Category Archives: opinion

Wednesday Wisdom: What to Do When Life Throws You a Curveball

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In baseball, a curveball is a pitch with more movement than pretty much any other pitch. There’s a lot of spin on it, and it will drop suddenly as it approaches the plate.

It’s an off-speed pitch, so when it’s delivered, the batter can be thrown off balance. Their timing might be disrupted, and they might swing too early and miss.

So, it’s no surprise that when we’re thrown a metaphorical curveball in life, it often has a similar effect on us.

Those metaphorical curveballs can really put a hitch in our stride. They might represent obstacles that get in the way of achieving our goals and leave us feeling discouraged, or they might represent a disappointment that leaves us devastated and wondering how we’ll move forward.

Of course, there’s always a chance we’ll hit that curveball and knock it out of the park, but when we swing and miss, that’s when we need to take a moment to get ourselves back on track. Here are my best tips.

Let yourself feel all the feelings.

    At the end of the day, a curveball is a surprise, and when it’s not a good one, it’s important for us to recognize and experience our feelings in order to fully process what happened.

    We can get into trouble when we deny ourselves the time and space to do this. We can get trapped in our emotions without even realizing it, and as a result, they can get bigger and start affecting other parts of our lives.

    It’s important that we don’t shame ourselves for feeling a certain way, or be critical of ourselves when we “let” something bother us. The fact is, we’re human, and we react to the world around us in different ways. Having feelings and emotions is part of the human experience. 

    When a curveball comes our way, welcoming and validating what we’re feeling–instead of ignoring it and pushing it down–can help us release and move forward.

    So let yourself experience all the emotions and all the feelings. If this curveball made you sad, cry it out. If it was something truly absurd, laugh (because sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh, am I right?)

    Allow the change to happen.

      Of course, a curveball can come in a variety of forms, but sometimes it represents a significant and unexpected change in our lives. And we might find ourselves wishing that whatever change that curveball brought with it didn’t happen. 

      It’s when we resist that change, however, that we can get frustrated and stuck. To keep the baseball metaphor going here, we might wish that the curveball wasn’t thrown.

      Although it might seem counterintuitive, there truly is so much power to be found in allowing change to happen. As much as we may hate it at times, and as badly as we might want to control everything around us, the reality is that change is inevitable. And it’s not always a bad thing.

      So let the change happen. Go with the flow. Find peace in knowing who you are and that this curveball was just one bad pitch in the game of life.

      Swing again.

        When a curveball comes our way, it doesn’t mean that it’s our last strike. 

        You get three strikes until you’re out in baseball, which means you have more swings to turn that at-bat around.

        That being said, whatever the challenge you’re facing–whether you were rejected from your dream job or it’s raining on your wedding day–there’s likely a way to resolve it by swinging again.

        If you were rejected from your dream job at your dream company, keep an eye out on other job openings there and look for ways to connect with other people who work there. If it’s raining on your wedding day, put up a tent, or move it inside.

        Sure, the solution might not look like what you thought or hoped it would, but that next pitch that comes your way might be a fastball. And guess what fastballs are great for? Hitting home runs.

        When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

          Yeah, yeah. We’ve all heard this one before. But it’s actually decent advice, as corny

          and played out as it might seem.

          And when I hear that saying, I also hear this: Sometimes we just need a little perspective.

          Making sweet lemonade is looking at sour lemons from a different angle, isn’t it? So, if we think about that curveball from a different angle, we can consider how we can make the best of it. In baseball, a curveball is a deceptive pitch. Maybe that curveball is really a blessing in disguise. Maybe the path we started walking down really wasn’t the best path for us, and that curveball is helping redirect us toward something better. Maybe that curveball was what we needed to help us start building the life we’ve always dreamed of.

          As difficult as it can be to reframe our thoughts when we’re disappointed, the best part is that when we’re able to see a situation from a different perspective, and learn how to see the light in the darkness, it can change the whole game. 

          Without sugarcoating it, getting thrown a curveball can really suck. It can be easy to feel sorry for ourselves, get angry, and become, well, miserable, but with just a few tweaks to our mindset, we can understand that it was just a little bump in the road and be ready and waiting for the next pitch that comes our way.

          #RoadtoSXSW: My ‘WrestleMania Moment’

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          Before the #RoadtoSXSW became but a glimmer in my eye — in fact, before Underground Music Collective or The Quinn Spinn even existed — I was a kid who cycled through dreams. I was looking for purpose and meaning, and ways to impact a large number of people. I always envisioned myself as a leader, even if I had no idea what leadership actually meant.

          Throughout my youth and adolescence, I wanted to live a thousand lives. At different points, I aspired to be an all-star right fielder, a star quarterback and team captain, a lead actor, and a famous singer with the dance moves and calm, confident swagger of Jordan Knight. (OK… I still haven’t given up the ghost on that one, my 38-year-old ex-football player knees be damned.)

          Right around age 12, I added “professional wrestler” to the list.

          The year was 1999. WWE’s (then-WWF) Attitude Era was in full swing, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was at the top of the mountain. One day, the kids in my class were talking excitedly about the latest episode of Monday Night Raw, and I decided to check it out for myself.

          I was instantly hooked. Finally, there was an outlet for my pre-teen suburban angst, courtesy of these larger-than-life characters and their over-the-top antics. For the next several years, I’d tune into every piece of WWE programming I could get my hands on. Raw, Smackdown, and even Sunday Night Heat were appointment viewing. Wrestling theme music became a regular part of my library (and still is to this day). Sometimes, I would convince my mom to let me order the Pay Per View events (and a couple times, I just did it myself and asked forgiveness later. Sorry, Mom!).

          Eventually, I dove into the art form myself — first by participating in online-only “e-feds,” an internet-based role-playing game where we would write message board “promos” against our opponent, with victory awarded to the writer who created the most compelling argument before each match. Then, my brother and I started our own backyard wrestling federation — the infamous Long Valley Backyard Wrestling (LVBW). Blatantly ignoring WWE’s “Don’t Try This at Home” warnings, we laced up and competed in a crudely made ring with no mat in our parents’ backyard. Eventually, we met other aspiring wrestlers from around the Northeast, and traveled regionally to compete in various strangers’ backyards (who, admittedly, had built much safer rings) throughout high school.

          By senior year, my interest in pursuing this career path had given way to a renewed focus on football. Nonetheless, my passion for and enjoyment of this unique, sometimes-bizarre form of entertainment has never waned. I’ve followed the action through the years and, as social media has broken down the walls of “kayfabe,” have come to root for my favorite wrestlers on- and off-screen.

          The biggest date on the pro wrestling calendar is WrestleMania. If you’re a professional wrestler — or serve any function in the industry — it’s where you fight your entire career to be. It’s the reason why you put all those hours in; you’ll drive hours to wrestle in bingo halls and high school gyms for little-to-no pay, because every rep is building toward something greater. It’s building toward the moment where the eyes of the industry begin to look your way. It’s building toward the moment when you sign your first contract and have your first match with a major promotion. It’s building toward the possibility that, one day, you might get to have your own “WrestleMania Moment” — a featured spot on the Grandest Stage of Them All, where you reach the pinnacle by creating a memory that will live on through history.

          Not everyone gets their “WrestleMania Moment.” In fact, most professional wrestlers don’t. That’s what makes it so special; it means that you’ve put in your 10,000 hours, have sacrificed greatly, and continue to persevere through the challenges that greet us all on our way to our visions turning into reality.

          When you have that moment — one that can take years or even decades to reach — it is something to be cherished. If one thing along the journey had gone differently, you may have never gotten here. Now that you’re here, you may never get here again. All you have is now. Make the most of it.

          I’ve been thinking a lot about major milestones, as the #RoadtoSXSW takes its turn into the home stretch. And, while I may not be competing for the WWE Championship in Las Vegas this April, I can appreciate what it means to travel a long, challenging road, to eventually stand before the biggest opportunity of my life.

          I’m heading to Austin for my first SXSW this Friday. As a music industry thought leader, this is my first ‘WrestleMania Moment.’ This is my Super Bowl, World Series, and Stanley Cup Finals. It’s taken a long time and plenty of lessons — at least 60+, if you’re curious — to get here. There have been countless late nights and early mornings. There have been loads of triumphs, and my fair share of disasters. There have been glimmers of hope scattered through the past 11 1/2 years, and perhaps just as many moments of doubt and stress.

          This is where I’ve fought my entire career to be — since the moment of singularity when this was all just a USB mic, a laptop, and an idea in my childhood bedroom, one August night in 2013.

          Through it all, there has been faith. I’ve always held the belief that, if I just stay on the road a little bit longer, I’ll graduate from the “bingo halls” and “high school gyms” of my chosen industry, and have the opportunity to build this platform into one that transforms the music industry and the creative ecosystem at-large. That faith has been rewarded so many times along this journey — especially over the past couple of years — as our platform has been blessed with incredible opportunities in media and at conferences, festivals, notable venues, and more.

          We’ve already made it to the big leagues. Figuratively speaking, we’ve been on Raw, Smackdown, and plenty of Pay Per Views — but this is the biggest one yet.

          This is WrestleMania as I know it.

          The lights are on. My music is playing. All that’s left is to walk down that 800-mile ramp to Austin, get in the ring, and create moments that live on, long after the bell rings.

          Wednesday Wisdom: How to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

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          Ah, the comfort zone.

          It’s a cozy place, isn’t it?

          But as warm and safe as it might feel, our fear of breaking out of it is often what holds us back, when it comes to moving forward in life. And it’s usually when we finally break those chains that we grow and change in the best ways, and even achieve our greatest accomplishments.

          If the time has come for you to break out of your comfort zone, here are some of my best tips for making it happen.

          1. Start with small steps

          If you’re thinking about testing the boundaries of your comfort zone, you probably have an idea of what you want to chase after outside of it. So if you’re feeling a little intimidated, start small!

          Think about what it was like when you were learning to read. You didn’t go from not knowing how to read to all of a sudden being able to read “War and Peace,” did you? Of course not! And did anyone expect you to do so? NO! You learned the alphabet, you learned vowels and consonants, you learned what sounds the letters made when combined in different ways. Then you might have started reading picture books, then short chapter books, and then novels.

          Fast forward to today, and instead of learning how to read, maybe your goal is to attend a networking conference, but the mere thought of it scares the living daylights out of you. What is one way that you can dip a toe in the water?

          The internet has been a blessing for those who might find it easier to connect with people online than to jump right into in-person networking. So maybe you start with meeting a new person or two in a Facebook group related to your business. Or maybe you summon the courage to actually attend that conference, but instead of overwhelming yourself with the thought of connecting with everyone in the room, you focus on saying hi to one new person.

          Breaking out of your comfort zone can be a process. Although small steps might feel insignificant now, they add up and will lead you to where you want to go. 

          1. But sometimes taking a giant leap is necessary

          Sometimes you need to stop thinking and start doing. Really.

          So it can be better–and easier even–to bust out of your comfort zone like a wild horse and go after the thing already. 

          Just like ripping off a Band-Aid, there are times when it’s necessary to take a big step outside the lines of your comfort zone in order to grow in the way you need to. Yes, it can be scary as hell to go all in like that, but the rewards far outweigh the risk.

          How do you take that leap though? 

          First, you have to commit to doing the thing, and you can’t put pressure on yourself. If you put too much pressure on yourself, you’ll likely begin to get overwhelmed and talk yourself right out of it. 

          It’s going to feel hella uncomfortable to take a huge step out of your comfort zone, but you have to get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. Remember, discomfort isn’t always a bad thing. Discomfort often happens when we challenge ourselves. And that’s a really good thing.

          Most importantly, though, don’t forget to believe in yourself. Believing in your unique power will give you the push you need, and it will get you further than you ever thought possible.

          1. You might be hesitant to try something new. Try anyway.

          When it comes to trying something new, some people are able to dive right in with no fear, but so many others are hesitant or nervous. 

          But guess what? It’s totally natural to feel that way.

          Whether it’s trying a new food, starting a new job, or speaking in front of an audience for the first time, stepping out of our comfort zone can be scary and intimidating. So much so that it can cause us to shrink back and stay where we are.

          But trying is a key factor when it comes to breaking out of our comfort zone because trying is actually us making the effort to escape it. And that’s a pretty big deal. 

          1. Let go of the fear of failure

          I know, I know! This is much easier said than done. But the fear of failure is more often than not one of our biggest obstacles when it comes to personal growth.

          Yes, everyone gets scared of failing, and perhaps some of us experience this more often than others. However, when you think about it, “failing” is actually learning. And when you’re able to flip the switch and you’re able to look at that anxiety of failing as excitement about possibility instead, big things can happen. Like major, huge, life-changing things.

          We talked about trying something new earlier, right? 

          Trying is never failing.

          Say you went to that networking conference we talked about earlier, but you didn’t talk to anyone. That’s ok! Although you might feel like you failed, you didn’t. You took the first step, which was actually attending the thing with the goal of meeting someone new. You can always try again at the next event, but now you have a better idea of what to expect and it might be easier for you to strike up a convo with someone new. 

          What matters in the end is that you have the courage to try, and although it might not always work out the way you hope it will, you’ll likely learn something that you wouldn’t otherwise, and that in itself is a success, not a failure.

          If we spent our lives stuck within the confines of our comfort zones, we’d never grow. We’d never achieve all the wonderful things we’re meant to achieve. We’d never experience all that life has to offer. So don’t let those chains prevent you from going after what you want. Dream. Explore. Thrive.

          LISTEN: On ‘Take Me Back to Austin,’ Jason Boland & The Stragglers Long for Home

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          Photo credit: Will Von Bolton

          It’s a great time of year to think about making a trip down to Austin.

          And, if you’re Jason Boland, anytime is a great time to think about taking the trip.

          “Take Me Back to Austin” — the final single from Jason Boland & The Stragglers’ forthcoming album, The Last Kings of Babylon — celebrates Boland’s adopted home of Austin, TX, where he met his wife and loves to return after time spent on the road.

          “My wife and I lived in Austin when we first got together, and then we moved out into the country in Texas, where it can be pretty boring,” Boland explains. “People expect with how much time I spend on the road that I’d want to come home and kick my shoes off when I finally get a break, but all we ever want to do is head right back into Austin and catch a band.”

          The down-home traditional country tune is carefree in its essence. Boland’s gentle, yet robust baritone illustrates a homecoming that feels like home, every time. Beautifully woven steel guitar and fiddle parts add depth to the sonic palette, trading lead duties during a riveting solo just before the bridge.

          Alongside the rest of the new album, “Take Me Back to Austin” was produced by the legendary Lloyd Maines, who also produced the band’s debut album, Pearl Snaps. You’ll have a chance to hear it live at select dates throughout the southwest and midwest this spring. Before you do, enjoy it in the here and now!

          LISTEN: On ‘Flowers (Party Version)’ Liv Greene Shows Us the Meaning of Self-Love

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          If your Valentine’s Day looked a little more like Singles Awareness Day this year, never fear. Liv Greene’s new Party Version of her song, “Flowers,” is here to give you the shot of self-love you need.

          Tracked live-to-tape at Woodland Sound Studios during the sessions for Greene’s most recent album, Deep Feeler, the Party Version of “Flowers” was actually the first version cut for the record. That was before Greene and company re-imagined the song to fit the record’s more solemn tone.

          “‘Flowers’ is one of the oldest songs on Deep Feeler, and was without a doubt the hardest to capture, requiring three tries in total. This outtake, ‘Flowers (Party Version)’ was our first attempt, and sort of my ode to country queens like Emmylou and Linda Ronstadt, with a Silver Threads-type intro and shuffly fiddle-heavy rhythm throughout,” Greene noted. “This original version, while undoubtedly the most fun to capture, never quite settled in with the rest of the record. The boisterous intro felt out of step and it slowly became clear there was a certain arc of grief and sadness to the song that felt under-emphasized as it stood.”

          Described as “a vulnerable snapshot of hard-won self-acceptance,” Deep Feeler was produced by Greene alongside GRAMMY-Award winning engineer Matt Andrews (Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, Trisha Yearwood). Coming on the heels of the full-length record, “Flowers (Party Version)” gives us another snapshot into Greene’s creative process — and perhaps, a feeling of triumph over heartbreak and self-doubt.

          “The last lines of ‘Flowers’ have always felt a little aspirational,” Greene said. “‘I am giving myself space, a little love, a little grace, I am buying myself flowers these days,’ so it only felt right to give this song the amount of time and space that it took to get it right, and to love on myself through it all, except maybe instead of flowers, it was studio time. Worth it.”

          LISTEN: Katie Mal Gets Us ‘Caught Up’ in Our Feelings

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          Have you ever experienced a heartbreak so real, that even the smallest reminder prevents you from moving on?

          Katie Mal crafted her new single, “Caught Up,” 3-4 years ago, as she was trying her hardest to recover from her first “real, hard breakup.” The raw honesty of the lyrics, paired well with a steady-driving garage rock soundscape, give us all the room we need to process our own pain — even if we’re the ones choosing to hold on to the memories.

          “’Caught Up’ came from a really personal place—those moments when even the smallest things, like rain on a window or a box of their stuff, can keep you from moving on,” Katie said. “It was one of those times where writing helped me process what I was feeling.”

          The Toronto-based songwriter started with the lyrics, later refining the melody and guitar parts to develop the finished product we’re enjoying today.

          “I really wanted to release this song, because I love how the final product turned out,” she said. “It feels raw and real, and I hope people can connect with it.”

          LISTEN: Soheill Accepts That We’re ‘Only Human’

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          We’re all on this spinning space rock together, encountering challenges and getting to know our own imperfections, all while trying to make our way in the world.

          Nashville-based atmospheric rock artist Soheill captures the spirit of our existence with “Only Human,” a thought-provoking, atmospheric ballad about the ways our individual battles tie together the greater story of our collective existence.

          “‘Only Human’ is a reflection on vulnerability and self-acceptance, embracing the imperfections that make us who we are,” Soheill said. “The song explores the rawness of being human, acknowledging our flaws while finding strength and connection through them. It’s a reminder that we’re all in this together, navigating life’s challenges.”

          Warm-glowing keyboard layers lead us into the “Only Human” experience, followed shortly thereafter by the introduction of a slow-marching drumbeat. This provides the perfect backdrop for a sweet, solemn vocal melody which inspires the listener to look inward. As we progress, hazy guitars come into the mix, helping the tension build to an emotional crescendo reflective of the song’s lyrical and thematic depth.

          Soheill has more on deck where this came from, with more singles coming our way throughout the year. If they’re anything like this, count us in!

          LISTEN: On ‘Drown in the Desert,’ Mary Jennings Helps Us Weather the Storm

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          Following life’s storms, we all have a choice: let go of the pain and find oneself, or stay stuck where we are.

          Mary Jennings explores this theme of resilience — even through catastrophe — on her latest single, “Drown in the Desert.”

          Building on the socio-political themes of Jennings’ previous single, “Take A Number,” “Drown in the Desert” was inspired by Jennings’ experiences at Burning Man in 2023, which became infamous for the rare, torrential desert rain that caused mass evacuations and many stranded individuals at the festival. The single begins with a calm, ethereal electropop sensibility — meant to mirror the desert landscape’s typical tranquility — before tension builds and washes down on us. Jennings found the desert storm to be an apt metaphor for life’s more challenging moments, when we find ourselves overwhelmed by emotions, circumstances, or both.

          “Drown in the Desert” was co-produced by Ryan Youmans, and is the second single from Jennings’ forthcoming EP, set to arrive this summer. Immerse yourself in this one below!

          Road to SXSW: Find the Beauty

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          As we head into February — and realize that once the calendar turns, SXSW is officially next month — I’m reflecting on January with appreciation.

          This month, I had the opportunity to present and get feedback on the workshop that I’ll be bringing to Austin this March. In addition, our first-ever BRANDCAMP from UMC Academy kicked into full gear. The opportunity to work one-on-one with brilliant, driven creatives from coast to coast is a privilege. I’ve written about that inspiration recently.

          As I continue to serve in this capacity, I realize that I’m doing what I was always meant to do. I’m using my experiences and perspectives to create — and the things I’m creating are helping people uncover ideas, organize their thoughts, and create from a place that is truly, authentically them.

          Moreover, the journey is all of us turn the challenges we’ve faced navigating this industry and life itself into opportunities. There is great power in our stories, and this type of work helps us to dig deeper and unleash that power — even (and especially) when it’s uncomfortable.

          I say this is what I’m meant to do, because for the longest time, I believed that my story didn’t matter. I grew up in rural New Jersey in the 90s and early 2000s, where boys sharing their feelings was frowned upon. Get too emotional — or even too expressive — and people were going to look at you funny, at best. “Toughen up,” “be a man,” and similar phrases were a regular part of the vernacular. As I got into later adolescence and adulthood, I stopped sharing much about myself at all.

          There was a lot left unexpressed and, as I detail in the book (out Feb. 25), it led me to a point where I gradually became desperate for an outlet. Then, one August night in 2013, I found one — and I’ve never looked back. (If you want to know the details behind that anecdote, I have a pre-order link for you.)

          In the process, I’ve slowly become more comfortable opening up. As I’ve gotten further into this journey, I’ve allowed myself to share what I’ve experienced, with the hope that it can provide someone with the boost of courage needed to step into theirs.

          Have I met resistance? Absolutely. Relatives and peanut gallery members alike have, at times, accused me of being “too open.” I’ve been told that I wouldn’t be taken seriously as an entrepreneur if I shared the challenges (and how they illuminate the successes). I’ve spoken on the grit and adversity that meets us along this path — no, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows! — and have been told that I sound like I’ve been “kicked.”

          (Even as I type this, a small part of my brain wonders if there’s anyone out there who’s tired of hearing me talk. I’m sure they’re out there. If any of you are reading this, I love you anyway. 😉 )

          The difference between now and my younger days? I haven’t let this criticism turn me back from sharing my truth and uncovering how I got there — warts and all. In fact, surviving every one of these instances has taught me to lean in and embrace the criticism. It’s a compass that points me toward a Truer North, every time.

          So many of us let fear hold us back from who we truly are. Fears of judgment, rejection, and even success — based on prior traumas, or external narratives that we’ve internalized — stand in the way of so many people who are capable of doing incredible things.

          By its nature, modern society places so much importance on these external judgments — which often come from people grappling with and projecting their own insecurities.

          Those judgments don’t actually matter. Those people, in their current state, aren’t for you.

          What matters is living this life and sharing all of its parts through everything you choose to create, so that the people who derive hope and connection from stories like yours have a chance to ignite their own personal Renaissance.

          I consider this realization to be one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. It’s an even greater gift to have a platform like SXSW to share it with other creatives from around the world, and to help them find and ignite the flame of purpose that flickers within.

          This is my life’s work. I’m the kid who, for so long, was told his story didn’t matter so many times that he became afraid to share it. Now, I realize the blessing it is to not only have the ability to share it, but use it to help others find and communicate the beauty in theirs.

          Lean into that beauty. That messy, imperfect, real, unfiltered beauty.

          People are counting on you, beginning with yourself.

          What to Do When Your Passions Change

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          When a new year starts, many of us often find ourselves reassessing our lives, goals, dreams, and passions, but when we go through this process, we might realize that we are feeling stagnant and that something needs to change.

          If you’ve been feeling stuck in a rut lately, and that the same passions that once fulfilled you are no longer serving you, you’re not alone.

          Oftentimes, our passions come to be such a big part of our lives that, when we realize that they are no longer serving us, it can feel intimidating — and may leave us questioning who we are.

          But here’s a secret: We’re allowed to change.

          In fact, the only constant in life is change, and if we don’t change, we don’t grow. The world changes. The human species is constantly changing, and we as individuals are always changing throughout our lives. We grow and adapt, we meet new people, we learn new things.

          So it’s OK if what once brought you joy no longer does because you’re not the same person you were last year or last month. Heck, you’re not even the same person you were yesterday.

          If the person you are today wants to change direction and pursue a new passion, go for it! Find the next thing that satisfies your spirit so much that you could just burst.

          Here are some of my best tips for making it happen:

          1) Give yourself permission to follow a new path.

            Giving yourself permission to try something new can be incredibly difficult. It can even feel scary. And when you’re used to following the rules and doing what you have to do–and what is expected of you–it can be easy to forget that you have a choice.

            Yeah. There’s a little something called free will, which means you always have a choice, especially when it comes to your passions and the hobbies you pursue, but when you’re not used to owning this–that you have a choice–it makes it that much harder to allow yourself to act on it.

            If you’re a perfectionist, following a new path can provoke a fear of choosing the wrong one. You might get caught in that dreaded black and white thinking and feel like you’re being forced to choose between life and death.

            Just remember that no one can force you to pursue a hobby or passion that no longer serves you. In fact, you have all the freedom in the world to explore new interests. You only have to let yourself do it.

            2) Talk to people.

              Throughout the course of our lives, we cross paths with countless people who affect us in all different ways. Some may hurt us, but others may deeply inspire us, and it is when we meet those people that we might discover new parts of ourselves.

              If you’re feeling a bit lost, and like the passions that have brought you so much joy for so long no longer do, get out there and talk to people. Talk to your friends. Talk to your family. (You might feel like you know everything there is to know about your closest friends and family members, but you probably don’t). Talk to your cashier at the grocery store. Talk to your local librarian. Talk to the barista at Starbucks.

              When you talk to other people, a few things can happen. First, you can start understanding their perspectives and what life looks like through their eyes, which is valuable in itself. But when you talk to people, it also exposes you to new things that you never would have known about otherwise. You can learn about their hobbies and passions and what brings them joy. Your local librarian might be a rock climber or a beekeeper who makes her own honey. Maybe your mom used to write songs when she was young but you never knew that about her, and maybe you’ll realize that same love for music runs through your veins too, but you never gave it room to surface before.

              So talk to people. It might change your life.

              3) Get out of your comfort zone.

                That darn comfort zone. We all know the definition of our own comfort zones and where the boundaries are that keep us feeling safe. And I’m sure we can pinpoint the times when staying in our comfort zone held us back, as much as it sucks to admit.

                Sometimes, though, we really need to break out of it, as uncomfortable, and–let’s face it– unnerving, as it might seem. It’s often how we see the most significant growth in ourselves.

                Exploring past the boundaries of our comfort zone allows us to challenge ourselves, which, although daunting, has so many benefits for our overall happiness. If we never challenged ourselves, we wouldn’t grow and we wouldn’t discover new passions.

                Break free from the chains that are holding you back! You never know what’s waiting for you on the other side. 

                4) Follow that spark.

                  While you might be finding that the passion you’ve had for years isn’t doing it for you anymore, you might also know exactly what you want to try next. Maybe just thinking about pursuing that new path is already lighting you up inside.

                  You never want to deny yourself of something that has the potential to make your soul smile, and feeling that spark within you? That means you’re excited about it. And that’s a very good sign.

                  So don’t deny that call. Be sure to answer it!

                  Life is too short to feel stuck and uninspired. But when we make the choice to take action and pursue new passions that satisfy our spirits, leaving behind those that no longer serve us, we are honoring ourselves, and that is one of the best ways to live.

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