gifts depend upon it, but remember the best kind of education is self-education where the approach is custom tailored to the strengths and affinities of the individual. Education, like self-realization, is an inside job. For maximum efficiency and personal satisfaction, it all begins with “Know Thyself.”

Social Education is Better than No Education . . . BUT . . .

The educational system of our modern culture is always changing and lagging behind the leading-edge thinkers. It’s better than nothing, but if the system itself could be personified, given a truth serum, and asked to describe itself, it would have to say something like this . . .

“You are in the process of being indoctrinated. We have not yet evolved a system of education that is not a system of indoctrination. We are sorry, but it is the best we can do. What you are being taught here is an amalgam of current prejudice and the choices of this particular culture. The slightest look at history will show how impermanent these must be. You are being taught by people who have been able to accommodate themselves to a regime of thought laid down by their predecessors. It is a self-perpetuating system. Those of you who are more robust and individual than others, will be encouraged to leave and find ways of educating yourself . . . educating your own judgment. Those that stay must remember, always and all the time, that they are being molded and patterned to fit into the narrow and particular needs of this society.” - Doris Lessing

Know Thyself Deeper

“Know Thyself” is such a powerful phrase because it can inspire a lifetime of revelations as we discover ever-deepening layers of ourselves. This article has focused on an important, but relatively superficial, layer of self-knowledge revealed by contemplation on the phrase, “Know Thyself.” It leads quite naturally to these age-old questions: “Who am I?” . . . and “Why am I here? . . . and “What does it all mean?”

These are the questions that matter most, so the most satisfying answers cannot be found in comparisons with others but from deep inside ourselves.

We are all unique individuals with our own strengths, talents and nudges leading us to embrace our own best life. Of course, that’s an ever-changing, moving target that grows and evolves with our own expansion of consciousness and deepening self-knowledge. There’s always another step to take, and one of the best clues when deciding the direction of the next step is to revisit the ancient Greek’s profound directive, “Know Thyself.”

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the song samples below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

	Don’t Tell Me No Just don’t do it. It’s better that way . . . for both of us! http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor3 Who is the Watcher Explores the silent witness within and the idea that life occurs in this present moment. Always. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor-14 Story Belt Celebrates the importance of keeping things in perspective while being a part of the bigger picture. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor8 Take the Plunge Their advice is "for your own good", but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 Love is Who You Are - Live Version "What is love, anyway?" Is it something you give or get, have or make? Or could it be, down deep, simply who we are? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHTu.html#Anchor19 Hell or a Whole Lotta Fun Nothing to do? How about too much to do? Our attitude seems to make the difference. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor16 You Gotta Have Fun Our moments are fleeting . . . and finite. Too few to squander on "bad news". We must steer our attention deliberately in order to attract the kind of life we were born to live. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor20 Songs by Tupelo
Self-Discipline in 3 Easy Steps Why is it so difficult to follow through and accomplish what you set out to do? Usually, there is one important missing ingredient: personal discipline. For most of us, the idea of discipline is an external force - it’s something that comes from the outside. For instance, we discipline our children. Most of us are familiar with discipline as a verb (something we do to someone else), but we’re not so familiar with the concept as a noun - something we cultivate from within and apply to ourselves. Six Killers of Individuality and Personal Independence Is the course of your life determined by your own internal road map or by a map made by someone else? Each of us can choose our direction deliberately and live a life custom sculpted. Each life can be as individually unique as the person living it. If you pattern your life after someone else, exactly what is it you have to offer? Enhance Your Self-Image on Purpose Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. Inspire Yourself on Purpose - Inspiration from Inside Out Here are twelve common sense reminders on how to inspire yourself. The word “inspire” derives from root words that mean “in spirit” or “spirit within.” Although there’s always another step to take, these points are a natural result of recognizing and identifying with this realization of who we really are. Choose Excellence and Lose Mediocrity What if you knew that a life of excellence was lurking right around the corner, if you would only prioritize your moments in such a way so that you could recognize it. Take an objective look at the various activities of your life. Get inspired to lose the mediocre to make room for something better. Methods as Temporary Tools Instead of Lifetime Crutches We are obsessed with our methods. We become attached to our particular way of doing things. The trouble comes when we cling to an old method that we have outgrown. We feel bogged down and then stuck when our personal development potential is being limited by an outdated method. If your method feels more like a crutch than a tool, it’s time to take an objective look at it. Is the method in question bringing you peace and joy? Is it helping your personal growth, or is it just a familiar and comfortable habit of thought? Integrity Through Self-Reliance When you live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations on what is right . . . what is good . . . and what is true for you. You are tuned into your own station. The signal you are receiving and the message you are broadcasting with the story of your life are both on the same frequency. You are joyfully and gratefully choosing your favorites from the buffet of life. How Do You Feel - About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us - inner guidance. 10 Steps to Discovering Your Life’s Purpose Of all the self-help ideas I’ve come across through the years, this one has been the most helpful. For me, it’s been the Rosetta Stone of personal development techniques. After getting a handle on the idea of “purpose”, other areas of my life fell into place more easily. Your Passion as Your Compass Allow your passions to stretch their wings and the direction of your life could surprise you - in a good way. Celebrate life with passion! Articles by Tupelo
	Why wait for inspiration to strike? Be proactive, and go get it. Better yet, this newsletter brings it to you. "Inspired on Purpose" newsletter by Tupelo Kenyon contains articles, reviews and resources to supercharge your personal development, inspiration, productivity, abundance and joy. FREE e-book Instant download - when you subscribe. Personal Development Supercharger 101 Tips and Techniques by Tupelo Kenyon It’s FREE. Subscribe now. Enter name and email address below: Name: Email:
	Privacy policy: Your email address is secure. I will not sell, rent or trade your information to anyone for any reason. Period. - Tupelo Kenyon

Is the course of your life determined by your own internal road map or by a map made by someone else?

Each of us can choose our direction deliberately and live a life custom sculpted. Each life can be as individually unique as the person living it. If you pattern your life after someone else, exactly what is it you have to offer?

Following the herd has always been humanity’s default behavior. The idea of strength in numbers provides a feeling of belonging and a false sense of security. But if you look at the people who stand out in history, it’s not the faceless and fearful members of the flock who we remember, but the bold and adventurous.

“It is a blessed thing that in every age someone has had the individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions.” - Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-99)

The Inspiring I-Think-I-Canners

These rugged individualists of the past often had a difficult time walking their own path. Speaking their mind and following their own internal guidance system put them at odds with the establishment of their day. For example, Galileo was under house arrest for many years for speaking out against the accepted knowledge of his day – even though he was right. Socrates was condemned to drink poison hemlock because his ideas didn’t support the officially sanctioned train of thought.

Still, these men and many others stuck to their own ideals, determined to live their lives their way, rather than adopt the common way prescribed by those in power. There have been millions and billions through the ages who fade into the background blur of the masses, and we remember very few of them.

The rugged individualists stand out from the crowd, inspiring us with their daring spirit and strong resolve to live their lives from the inside out. They based their lives on the whisperings of their hearts – the internal guidance system that steered them into a life of inspiration. That decision to follow their own path made all the difference for them, as well as for those of us inspired by their example.

“The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within, not without. Inevitably anyone with an independent mind must become ‘one who resists or opposes authority or established conventions’: a rebel. If enough people come to agree with, and follow, the Rebel, we now have a Devil. Until, of course, still more people agree. And then, finally, we have — Greatness.” - Aleister Crowley (1875 - 1947)

It’s Never Been Easier

Think about past eras of humanity and how an individual’s life was predetermined by the expectations of others. If you were born poor, like the vast majority, you likely followed in your parents’ footsteps and remained poor. If you were one of the privileged few born into royalty, you were expected to stay there, even if you had a totally different song in your heart.

The caste system held everyone firmly in its grasp, and precious few dared to cross those invisible lines. Did your daddy build furniture? Then you were expected to become a carpenter too. Did your mama spin and weave? Then you were expected to do the same.

These days, there is still some expectation to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors, but there is also a new freedom, undreamed of only a few generations ago.

We are finally free to choose our own way, our own profession, our own life. What an amazing development in the evolution of humanity!

“True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945)

Instead of allowing outer circumstances to dictate the direction of our life, we are free to look within and get in alignment with our deepest passions and biggest dreams. Many take this privilege for granted, not realizing what a valuable gift it is. Instead of blossoming into the fullest version of their unique self, they continue to amble along with the herd, doing things like everybody else because . . . well, because that’s what everybody else is doing. (Moooo.)

The Six Killers of Who You Really Are

1. “May” – This idea indicates self-doubt and lack of confidence in one’s own ability to choose. When used as a question as in, “May I do this, that or the other?” – it indicates a need to seek permission rather than to rely on your own sense of what is right, necessary and true. When used in a statement as in, “I may do this, that or the other.” – it indicates indecisiveness, a wishy-washy approach to life. A decisive individual, trusting their own course embraces their chosen direction with resolve and gusto. There is no room for “may.”

2. “Might” – This word is often used in the same way as “may” as in “I might do this, that or the other.” It is also used to express what might have been. This is a total waste of mental energy. What’s in the past is done. Its time has come and gone. As long as it is remembered, it will always be just as it was. No amount of thinking “what might have been” has the power to change even one tiny detail. There is nothing to be gained by reliving the past over and over in the imagination, fantasizing a different outcome. Instead of squandering this precious, present moment on thoughts of what might have been, a strong, independent individual will make a mental note of where improvements could be made whenever a similar situation presents itself, and then gets on with living life here and now – in this present moment.

3. and 4. “Could” and “Would” – These words (and the thoughts behind them) are often used as excuses as in, “I would if I could.” This attitude reflects lack of resolve and lack of self-confidence. The ancient Roman, Virgil, said, “Fortune favors the bold,” and the habit of surrounding oneself with “could” and “would” is anything but bold. Instead it indicates a timid, retiring and weak approach to life. That’s a good description of the herd instinct, following the crowd, the lemming approach to life. These words are also used to seek permission as in, “Would it be okay to . . .” or “Could I do this, that or the other?” A bold individualist simply states his or her intentions and asks if anyone cares to join in. Simple. Direct. To the point.

5. and 6. “Should” and “Must” – Should is often used in the same vein as “might have been” to express remorse about some past experience, fantasized with a different outcome. Again, after noticing the desire for a different way of handling a similar situation in the future, it’s a waste of valuable energy to dwell upon “shoulds.” The idea of should and must is often a reflection of the expectations of others. These are the things you do that are not inspired from your deepest self, but you do them anyway so that you don’t disappoint others. Living your life according to “should” and “must” is a way of orchestrating the details of your life according to your perception of the expectations of others. Of course this is merely your perception, which may be accurate or may be completely different from their real expectations. Either way, you are ignoring your own internal guidance system and steering the ship of your life according to external landmarks. Living this way in this new era of personal freedom is a shame. Living according to the expectations of others is the way of life of our ancient ancestors, mired down in the archaic caste system. It is an incredible gift to have the opportunity now to live a unique life, inspired by our own internal guidance system rather than according to our often skewed perception of the expectation of others.

“Then I found myself knockin’ at the pearly gates,
But nobody’d answer the door.
So I looked around and then I climbed the wall,
Just to look around a little more.
Then a fellow with a beard says ‘Hey, what’s your story?’
I think he said his name was Pete.
I said, ‘I shoulda done better, I coulda done better,
If I’da known this place was so neat.’
And Pete said, ‘Shoulda-coulda-woulda won’t get it up here,
But just lookin’ ain’t no sin.’
So I said, ‘Hey Pete, could you help me out?’
He said, ‘Sure, which way’d you come in?
I’d really love to help you out, which way’s you come in?’”
- from the song, “Love to Help You Out” by Tupelo Kenyon

Embrace the Gift of Individuality

So, the six killers of individuality and personal independence are: may, might, could, would, should and must. Basing your life experience on the ideas and limitations represented by these six words indicates personal weakness and fear of taking control of your own life. It shows a serious lack of self-confidence. Instead it reflects your willingness to surrender your personal power and destiny to someone else, letting them make the important decisions on your behalf.

If free will, individuality and personal independence are gifts from God, a preference for the herd instinct is like throwing them back in Her face.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as far as fair,
And perhaps having the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Rejoicing in the Diversity

We can each choose our direction, and the more diverse we become as a result, the better. When we learn to see the beauty and the benefit of contrast, it is no longer a threat to the status quo and the official company line.

Diversity helps us to make better choices. Even when we see someone else’s choice as 180 degrees out of phase with our own choice, it helps us to clarify and focus our own preferences. Let the other person be. Their choice may be different, but that’s okay. They are living their life, not yours.

If your choices and therefore your life was exactly like that of another, one of you would be redundant.

“Dare to be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not and to believe in your own individuality.” - Henri-Frédéric Amiel

Individuality, uniqueness and the freedom to stand out from the crowd is the spice of life. Being different is good. It’s not to be shunned or avoided, but embraced to enhance the grand diversity of the infinite potential of life itself.

“All Fords are exactly alike, but no two men are just alike. Every new life is a new thing under the sun; there has never been anything just like it before, never will be again. A young man ought to get that idea about himself; he should look for the single spark of individuality that makes him different from other folks, and develop that for all he is worth. Society and schools may try to iron it out of him; their tendency is to put it all in the same mold, but I say don’t let that spark be lost; it is your only real claim to importance.” - Henry Ford (1863 - 1947)

Your unique approach to life does not need to be approved or validated by anyone else in order to have unquestionable value for you. Even if everyone else seems to be going the other way, that’s not an indication it’s right for you. In fact, it may be a good clue that another way might be a better choice.

Ignore peer pressure. It is historically dangerous and smothers the seed of greatness struggling for nourishment deep inside. Nurture it and allow it to grow into your best possible life – the one you were born to live.

Follow your heart. Listen to your own internal guidance system. Follow the road not taken. Step away from the herd, and make a difference.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Did you get something good from this article? You can also enjoy the feeling of giving. Click here to leave a donation for Tupelo. Thank you.

Listen FREE to the song samples below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

Love to Help You Out A light tongue-in-cheek look at some of the stupidity that passes for normal, or at least average, these days. Still, beneath the mayhem, maybe it’s best to believe there’s a method behind it all . . . if only, "What goes around, comes around." http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHTu.html#Anchor9 Take the Plunge Their advice is "for your own good", but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 Love is Who You Are "What is love, anyway?" Is it something you give or get, have or make? Or could it be, down deep, simply who we are? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor1 Celebrate Life Create your own personal celebration of life by your choices, rather than allowing life to be something that merely happens to you, or around you. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor2 Do What You Love Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life’s greatest feelings of accomplishment. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor10 Just One Step Just begin. If you will just get underway, the project itself gains momentum and carries you along to its completion. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor12 Hell or a Whole Lotta Fun Nothing to do? How about too much to do? Our attitude seems to make the difference. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor16 You Gotta Have Fun Our moments are fleeting . . . and finite. Too few to squander on "bad news". We must steer our attention deliberately in order to attract the kind of life we were born to live. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor20 Songs by Tupelo