Following Your Inner GPS

War. The economy. Politics. What are the issues that get under your skin? These, and many other issues, can distract us from living the way we'd really prefer to live. Fear, doubt, confusion, worry are all nagging concerns that seduce us from how most of us really want to show up in the world. When you're stressed, upset, confused, it's just plain harder to make good choices. Being aware of who you want to be - how you want to show up in your life - is like having your own internal navigation system. Having this awareness, and using it, obviously can keep you on track. And being able to stay on track helps us get where we want to be! Remember the WWJD - What Would Jesus Do - wristbands that were so popular a while back? In many ways, these were great reminders to help people remember to "take the higher road" or to behave in a more kind or loving way. How often do you take the time to re-evaluate how you're living your life? Our world is moving so fast, many of us are "on automatic" and we forget that we have choices. How often, when feeling pressured, do you take the time to ask, "How would my best self handle this?" Knowing your values and being able to consult them as you're moving through your day is like having an internal guidance system. When you're on course, things go better. When you're not on track, well, life just doesn't feel that great. Taking that higher road - the one that feels better. Recently, I had a tiff with my husband. I was irritated with him, feeling bitter and resentful, and avoiding him. I felt entirely justified in not being loving towards him. After grousing for about half an hour, I asked myself, "Is this how I really want to be?" "What would feel better?" Truth was, I wanted to be more loving and caring with him - and more open and truthful about what was bugging me. Now, it took me a bit of back and forth between my righteous indignation and higher road, but the higher road eventually won out, a very fruitful conversation ensued, and choosing to live more in line with being a loving, caring, gracious me was a big win. Who do you want to be? How do you want to be? Are you familiar with, and following, your inner guidance system? If some of the concerns of this world have taken you off course, it may be time to readjust your inner GPS. Here are some ideas to get you back on track: • What are the qualities you most admire in others? What are the qualities you most want to exhibit in your life? How do you want to show up in your life? • What would your life be like if you lived these qualities? Let yourself imagine how you would feel, how you would behave, how you would treat yourself and others if you "owned" these qualities. • In what ways can you exhibit more of these qualities? Practice helps you make the qualities yours. As you allow yourself to imagine yourself, and FEEL the enhanced qualities, you'll be able to practice being the "more aligned you" more often. Enjoy the process and celebrate the wins! As humans, I don't think we're made to do this perfectly. We'll go off course, but once we have that sense of who we want to be, getting back on course is so much easier and more joyous, as well. So, even if you are a technophobe, learning to use your Inner GPS to guide you and keep you on course will be well worth the effort! Let me know what you’re thinking! I love to hear from you, and I read every email personally, even when I can't reply to all of them. Send your thoughts to shawn@joyouslifeworks.com or visit my blog: www.vibrantlyalivewomen.com. Please feel free to pass it on or to reprint this article on your website or in your own ezine. All I ask is that you forward the article in its entirety and/or that you include the following paragraph and copyright line with live link if you reprint the article. This article originally appeared in the Joyous Life ezine and is reprinted with permission from the author. www.JoyousLifeWorks.com Copyright © 2009, Shawn Murphey. All rights reserved.