Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz our inspiration and our answers are within us, always.  Yet, our inspiration is often obscured by our doubts and fears, the “lions and tigers and bears”.  When we begin the journey down the yellow brick road that leads to our dreams, we must face our deepest fears to “find our way back home” to our place of inspiration. 

I had the idea that once I chose to listen to my inspiration everything would just fall gracefully into place.  This may happen for some, but in my experience I have had to look fear in the face and move through it to really begin to live from inspiration.  As I continue to move through my fears and take more steps toward my dreams, I have more clarity.  My dreams expand and get more magnificent. I feel more inspired with every step. 

Our passion for living is distorted by our doubts and we don’t even realize it. If you’re not sure what your dream is or you feel stuck, you’ve got some “lions and tigers and bears” distracting you.  The “lions and tigers and bears” that you imagine are just voices in your head, no matter how real they seem.  At any moment you can choose to connect to your inspiration and let it calm you and guide you. 

The best way to connect to your inspiration is to pause and take some deep breaths; full breaths that allow your stomach to rise and fall with your inhale and exhale.  Slow your breath down and allow yourself to relax and let go of your mind chatter.  When fears come up this is generally the last thing you want to do.  It’s probably telling you that you must do something NOW!  You’ll notice when you are afraid or triggered by something that your breathing is very shallow; you may even stop breathing for a moment.  When you pause and breathe deeply, you are making a clear choice to feel your inspiration rather than your fear.