Inspiration Archives: Evelyn Roberts Brooks

I can wrap up this advice in six words: Don't be afraid to make mistakes!

I've made tons of errors in judgment, picked the wrong men to fall in love with and done things that I'm amazed I survived. And yet, because of learning from my mistakes, I discovered my strengths, and I found out what I really value in life and want to experience more of.

I spent so many years reacting to everything going on around me and thinking that my job was to smooth things over and make everyone else happy, even to the point of sacrificing my own dreams in the vain attempt to please. It took me a long time to come to the awareness that I was tearing off pieces of me everywhere I went. No wonder I felt exhausted and unfulfilled.

I learned that the real value lies in serving others by allowing Divine Love to flow through me and spill over onto others, not by draining myself in a misguided attempt to help people fix their own lives.

The bottom line is that after years of studying personal growth books, coupled with self-examination and working with my mentors, I've learned to take care of my own happiness first. That hard-won lesson taught me that I need to shift the emphasis on pleasing and bring it inward before I can help others. Once I recognized my own purpose in life and the valuable gifts I have to offer, it became a more joyful journey where my attitude of gratitude had space to flourish and thrive.

Wherever you are in life, whether you feel stuck and confused, or if you are already on a path that is soul-fulfilling, I invite you to keep growing and learning. Love the adventure you're on, no matter how many twists and turns the path takes.

On my home office wall is a six-foot banner that I had printed. The background is blue sky with fluffy white clouds and bright sunbeams. At the bottom of the banner are these words: "Wouldn't it be wonderful if..."

Throughout the day, I might think, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if I sit at my computer and my creativity flows easily and smoothly as I work on my new book." Or if I'm planning to see friends and family, I could be inspired to keep my focus on love, harmony and having a great time together.

Try it on. See what you can create by prompting your imagination to fill in the blank: "Wouldn't it be wonderful if...." The more curious you get about what you really want to see in your life, the more the Divine will respond with love and joy in the form of positive people, richly fulfilling events and the results you've been longing for.

Soon you'll be living a life you designed for yourself with your thought power -- a life that is brimming with happiness and the calm confidence that you are living on-purpose. Let me know what happens next!