Ever had an amazing insight or idea or vision, and it felt so real and tangible and you were jump-up-and-down excited and you knew life would never be the same?

That kind of spark ignites you you because it animates the very source of your aliveness — your deepest longings.

And really, there’s nothing that compares with this aliveness (ok, maybe a few things, like your newborn’s first smile, or a deeply intimate relationship, or great sex or being at the top of a tall mountain…).

That kind of idea or insight or vision usually comes from the seat of your soul. It gives you a glimpse into your purpose, your reason for being here in the first place.

Most of us have at least a few of these “sparks” in life, or even a dozen… whether we pay attention to them or not. I know I’ve had dozens, and some simmer for awhile and then fade.

In my own life, a few have taken hold in a way that I just couldn’t shake- and I know deeply that these are the ones I’m supposed to pay attention to and make happen. I seem to have more clarity about those..

And then I take steps down the road toward achieving that vision or sharing the insight or building the thing that went with the idea. I have forward momentum for awhile and am inspired by the potential for what I am creating, or what I can impact by the idea.

I see the path unfold, or at least a few steps forward. My attitude shifts when I look into this future — there’s something brighter about it.

And then, something goes awry. Something doesn’t work as planned. Someone doesn’t return a phone call. Some part of the vision didn’t turn out like I hoped.

I might become disappointed quickly, or maybe I take a few more steps hoping it will turn around. And when it doesn’t, I, too, become disillusioned…

…and ultimately, it gets hard. Moving my vision forward seems to require more energy and effort than I imagined, and if I don’t remain inspired and persevere despite the setbacks, I settle back into my own version of status quo.

And I feel worse for having the idea or vision than before… in fact, I feel like a failure.

And that’s because this thing — the idea or vision or project is MORE ME than anything has ever been. It’s like the song in me that has never been sung by the child in me that wants to be seen- JUST AS I AM. And if I don’t make it happen or express myself in this way, then it’s like some small part of me dies.

And I know you know what I’m talking about.

And so living without breathing this spark to life, and into our lives, to contribute to the world in the way that is unmistakably ours, feels uncomfortable or even unbearable. Painful. And…

Our pain is the tension between knowing we can and thinking we can’t.

How goes the saying?

If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well. If it is worth having, it is worth waiting for. If it is worth attaining, it is worth fighting for. If it is worth experiencing, it is worth putting aside time for. Oscar Wilde

There’s a lot of famous people who have much to say about what it takes…

…but when it gets down to it, it’s one focused foot in front of the other, out-running our demons who want to keep us safe and secure and stable (and bored out of your mind) in our default life.

Isn’t it time to try something different?

And you know what? Me too. I’m still bringing in my greatest expressions in the world, and have a ways to go (or as my eldest daughter would say, “pulling on my big girl pants”). There’s truly never an end to the “next thing” that’s a greater expression of you.

Even if you don’t know exactly how to express your spark in the world, you know that project or idea or vision you have is coming from deep inside. It wants to be birthed.

It’s such an innate part of you that to NOT express it is like cutting off an appendage.

It’s soul-crushing, just like that job or relationship or part of your life is now that doesn’t really represent the authentic you.

There are just 3 steps to breathing your spark back to life. Not saying they’re easy steps, but the path is really clear about how to do this. [You gotta trust me on this- been doing this for 35 years].

• Get really clear about who you are and how the idea that the spark represents is related to your deep inner purpose- so that it’s part of you, not just a project.
• Move past the resistance to being more than you imagine you are.
• Take baby steps, or pivots, to making the project real without scaring the bejeesus out of your ego.

And here’s an image to show you how it works:

And if you need help with any of those 3 steps, put one foot out, or just your hand if it’s too scary, and spend one short session with me to uncover what’s keeping you stuck.

Let’s talk about how to turn your vision into reality.

Visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your life making someone else’s dreams? ~Tim Burton

PS. If the seed of your purpose hasn’t even emerged as a vision or insight- no worries! We just start at the beginning and get clarity about who you are and why you’re here! And you’ll end up with more clarity than most people on the planet about what direction to head…. and what could matter more to you than that, really?