“Awesome” is usually associated with all things kickass and 100% bodacious. Even the thesaurus can’t help itself, throwing down the fabulous with:
- awe-inspiring
- beautiful
- breathtaking
- magnificent
- mind-blowing
- wondrous
But sometimes something so amazing and ‘mind-blowing’ can be daunting…even terrifying. (Climbing Mt. Everest is pretty spectacular but that doesn’t mean it isn’t also formidable and massively intimidating.)
Sometimes it isn’t even the awesome itself that we find overwhelming, being haunted by the fear that we cannot possibly sustain something so incredible.
Sometimes we wonder if we will even create something special or extraordinary. What will our life mean if we leave no legacy? We fear having squandered our potential, of wasting every opportunity.
Sometimes we allow ourselves to be so defined by our accomplishments that we aren’t able to see past them and eventually find ourselves living in that past. The moment passes even as we try to capture it.
But the question is: why?
Why are our accomplishments, achievements, and talents the source of our awesome? At the end of the day, at the end of our days, will it matter that we set a world record? Became a published author or multi-millionaire? Won the Nobel Peace Prize?
Our successes are most extraordinary when they are successes of our spirit, of our PURPOSE. When, being aligned with our deepest gifts, we are able to impact the world with the full force of our being.
That is the truth of your awesome.
Hayden Tompkins is all about rocking the universe and embracing the awesome! (Especially if said awesome is edible and traditionally served after dinner.) She writes a personal development blog at Through The Illusion.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy New Year, Hayden! And here’s to successes of the spirit, as you so eloquently remind above! Cheers!
.-= Betsy Wuebker´s last blog ..My Three Words for 2010 =-.
Hi Hayden,
True that. True that!
Your rockin’ the web – and I love your words of awesomeness. You’re a full force of awesomeness all the way, chickadee! Cheers for 2010!
~xo
.-= Lori´s last blog ..CYD 2010 =-.
Hayden,
Should we happen to write a best seller, or win a Nobel peace prize, or become famous in some way – that’s all great – but it really does come back to: has this touched upon something deeper within us? If we can answer “yes” to that question, then that is very much a wonderful place for us to be. It’s also a great place for us to be, helping a child through some issue (because we love kids), or cleaning up our local park (because we care deeply about the environment), or listening to a friend (because we care about them). It’s those things that come from our heart that really do shout “awesome”. And when we are touching upon these, wow!! What a great place to be!!
Great to see you here, Hayden, and what a great piece of writing!
.-= Lance´s last blog ..And The Word Is (2010)… =-.
@ Betsy – Thank you, Betsy!! I love how you’ve put that, “successes of the spirit”. It’s absolutely perfect.
@ Lori – It takes one to know one! Thank you, Lori, for being so full of enthusiasm. You are truly an extreme encourager.
@ Lance – Wow, yes! Engaging our actions from our heart, what a phenomenal way to rock the world. Love love love it!
.-= Hayden Tompkins´s last blog ..Here There Be Awesome! =-.
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know awesome, and you know how to rock it!!!! I have learned a great deal from you on the topic, and this is consistent with my thoughts for today: what I do is always led by what is most deeply important to me, my values and beliefs. THAT is my awesomeness; being authentic and offering that to the world!!!!
I am grateful for your presence in my life………..
.-= vanessaleigh´s last blog ..Happiness is an inside job =-.
I am going to be using the phrase “throwing down the fabulous” from now until forever. Thanks for that, Hayden!
@ Vanessa – You ARE awesome, Vanessa! I’m so glad you are totally aware of this. Thank you! {hug}
@ Breanna – Just imagine 3 snaps and a neck whirl. :)
.-= Hayden Tompkins´s last blog ..2009 Word of the Year: Discipline =-.
You said, “Our successes are most extraordinary when they are successes of our spirit, of our PURPOSE. When, being aligned with our deepest gifts, we are able to impact the world with the full force of our being.”
That really struck a chord because I know I feel most awesome when I have overcome something that frightened me. Thanks for the reminder that I need to continually work on being on purpose with my life.
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Is Your Business More Vanilla or Jalapeno Chocolate Crunch? =-.
Gaah I love it Hayden! I used to have the other point of view, where it was all about achievements.. and proving things. But I’m realigning with what it means to be on purpose, and living to make this world awesome for each other. Not just because you want to prove something or look cool. ;)
.-= Nathalie Lussier´s last blog ..What Are Chia Seeds? =-.
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