“Spend time every day listening to what your muse is trying to tell you.” ~Saint Bartholomew, 1st century AD
I had the opportunity to speak with Leo Babauta yesterday for the first time (for the freedom business summit).
By the end of our call, my heart had melted, and a whole swell of tears came through as I hung up the phone. I’m not a sentimental guy generally speaking — I can be pretty tough-shelled — but it was hard for me to say goodbye…!
This is it — this is what it’s about, I thought, so much love and Truth…
It was overwhelmingly real…for a change.
When your entire outlook changes in an instant, it’s a pretty good indicator of something big. It’s been happening to me quite a bit, lately, so I’m going to share a couple reasons why you might consider seeking out deeper conversations with people you respect and admire.
That call with Leo wasn’t the first time I’ve been so deeply moved with some of the remarkable people involved in this event (there’s been a few incidents). I guess that comes with the territory of speaking about what I truly love, with some of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met…
Like Gwen Bell.
Speaking with Gwen was like having the holes in my head fused shut with a welding gun of hot compassion. It was like she saw right through me and branded my heart with the mark of compassionate self-reflection. It was the kind of reflection that makes you say to yourself “S*** – why am I doing this again…? Oh, that’s right, well I guess I don’t have to keep wasting my time with all this other extraneous crap, just cause Chris Brogan says that’s the way it should be done…” — (full respect to Chris, but yeah, that feels pretty good…).
Since we spoke I refused to write any new blog posts until today — until 4 am this morning to be exact — until I was totally 100% clear on my motivation, and able to let the muse carry me to this place instead of some other forced motive.
In my mind, “Catching the muse” is just another way of saying “letting spirit work through you.”
There’s something about catching that wave of a project, or a mission, that’s bigger than you, and letting it ride through you — there’s nothing more powerful in my experience, because the force of your spirit is working through that wave. I’m not going to differentiate between “Spirit” (as in “Great Spirit”) and “your spirit,” because let’s face it, they’re one and the same.
Catching the Banshee
I’ve found there’s this place where the muse comes to the surface of awareness, and I have to catch her at that moment and ride the wave. It’s sort of this rippling tension where my life purpose and passion converge with what I’m working towards.
It happens when I’m most connected to the great beauty of existence, and rooted in my awareness to really take it all in.
Have you experienced something like this? I’d say capturing that muse, that wave of gripping inspiration, is the defining factor in the success of all truly great creators.
Riding that wave reminds me of catching the flying banshee in Avatar, the movie. There’s this moment when you know it’s yours, you’ve spotted it, and for that brief moment everything hangs in the balance…then you seize the moment — jump the dragon, plug into the energy, and let it take you…!
At the moment the banshee takes off, there’s this monumental force of nature — a flow of universal energy — that’s coursing through this union. It’s glorious, and it’s something quite bigger than the small you that’s fighting to achieve your goals, get somewhere or “be somebody.”
Learning to steer the ship while the universal energy force carries you.
Picture maneuvering a small sailboat in a strong tail wind as you cruise across the water. You’re managing the sails, but you’re not in charge of the wind — you can’t make it blow harder, and you don’t need to! There’s always this underlying danger of catching a drift and running ashore, but it’s easy enough to just catch your stride, ease up a little, and let the wind carry you as it may. Therein’s the joy….
Maybe you have a destination in mind, but the great joy is in this windswept journey along the way. I think Corbett would understand this one.
When it comes to living a life in alignment with your passion and calling, most people will say what they want, and then do the opposite.
Everyone wants to succeed, but not everyone’s willing to put their ass on the line for it.
The space between hearing the muse, and taking action with that calling, is huge — it’s a big chasm really — when it comes to taking action in alignment with your life’s calling, man that can be some scary s***!
Deep inside there’s this fear that if I fail at what I really want, then there’s nothing left, so maybe I just shouldn’t go for it…. It’s a lot safer to know you have a dream you could go after any time, than to imagine knowing you had a dream — you leaped — and you fell flat on your face…again.
Could you see how that might be holding you back, without you even knowing? I battle with this fear every day, and then push on. This is my struggle…
The thing is, everyone has their own struggle.
Even the most successful people in the world. We all have our own battles, and we have the choice to determine how we look at them.
This is our great privilege as thinking humans, we have the opportunity to witness our situation and choose how we see it…. What a divine privilege.
The drive for success fuels so much great progress in the world, but it can also fuel our unhappiness, or discontent. It has the potential to really throw off the balance, and make us forget the things that really matter. Things like good health, family, and the simple fact that we are alive. Isn’t that the greatest miracle….?
The real meaning of success
Two things that stuck with me from my call with Leo: First, the overwhelming gentleness and joyfulness emanating from this man; and second, the sense of humble openness to the world, optimism and wakefulness to his life.
My biggest takeaway, though, was his approach to success. For someone steering the ship of one of the world’s top most successful blogs, his simple down-to-earth humility is striking. For him, the great success is being present and awake to life — really savoring the journey — there’s just this sense of richness and enjoyment in everything he does. As he said in our call…
If you enjoy doing what you’re doing, then you’re already a success, you know…? You’re already a success, because how many people get to do that? — you’re already having a great time. It’s not something that might happen in the future…you’re doing it right now. And for me, when i do that…? It also results in a nice side benefit of getting a lot of readers, and making money…. That’s a nice side benefit, but the main benefit is just enjoying it, and doing what I love.
In the end, the greatest success is in being able to say — “hey, I love this life, I enjoy what I’m doing, this isn’t half bad.” That’s your choice to make, regardless of your situation. It’s so clear, and yet why is that so hard to just be present with sometimes…?
If I can really look at my life, and think “hey, this is fundamentally good, this feels right, I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing at this very moment.” Wow, that feels so good. I can feel it still today, and I had it yesterday for most of the day. (I may be a little tired at the moment, but it’s there for me to drop into, whenever I want it).
That’s life changing. Thank you, Leo… and thanks for life.
Now, you’ve read this far, so I have a request — you can take it or leave it…
Ask yourself this: Is there some place in your life where you’re ignoring the calling of your spirit, and replacing it instead with tasks that are supposedly formulated to get you to the goal or destination you have in mind…?
Maybe you can ease up a little, and let the flow carry you through with open wonderment, regardless of your particular struggle, whatever that may be. I’d say life is pretty miraculous as is, don’t you reckon…?
Hey, if you agree with me, shout it out in the comments, or share this post with your friends. I had a lot of fun with writing this — I hope you’ve enjoyed it too! :)
Much love,
Satya
Satya, another deep and insightful post from you – thank you.
I am one of those people you have described above – just holding back from discovering their “muse”
I am definitely ignoring the calling of my spirit, and currently filling up my life with tasks that are aimed to get me to me earthly goals. And in the meantime I am ignoring the clarion call for something much bigger.
I will take your advise, ease up a little and let the flow carry me through:-)
Watch this space…
And yes, life is indeed micraculous.
PS I can’t wait to listen to that interview with Leo Babauta.
Wonderful — Arvind. Thank you for sharing your truth. I have found that these moments of seeing the truth of what’s really going on, and facing that, is such a great key to clarity. The other thing to remember is not to fixate on all the “things” to accomplish, thinking that these will be the key, or the magic pill. I’ve found that it is the continued intent and sustained alignment with the flow that enables the true miracles.
Satya:
I found your blog through Adam at ManvsDebt twitter post today. All I can say is thank you. Your words resonate. This past year has been filled with great learning and transformation. I have become clear on my purpose and what I am being called to do. I am a creative type that is working on capturing the all the strands and creating a movement. I keep stepping into whatever shows up next. I love the journey and yet I am often caught in all the particles and fear. AND, yes it is damn scary at times. It is also an amazing journey and I could not imagine living any other way. Encouragement and community are showing up in the most unlikely places these days.
Thanks for being a part of that today.
Take care,
Nan Watts
Hi Nan — thanks so much for showing up, and sharing your truth — we creative types have to work extra hard to stay rooted and focused in the flow of who we are and what we are really aiming to produce — the bigger picture… community is so wonderful to find, and grow in. I hope to see you around here again… !
p.s. love your photos and notecards…
Satya, you are one talented soul able to weave deep insight into motivation and observations of life. You get under the skin of life and draw out our spirit and inner fires. All with rapport and universal encouragement. Love this and the vibe has stayed with me all day. Blessings on you – Godspeed.
Hi John — these are the kind of words of encouragement that really make me feel like I’m on the right path, and not crazy for spending hours writing as opposed to __xx__ activity… thanks so much for the support — and I love what you’re doing. The breath is the key. Cheers
Satya,
I love what you are saying here and it really speaks to me too. Recently I have found myself caught up in what I felt I “should” be doing and knowing full well that my inner voice was saying something different. I am learning to listen better these days. No doubt, when I do let the wind carry me, I end up just where I’m meant to be. (I do battle with distractions all the time, though.)
Leo certainly has it right… success is what you name it and doesn’t have to be something out in the future. He’s a good tonic and an inspiration.
Laurie
Satya,
The image of catching and riding the banshee took my breath away. I have those moments often in my coaching work; moments when spirit takes over and I can hardly remember what I just said. And oh, how I love those moments!
The past six months as I’ve developed my blog, it now feels like I’ve been trying too hard. I’ve been so busy reading the “How to” posts, learning how to be a good blogger that I’ve lost sight of what my spirit is calling for. So glad I’ll be going to a silent retreat next week! Time to reconnect with my banshee.
xoS
Satya,
I dig it, man. :)
Your energy, for one, and the Avatar reference for another. Haha!
But I think you’re on to something here — something i just realized myself about two days back. At the moment I’m mostly blogging and doing some tech work on the side, but I’d already started to grow restless. I wanted *more.* I wanted success, and I wanted it now, and even though my situation was far better than most (I’m doing something I really enjoy, after all), I kept trying to find places where I could do better.
So I got into the game. I did everything new bloggers are supposed to do to spread the word, and now, about two months later, I’m bowing gracefully out. I just don’t want to do it. Constantly tweeting and trying to make new connections is *exhausting,* for one, but distracting for another. It takes me away from what I really enjoy: spreading words and trying to inspire people as best I can.
Funny thing, too, is that I’ve had more success in these last few days of stepping back from the computer than I did in all those weeks of trying to get ahead. :) I think there’s a sign there.
If nothing else, just focus on what you really love. Everything else will come naturally.
Keep spreading the love, man. We need more of this kind of enthusiasm.
Hi Satya -
As you know, I’ve been struggling with my own form of this very recently. And the decision has been made: follow my heart, my gut, my intuition, my inspiration…and it will be the “right” thing in and of itself. I am in the process of really weeding out the “should’s” in my life, and replacing them with the “drawn to’s” or “inspired to’s.” That’s the life I want to show my kids how to create, and the life I want to lead. For me it’s writing, and in that creating a life that doesn’t have me chained to the typical 9-5, but where I get to constantly and consistently be in charge of my own shimmering path. And it is absolutely a conscious choice…the choice to be true to myself. ox
Thank you for this post. I am pleased to have found your site and this post really touched me. It clarifies in me that I should be trying to follow a new path which I must find. Somehow, reading your words makes me feel tranquil but yet alive. Your writing is amazing, you have quite a gift.
Ahhhh, that feels good. Breathe – permission to be – to have success by just being me.
Thank you Satya! Wonderful post, think I’ll read this a few times.