Opportunities

Life.  Life is one big opportunity.  It is so cliché, we all know it.  We strive to make our place in this world, to care about the impact we have made.  To live a life of definition and achievement and most of all to accumulate and foster the ones we love.  We long to be at peace, to be happy, to be successful and to be loved.  We know the importance of the bigger picture of our lives – at least we hope we do.  But that bigger picture, that large stamp we feel called to place upon this earth can sometimes keep us small.  Stuck in inertia or grappling for direction while inwardly admonishing ourselves.  This great task, or purpose you are here to fulfill and a mission to accomplish yet here I am overwhelmed by it.  Wilting from what feels like the enormity of it.  The brushing aside of self-belief and the threshold of fear placed in the too hard basket.  What right have I to dream so big.  What arrogance do I possess to feel the power and importance of what I am here to do.  What breath can I take when the burden to overcome feels so great.

The key is in the minutia.  The understanding that the big picture purpose, the glance at the bubble of a life lived fully is an accumulation of a million choices.  Each decision, each path, each day, each response is a moment of suspended opportunity.  The potential for any possibility be it great or small.  How do you embrace every opportunity that life provides?  The huge dream of your life is only achieved by a composition of layered opportunities, responses and choices.  When you see it in that way and break it down to each moment of opportunity it does not feel so daunting.  Of course, hold the bigger purpose as your north star but understand that it will also magnetically hold onto you as your guide.  When you truly understand the impact of each decision and each moment you realize you are the engine of your ship with the power to set your course and navigate.  At the same time, you truly understand that each response or decision is but a blip in the ocean that is you.  So, take heart in the knowledge that you can always course correct, you can change directions and use the experiences as the blocks of wisdoms to impart.  So be less the critic and the judge.  Know that the choices we make are a series of lessons to gain the knowledge, the strength and the awareness to move forward in every direction along our path.  Don’t let fear be your anchor but rather a choice to grow.  The number of opportunities for choice you are given provides you the wiggle room to make mistakes.  Rather to live fully alive and explore the depths of you, while moving forward tethered to you north star and embracing every moment, every thought, every work, every action as the ripe and abundant potential that it is.  Live like that and the big picture dream of fulfilling your purpose will happen regardless and come fully into focus with ease, grace and joy.

In Gratitude and Love.

Nicole Sullivan