Excerpt from Emotional Abundance: Become Empowered

Chapter 8: Owning Our Power

Page 196 (Line 16) through Page 197 (Line 21)

   What I have realized is that when people feel what I am

doing is crazy, it usually means I am making a good decision

for myself. Making decisions that are not ordinary or that

involve risk is par for the course of living a unique and

amazing life. Otherwise our fears can paralyze us if we allow

them to shape our lives. This occurs because our ego is trying

to convince us to lead our lives based on our heads instead of

our hearts.

   My ego tries to convince me to listen to “my voice

of reason.” This voice is the one that tells me to think things

through, be logical, and have a plan. My heart, on the other

hand, tells me to listen to my gut. This voice I like a lot,

because it is the one that leads me on adventures, fills my life

with passion, and keeps me energized and guessing about life.

   If I listen to the voice of reason, it only sheds light on all

my fears. It tells me, for instance, that to create and have the

career I desire is impossible, because I would never have the

time to dedicate to it, that there would be too much work, and

that I would end up feeling stressed. My gut, however, tells

me to take a chance. It is my gut that tells me that going for

my career will fuel me, rather than deplete my energy and

passion for life. My gut also tells me that although going for

my dream career will be challenging at times, it will teach me                                                    

the lessons I need to learn in order to grow further as a person.

   Our ego’s job is to keep us safe and out of any potential

circumstances in which our true gift–our Spirit–could be hurt.

In doing so, however, we lose the opportunity to share our

gift with the world, which is our purpose. Our heart’s job is

to remind us to listen to our inner voice, which is always

there guiding us. Therefore, as much as my ego wants me to

buy into that what I fear is not having my dreams fulfilled, I

recognize the truth: My ego’s fear is that I will have my

dreams fulfilled.

   If my dreams were fulfilled, there would be no need for

my ego. My ego is fighting for its life when it limits me by

trying to fuel my fears. The more I challenge these fears and

listen to my inner voice, the more proof I have that my inner

guidance is always what is best for me. In fact, I have learned

that by following my gut, life actually feels easier, more

purposeful, and richer. This is why when it comes to many

decisions, I turn off that voice of reason because there are

many more rewards in following my gut instead.