revolutionary in training

How did you feel when Oprah gave a car to everyone in the audience on her Wildest Dreams show? Or maybe cheesy singing competitions are more your thing. When you watched Jordin Sparks win Idol last night, what was your reaction? Your answer will tell you a lot about how happy you are with your life. If you felt genuinely excited seeing these people’s dreams come true, then you’re probably following your own dreams. But if you felt a twinge, or more, of sadness, I’d bet you’re not living your life to the fullest.

Living life to the fullest means discovering and embracing the you that you are, the good and the bad, and choosing to live true to yourself. Once you know your calling and the dreams in your heart, you must take steps to make these revelations a reality. It’s the only way to live fully and with integrity, and it’s the only way to be happy. If you’re one of the many people merely floating through life, feeling bored and stressed out at work, discontent with your relationships or depressed when you think about the future, it’s time for you to wake up and start living fully.

I know it seems overwhelming but even the littlest step can make a big difference. Even just deciding to focus on the positive things already in your life can help you create a dramatically different – and much happier – existence. In the past few months since I started focusing on my dream of one day having my own talk show where I help other women discover and live their calling, my experience of life has taken a giant leap towards happiness and fulfillment.

It hasn’t been as magical as winning Idol, but then again most of life is the ordinary, everyday miracles of people putting one foot in front of the other and slowly moving into the greatness of who they are. I have wanted for so long to have an Oprah-sized moment where all my dreams come true in an instant, and while they could still happen, I’ve realized that it’s up to me do the work of creating a full and meaningful life.

It’s not so hard once you get started. All I did was look for volunteer opportunities on the Internet and it led me to an internship at a local TV station. Now I’m learning valuable new skills and taking strides towards transitioning into the career I want. Taking just this one step has opened exciting new doors and perhaps most importantly, fills me with a sense of purpose and keeps me motivated to stay on the path of making my dreams come true.

To top it all off, through my internship I’m actually getting the chance to host a live TV show (tonight’s my first show!). It’s like the cherry on top of the sundae. Actually, I don’t like cherries on ice cream; they’re much better when you put them in a bowl of ice, sweet and cold on a hot day. So, what’s your cherry on top? Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out yet. Take some time this week to explore the opportunities around you and find a way to start living your life to the fullest.