Lamisha Serf-Walls

Dreamer Highlight: Scott Dinsmore and Lilou Mace

by

Live the dream

About 2 years ago, I began dreaming of a life where I could do work that I loved and make a decent living doing it.  I wanted to live the life of my dreams and simply be happy.  I wanted to get up every morning feeling excited and energetic for the workday ahead because I enjoy helping people realize the power they have to be happy.  In my search to figure out how I could do that, I stumbled upon a website that proved to be encouraging, motivational, and one of the most inspirational sites I have found.

Live Your Legend 

Scott Dinsmore made the startling discovery that it is possible to live the life of your dreams doing what you love.  He realized that when you find your passion and live it simply for the joy of doing it, you CAN be successful too.  You don’t have to continue to go to the soul-crushing job to make a fortune.  Simply put, he came up with a strategy to help others find their passion and live it, because it isn’t just possible, it is necessary.  Was it always easy?  I am sure Scott will tell you it wasn’t always the easy road, but it was certainly the most passionate and inspiring road.  There are twists and turns and adventures that he loves and now several years after launching his website and company, he is in charge of his time.  He gets to live the life he wants, helping others to do the same.  Check him out and be prepared to be inspired!

I have mentioned Lilou Mace on my blog before, but when I think of people living the life of their dreams I automatically think of Lilou.  Founder and creator of  the Juicy Living Tour, Lilou travels all over the world interviewing spiritual teachers, leaders, and inspirational people in order to share information that would not normally be shared across the globe.  She has done thousands of interviews and is living her dream.

How did she do it?

Well it all started after she lost her job and began wondering what she was going to do next.  After recording her thoughts and experiences the first month after losing her job, she turned her notes into a book titled “I Lost My Job and I Liked It“.  Shortly after, she published her second book “I Had No Money And I Liked It”.  During this time she also began living her dream, by interviewing various spiritual authors, leaders, and teachers via Skype and uploading them to YouTube.  While she wanted to be the next Oprah, her dreams were realized and implemented in a much better way than she could have ever imagined.  She is now living her dream by traveling the globe completing her wonderful interviews and sharing them for free via YouTube.  Not only that, but she does so simply on a donation basis.  All of her travel fees, accommodations, food etc. is paid for via donations made to her via her website.  In addition to interviewing and writing her two books, she has also created several meditations and other items that help her generate revenue to live.  Through implementing the Law of Attraction and living her passion everyday, Lilou has done some amazing things, but the best part is that she had a vision, she believed it, and she is now living it.

It can often be difficult for those of us on the outside of seemingly large visionaries as we are in the middle of creating our own vision.  It seems they have it all together, but one thing to remember is that everyone had to start somewhere.  Scott Dinsmore worked in the corporate world for several years before he finally quit his job to move forward with his dream.  Lilou lost her job and began flowing through life with faith that it would all work out, without ever knowing exactly how it would come together.  The excitement lies in the adventure.  The journey is the fun part and living the life of our dreams is simply the icing on the cake.  I have said it before and I will say it again.  If they can do it, so can YOU!

Imagination vs Reality

by

In speaking with a friend today, I was reminded of how many of us live in a world where many of the choices we make in life revolve around what we deem “realistic”.  Many of us are working, living, and simply planning our lives in a way that allows us to get through the next week, month, or year without ever focusing on what it is we want in this life.  We have somehow allowed our lives to be a matter of survival instead of a life of abundance and joy.

The creative thought we once had as a child has been put to sleep while reality has infiltrated our minds, giving us a false sense of security.  We are made to believe that we must follow a path that makes the most sense and stick with it.  After working and living a mediocre, just getting by life, we may be able to retire and then get to the things we always dreamed about.

But isn’t that backwards?

I always thought the sequence of events from High School to College to Adulthood seemed too swift for my liking and nonsensical.  How in the world was I supposed to decide what I wanted to do with my life when I hadn’t ever explored the world?  Shouldn’t I have some knowledge of my choices before I blindly choose a career?  As they say: hindsight is 20/20.

Since I didn’t know any other way, I followed what many of my peers were doing.  I decided on a career that I thought would carry me forward for the rest of my life.  I decided to major in Exercise Science and minor in Dance.  Seemed easy enough right?  The truth is, I didn’t think doing something else was an option.  I didn’t know I could use my imagination to create the life of my dreams.  I thought in order to be successful you had to find a box that you fit in and follow the path like many other boxes before you.  It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized I could get out of that box and meander along a new path on my own.  I finally realized, I do have a choice.  You have a choice too.

Consistently focusing on what you or other people think is reasonable or realistic in terms of your career or other life choices is the perfect way to maintain a mediocre life.  If you allow reality (however you define it) to dictate your choices in life, you are bound to feel like there is something missing.

It is only when we allow ourselves to reawaken the imagination that lies dormant in so many of us, that we can finally take a much-needed step outside of our comfort zone.  A comfort zone that has kept us in one place and in some ways has limited our personal and sometimes professional growth.  Sure it can be somewhat scary, but it can also be incredibly rewarding and an amazing ride.

The next time you make a choice, whatever choice that may be…consider if it is coming from a place of “reality” or a place somewhere in your imagination.  I think you will find your creative choices will make life, not only more interesting, but wildly fulfilling.

Use your imagination to create the life of your dreams.  In your imagination anything goes!  And remember thoughts become things so as you ponder the most fulfilling life you ever imagined, you are creating a flow of energy to make those dreams become your future reality.

Anything Is Possible!

by

Photo courtesy of daytobeyou.com
Photo courtesy of daytobeyou.com

I can’t tell you how much I love hearing stories about how people achieved the life of their dreams.  People that beat all odds to do miraculous and unique things that make them happy.  There is something about those stories that reminds me that anything is possible no matter how unreal it may seem.

This morning I was watching show about a family run company that takes old junk and refurbishes it to reuse in a new way.  This family has a store, a design business, and a warehouse where they sell these wonderfully unique items.  Sure there are plenty of people who have craft hobbies, but few ever think of turning it into a passionate business that not only satisfies the creative appetite, but also brings in income as well.  I love it!

Another example comes from a book I am reading titled Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye.  After traveling around the world in search of enlightenment in various ways, Timber is now living the life of his dreams.  His dream was to create a life that allowed him to do the things he loved each day.  How did he do it?  He simplified his life.  Instead of working 40+ hours a week to pay for a lifestyle that didn’t mean as much to him as his other interests (hiking, surfing, volunteering, connecting with others), he is now working 20 hours a week.  He cut down his expenses enough so he only has to work half as much while he enjoys his life so much more.  He created the life of his dreams by focusing on what was most important to him.  And do you know where he lives??? Hawaii, one of the most expensive places to live…like I said, anything is possible.

That leads me to my next story about a man named Adam Baker.  Adam is the founder of ManvsDebt and his story is quite remarkable.  He and his wife decided they were done with the mounting debt they had accumulated and decided that they wanted to live the life of their dreams.  How did they do it?  They sold most of their possessions, paid off their debt, and traveled the world.  They vowed to only keep the bare necessities in terms of clothing, books, or other miscellaneous items and sold the rest.  They also simplified their life in order to make room for the life they wanted to live.  A life that inspires others to get out of debt and do the things they love.  They lead by example and their story is incredible.  Another example that anything is possible.

I am convinced that it doesn’t matter how “crazy” your dream may seem, it is possible.  Maybe you want to sell all your crap and build a little shack in the woods or maybe you want to create a business making inspirational bumper stickers.  Whatever your dream is, I know you can do it.  I know it is possible.  Life is a magical journey and even your wildest dreams can come true.  You just have to have a little faith and a lot of passion.  Passion is what drives us to move in the direction of our dreams.

There are so many people in the world living the life of their dreams, so many that I have decided to highlight one person/business/venture/dreamer each week as an ongoing series.  I hope you find their stories inspirational and uplifting, but most of all I hope you realize if they can do it, you can do it too!

When Inspiration Fades

by

It is an awesome feeling to following your inspiration into action.  The fire is burning and you just can’t help but feel energized and uplifted.  But what happens when inspiration plummets?  How can we invoke that inspirational spark that moves us in the direction of our dreams?

There are a number of things you can do to bring that inspirational spark back into your life as long as you don’t try too hard.  I have found that when I am feeling anxious about something and really feel like I need something to happen almost out of desperation, it makes it that much more difficult to grasp.

Here is what I have found to work for me:

  • Take a break- If you have been thinking about something or have been working on a project for a long period of time and are getting more frustrated by the minute, sometimes taking a step back from it can help you regroup and allow your ideas to breathe.  I find this particularly useful when I am writing or doing choreography.  Sometimes I am just not in the flow and leaving it for a few hours or days can make all the difference in the world.
  • Meditate-You may be wondering how slowing your thoughts can lead to more ideas and creativity, but when you give your mind a little break from thought after thought after thought, you allow the space that is needed for ideas to flow into your consciousness.  Not sure what your next step is in achieving your dreams?  Meditate with the intention to allow thoughts to come and go and if you don’t get the answer you are looking for, that’s ok.  It may come to you after meditation or on another day.  By giving your mind a break you are simply inviting inspiration to come.
  • Read- I love to read and am always reading other blogs, books, and articles for inspiration.  I don’t look for a specific idea, but I find I am drawn to exactly what I need to read at exactly the right moment (similar to the inspiration nuggets).  If you are stuck on a particular writing project, read the work of authors you enjoy.  If you aren’t sure where to move forward in your business venture, research others in your same business and see what they are doing.  This is not meant to replicate what they are doing, but it can often get the creative juices flowing again.
  • Get out in nature- Spend some time outdoors.  Go for a walk, a hike, or a run to get the blood pumping.  Allow the natural rhythm of the great outdoors to soothe your mind and feed your soul.  You may find that as you look at your surroundings ideas come to you easily.  Maybe Mother Nature will provide you with an idea or two as you revel in her beauty.  I love spending time outside and I find it helpful to just get away from the office and my computer for a while to refresh my thoughts.
  • Let it go- I often have a tendency to obsess over a problem until I have found the solution.  More specifically if I want to do something I need to know how I am going to do it.  I am learning that if I just let it go for a while and think about something else, I let go of the resistance that is keeping the solution from me.  Sometimes when you are searching for something you only find it when you stop looking.  (Ever lost your keys only to find them when you stop looking for them 2 hours later??)  This doesn’t mean let go of your idea, your goal, or your dreams, but sometimes we need to allow the Universe to work some magic for us.  So, let it go for a bit.
  • Get happy-Take some time to do something you enjoy.  Read a book, watch a movie, take a nap, or write a list of things you are grateful for.  Often taking some time to do something you utterly enjoy can take the frustration out of a creative block and you might be surprised where your next ideas come from.  I often get ideas or confirmations from things I read, movies, or in a conversation I have with someone.  It is amazing how easily inspiration flows when you are in a relaxed and happy state.  So, what are you waiting for??? Get happy!
  • Be open- You never know where your next inspirational nugget will come from so by simply setting the intention to be open to any and all forms of inspiration, you are inviting those nuggets to flow your way.  Go about your daily routine knowing that your inspiration will return and just be open to what may show up.  You may be surprised to find where your inspiration comes from.

What do you do when you need a boost in inspiration?