Doing it On Purpose.

Yesterday, I gave my presentation -- Victor not Victim: A woman's journey away from abuse -- at an International conference of victim support workers. As I stood confidently on stage, my powerpoint ready, my heart steady, my mind at ease, I breathed into my truth -- I am a fearless woman touching hearts and opening minds to set spirits free.

After my presentation, countless people came up to thank me, to congratulate me, (one man called me 'a blessing'), to tell me how my words touched them --not just as victims advocates but as human beings. One woman came up and told me she has been carrying anger, resentment, regret, about her divorce for five years. "It's time to forgive," she told me. "How do I do it?"I handed her a Choices brochure (www.choicesseminars.com) which I happened to have in my bag!

Later I went to hear Brian Willis of Winning Mind Training (www.winningmindtraining.com) give his presentation on Ostrich or Eagle/Victim or Victor -- An examination of victim thinking in today's world. Fabulous presentation -- Brian is one of the most dynamic presenters I've met. I've heard him several times and every time I come away inspired.

In his presentation, Brian quoted William Jennings Bryan (former Speaker, Lawyer and Presidential Candidate) who said,

Destiny is not a matter of chance; it's a matter of choice.

It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.

Yesterday, as I stood and gave my presentation, I was On Purpose. I had given up on chance and stepped into the choice of achieving the life of my dreams. What an awesome feeling. To be there, on purpose, because I had made the choice to claim my place at centre stage of my own life. With each word, each slide, each gesture, I knew why I was there. I was confident in my abilities, my self. I was focused, passionate, impassioned. I was there to inspire. I was committed to Be. Do. Have.

This morning I awoke and before I got out of bed a thought popped into my head with a zing of excitement -- I'm passionate about me!

What about you? Are you passionate about you? Are you on fire with your life? Eagerly awakening in the morning, knowing that this is your best day yet because today is the first day of the rest of your life. That today you are living your life with engines geared up, your energy stoked, your passion ignited.

Brian also quoted Aristotle when he was describing -- Eagle Thinking:

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.

We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence,

but rather we have those because we have acted rightly.

We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence then is not a single act, but a habit.

What's your habit? To get out of bed bemoaning another day. To stumble through each moment anticipating your next cigarette, the time of day when you can have a drink or take a break as you fall into bed at the end of the day knowing tomorrow will be just like yesterday?

Or is your habit to leap into the morning anticipating a day filled with adventure, new possibilities, new horizons. Eagerly sailing into uncharted waters as you set your sails to take advantage of the breeze, confidently tacking into the wind, assuredly navigating all kinds of weather because you know that you've got what it takes to be a victor in your own life and soar like an eagle.

What's your habit?

Are you living your life passionately on purpose?

If not, ask yourself -- Why not? What's in it for me to stay tethered to the ground when my eagle spirit is calling?

There's no sense in holding back -- except the sense you give it. There's no value in staying stuck to the ground, roiling around in the misery of 'another day' -- except for the value you create in it.

The choice is yours.

Me. I'm standing up for the victor in me, living on purpose and soaring with the eagles!