What could be riskier than diving out of an airplane or climbing a glacier-covered peak or accelerating a race car into a curve at the Indy 500?
For one person it might be quitting a secure, well-paying job to go back to school. For another, it could be deciding to leave a marriage after 18 years or reporting that the company they work for is endangering the environment or people’s lives.

For me it was quitting a well-paying job to work for myself at something I loved and had a passion for. It certainly wasn’t easy – but, there came a point when I knew I had to take that leap of faith to else continue down the path of drudgery I was feeling.

Though it may not appear so at first glance, psychological risks that summon us to put our personal values and beliefs on the line may ultimately feel more dangerous than those of physical derring-do. Yet these are the challenges that we are asked to face time and again if we are to continue to grow as individuals. Each time we take a risk that contributes to our personal growth or enhances our self-esteem or enriches our lives, we make the choice to stretch ourselves, knowing there are no guarantees and chancing possible failure.

I knew that even if I failed, I would have felt better for trying – I would have continually regretted not at least going after my dream. That alone made it all worth it!
Growth-producing risks generally fall into three categories:
Self-Improvement Risks These are the risks you take when you want to get ahead, learn something new or make a distant dream a reality. You take on the venture with hopes of enriching your life. Maybe you want to change careers, or take singing lessons, or learn to speak French. On one side of the risk is the person you are and, on the other, the person you want to become.
Commitment Risks All commitment risks have emotional stakes whether you pledge yourself to a person or a relationship or to a cause, a career, or a value. According to Joseph Ilardo, author of Risk-Taking for Personal Growth, if you avoid making emotional commitments, you all but guarantee that your emotional growth will be stunted.
Self-Disclosure Risks Communication risks fall into the category of self-disclosure. Anytime you tell someone how you really feel you’re taking the chance of self-disclosure. When you open up to others and reveal who you really are, how you feel and what you want and need, you make yourself vulnerable. It is impossible to be assertive without doing so.
All risks carry with them the possibility of failure. Often significant sacrifices must be made before any real benefits are realized. Routines may have to change; the familiar may have to be released. You may be rejected or humiliated. In the case of commitment to a value, personal safety may be in danger. Consider those who stand up for what they believe in or put their own health and well-being on the line in the name of a cause. Challenging yourself is often the key to personal growth and development.
Are you a risk-taker? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does every decision involve endless debates with yourself?
• Do you accept less than what you should because you’re afraid to speak up?
• Do you have difficulty making emotional commitments to others?
• Do you make up excuses that stop you from taking advantage of opportunities for self-improvement?
• Does fear of disapproval keep you from doing what you’d really like to do?

A “yes” answer to these questions indicates a reluctance to take risks, which may mean you tend to play it safe and reject change.
Consider this: to fulfill your potential, to discover your real self and live an authentic life, you must take risks. And while security may appear to be the absence of change, the only genuine security lies in taking risks.

I couldn’t resist posting this link about Ricochet – a dog who was allowed to “follow her bliss” and is now helping to earn money for the disabled.

What an inspiring reminder to us all to go within and determine what it is we are truly called to do! Contact me if interested in Life Purpose Coaching or workshops – there’s one coming up in October!

Rev. Tricia

Is it really important to know your life purpose? After all, plenty of people go through life never knowing theirs and yet they seem to be content. After all, once you’ve gotten the good job, spouse and 2.5 children, what else is there? Plenty!!

1. Inner Peace – when you know your purpose, a sense of calm surrounds you. You don’t have to worry about what you should focus on

2. Clear Direction – When you know your purpose decision-making becomes easy – if something comes your way that is not in alignment with your purpose, you can easily turn it down; if it does align, say YES!!

3. Financial Success – by having a clear purpose that you are passionate about (because if it’s your Divine Purpose, you WILL be passionate about it), you can easily make money doing it. Why? Because you have the passion that can carry you through the rough times. Someone who is doing something they aren’t passionate about, will give up much more easily.

4. Marketing sense – when you need to market yourself to the world, it becomes very clear to you who you are marketing to and what exactly you are providing. You no longer have to be everything to everyone. There are some people who just aren’t meant to be your customers and that’s OK!!!

5. Happiness – When you are doing what you were put here to do, you are HAPPY!!! Yes, times might get hard and people can treat you unkindly, but you will be happy because you are doing what you were designed to do – it just flows!

6. Eliminate living from Fear – When you live a purpose-driven life, you are no longer living your life from a position of fear – for example, doing things because you “should” or because of what others will think of you or because of some dire consequence you believe will happen if you don’t. You will be living in a proactive manner guided by the direction of your purpose; not reactively out of fear. This is an incredibly powerful way to live.

Once you know your purpose and why you are here, you can set about making changes in your life to adjust to this new knowledge. Slowly you will eliminate things that don’t align with your purpose and draw things to you that do. You will clearly be able to determine if opportunities are right for you or not and you will have a sense of joy and fulfillment that can only come from living purposefully. And, you will easily be able to make money because you will be able to clearly define what you do and whom you do it for – an essential for good marketing. You will be able to do all these things and be happy! What more could anyone ask for – so what are you waiting for? Find that purpose and start living it – the world needs you and whatever it is you were uniquely designed to do!

This past weekend I had the good fortune to be able to spend some time with some very dear friends. We drove to New Braunfels, TX and rented inner tubes and followed in the age-old tradition of “tubing” down the river.

As we made our way down the river, I was reminded so many times of how the river mimics life. I’ve summarized some of my thoughts here:

1. Take the Plunge!

Obviously the first thing you need to do is to get in the water. How true this is in life. For anything to happen we need to take action. Some of us do it timidly and some of us just go for it. Many of us at the river chose to jump in and “Just DO it!” – the temperature differential between the scorching sun and the frigid waters is outright painful, but once we were in , it quickly felt cool and refreshing. Others chose to slowly wade in a step at a time – getting accustomed to the temperature with each step.  Which one are you? Do you jump in a take risks? Or are you more careful? Perhaps a mix of both?

2. There WILL be white water.

Sometimes the way will get bumpy and rocky. This can be frightening, but it can also be exhilarating! If you hold on tight and are prepared (lift up your backside to avoid the rocks), you will fly through this time. In the words of Winston Churchill, “If you are going through hell, keep going.” If you aren’t paying attention, you could find yourself upside down in the water and your tube floating away!

3. Sometimes Action is Required.

There are times when you can lie back and drift and the river will carry you forward. However, there are other times when you need to paddle to get some forward motion or even get up out of the tube, sling it over your shoulder and walk over the shallow areas. In the ebb and flow of life, there are times to sow, take action; and there are times to wait patiently as the fruits of our labor our revealed. Be easy and “go with the flow”! When you wish you were in a different part of this cycle, just know that “This too shall pass!”

4. You will meet all kinds of people along the way.

There will be people that are friendly, people that don’t want you around, and people who get in your way. How you react to them shows how you handle life. Are you aggressive? Assertive? Easy-going? Complacent? Do you need to make changes in how you deal with others?

5. There is a predetermined flow, but you have free will to take another path.

While the river has a general flow to it, you still have the chose to go in a different direction. You could paddle upstream, head towards the right bank rather than the left, get out an rest for a while, or get out and start walking to your destination. Always remember that you have the choice to be the creator of your own life.

So, just remember as you go through your days that you are the creator of your destiny and you have the power to make things happen – and when things don’t go the way you had intended, this too shall pass!

Patricia Selmo is an ordained Interfaith Minister through One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. She is also a certified coach trained in Emotional Intelligence with an MA in Behavioral Science and a licensed True Purpose Coach.  She has over 20 years of experience facilitating, coaching and managing professionals in the corporate environment. She now focuses on professionals who are feeling burned-out and are looking for more meaning and passion in their work and personal lives. She also loves to help you celebrate the milestones in your life through her ministerial services and can help you create beautiful memories in uniquely customized weddings, baby blessings, house blessings, memorial services, commitment ceremonies, etc. Visit her at: www.TheBlissfulSoul.com

Today would mark the 102nd  birthday of Peace Pilgrim, the woman who walked across the US, She walked over 25,000 miles from 1953 until her death in 1981. Her goal was to walk until people learned peace. In her words, she vowed to “remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food.”

One of the things I really love about her is that she has a very similar philosophy to mine – that is, that peace begins at home. Not only at home, but with yourself – inner peace is the source of world peace. Can you imagine if everyone on the planet attained inner peace?

Her life and work showed that one person with inner peace can make a significant contribution to world peace.
What an amazing testament to Trust and the power of a passion and following your purpose!

“This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.” – Peace Pilgrim

This is a favorite prayer of mine and what I believe to be my mission in life. And who can resist Sinead?

Enjoy and Peace Be Upon You Forever and Always!

Salam, Shalom, Shanti, Peace!

Rev. Trish