Is the life you have worked so hard to create actually what you thought it was going to be? You've achieved success, but are you happy? Fulfilled? Do material things shape your life or does you inner guru -- the invisible force inside yourself -- shape what matters to you?
William James, long considered the father of modern psychology, wrote: "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes...Each of us literally chooses, by his way of attending to things, what sort of universe he shall appear to himself to inhabit."
Your life -- your universe -- emanates from an image, held with faith and focus on all the invisible elements of your world -- including everything you have ever done, ever been, ever thought about in your world. And then that image attracts whatever it is you want, desire or need. In essence, you are your own guru, your own teacher and master of the invisible forces that shape your life.
However, if your mantra is "He who has the gold, wins," you might be living in a fog of unconscious limiting beliefs that filter your reality only through the tangible. Your material possessions don't represent who you really are, they don't fulfill your potential, create permanent happiness or help you find true and honest relationships.
When you become fully conscious of the power of your guru and discover the forces that shape your life, your choices and decisions will lead you to a fulfilling and peaceful life.
Here are five invisible forces that can help you shape your life:
1. Resourcefulness: The Defining Force
Sometimes life throws you curve balls and you meet the unexpected. How do you get back on track and deal with things as they are and not as you want them to be? The defining force in life is the ability to be resourceful with conscious focus and intention. Focusing is a matter of listening to your inner voice. You'll exceed your aspirations and remove stumbling block to living an enriched life. One of my yoga students called me the other day to ask how I'm doing after my cross country move. "I'm great," I said. "If you landed in the middle of the African continent, you'd be fine," he remarked. Do you have the inner resources to create an alternative path when the one you are presently on isn't fulfilling or doesn't make you happy?
2. Focus: The Ultimate Power
How many times in your life have people tried to judge you and mess with your head and heart? How quickly did it take you to realize that someone else was entering your personal space? And what did you do about it? Keeping an open mind without other's influencing you is the first step to unleashing the unlimited power within you. This is called focus. You've been given the power to develop ideas and exercise free will and that energy can only be fully realized with a keen sense of who you are and the fulfillment your desire. Take self-judgment and the judgment of others out of the equation of the decision making process and you'll experience the ultimate power of personal development and change.
3. Emotional Fitness: The Key to Balance
How many of you wake up every morning thinking about the past - the mistakes made, the regrets, carry forward anger, self-abuse and a litany of other feelings long gone. Even if those negative feelings only happened yesterday, your emotional fitness is immediately compromised the minute you wakeup to a new day. Emotional fitness means clearing the mind of negative thoughts so that you can cut through the clutter and achieve balance. On my off days, I have too much negative backlash in body, mind and spirit. It takes me about four hours to realize that my emotions are off balance. Time to dial down the stress, revive my energy and get back to my guru self and master what matters to me most in life with gratitude.
4. Connection: The Secret to Love
The other gurus, the big dudes who understand the mysteries of life, know that connection to others means love and love means a generosity of spirit that is a constant reminder that we live abundant lives. Connection removes the scarcity mentality. Connection is the prerequisite to happiness. The values of connection fill the pages of health articles everywhere: a stronger immune system, longevity, an enriched life, and plenty of self-esteem. If you listen closely, your inner guru will encourage you to love and connect everything on the planet with a sense of continuity that will enhance the quality of your life.
5. Certainty vs. Uncertainty: The Flip Side of the Coin
Life is full of surprises. My mother used to say, "It's more fun to be surprised by life." No one is lumbering under the illusion that there is certainty in life; yet, uncertainty abounds. If too much uncertainty shapes your world and produces an image of chaos and negativity, your life is severely compromised by fear and anxiety. The pressures imposed by society around its expectations regarding anything you can't touch, feel or see wipes out your inner all knowing voice and takes away your ability to feel comfortable inside yourself. Take time every day to listen without distraction to your guru in meditation and create room for your inner voice to speak to you.
There are indeed more than five invisible forces that shape your life, however, if you have an appreciation of and value the invisible forces within yourself, you will be reminded of who you are and what you can accomplish.
Your guru does not judge; your guru does not fear; your guru abides.
Joan Moran is a keynote speaker, commanding the stage with her delightful humor, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences. She is an expert on wellness and is passionate about addressing the problems of mental inertia. A yoga instructor, Moran is the author is "Sixty, Sex, & Tango, Confessions of a Beatnik Boomer." Visit her at www.joanfrancesmoran.com.