Finding Your Own Driving Force

Sometimes I have to sit back and really think about this… It’s more of a question that I have to sit and meditate on. What is my DRIVING FORCE? It totally isn’t something that comes naturally or easily and requires a whole lotta thought, constant reassurance and falling down before you get back up to get things right from within. Did you know that YOU are the one driving the horse pulled sled, or the Nitro powered race car. It’s not the dude sitting on the left or the gal to the right… it’s YOU!

Finding your force is something that you need to teach yourself. It comes from sitting alone, taking time to hear yourself think and really doing the work to figure out what in this world brings you JOY, and then acting on it. The key word here, is ACTING on it. This means several different things to me and probably will to you as well.

“You must be the person you have never had the courage to be. Gradually, you will discover that you are that person, but until you can see this clearly, you must pretend and invent.” ― Paulo Coelho

I was taught long ago in support rooms for those with addiction issues (not that I had an issue with addiction other than food, exercise and cleanliness- but we will save all of that for another time) you should Fake it until you Make it! Put on an act, become someone you are not, change the behavior by psyching yourself out. Believe it or not… it works. Pretending to be happy, telling yourself you have an abundance of money, or that you are a size 8 ladies pants is the perfect way to manifest your own driving force! Eventually you start to listen to yourself and all the things you share with yourself no longer act as the fake it because you actually find yourself Making it! You change your habits slowly over time, you start doing what you say you are going to do and then wallah, you have transformed right in front of your own two eyes (that would be the reflection in the mirror- ya know)!

“An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied.” ―Arnold Glasow

The other component of acting on it, means just that. If you want something in your life bad enough you need to take the action steps necessary to get there. I have spoken to soooo many people in the past three years about going to Mexico to learn Spanish in an immersion program. Everyone would ask me, when are you going? I never had a good enough response; it went something like, “When Gia’s old enough, or when I get enough money.” Now, I would be lying if I told you that I started acting on this without assistance. It took a whole lot of talking about it (lets call that faking it) to many people and eventually a powerful woman. This woman connected with me, as if we had known one another for a while. I can't quite explain the feeling of familiarity in her presence. She looked right into my soul after hearing my extravagant story about how I wanted to learn Spanish to better connect with my Hispanic students. She said so boldly, “You are going this summer!” I pondered that for a little while and then I blurted out to her with such enthusiasm… “I am going to Mexico this SUMMER.”

Do you know that same day we scheduled a lunch date at the library for the following week to look up grants for Spanish Immersion, I created a gofundme.com account that hasn’t gotten much attention (but at least I shared my story and I made it a point to get Sh*t done), and I even wrote a grant proposal. See what happened there? Someone sparked the bejesus into me, and I leaped into action! BTW- I just bought plane tickets, rented an Airbnb, got the passports situated and put a deposit on the Immersion Program. I have several meetings over the course of the next few months with private donors who are interested in sponsoring my Immersion trip and am super stoked about this.

I really had to fake it to make it and spring into action to make change happen. I sent out a powerful message to the universe, that was brought back to be in such profound ways! I also would be lying if I didn't tell you I was scared about this entire trip! Being away from home, comfort, my family and alone with my daughter. I have been doing a TON of positive talk in the past three weeks, not just for myself, but for my daughter as well. We have been pulling up pictures on line, talking about what we want to do while we are there and off on the weekends and have already started a timeline. It may or may not include three weekends at the Yucatan Cenotes, one weekend at the Mayan Ruins (which she is learning about in school RIGHT NOW), and according to her a whole lot of shopping for herself... she is still in that very selfish stage! Needless to say, she is already dreaming up what she wants to be doing, and isn't being her usual self (afraid of everything and lacking the desire to wonder the earth). I am hoping this trip will teach her so much about culture, exploring and taking major chances! Where will you let your inspiration and inner drive travel to?

In the meantime, check out the video below! She is raising funds for her summer immersion program as well, through selling her art work! I can't believe how awesome she is! For more information about how to purchase a print copy of her water color painting contact us at momoverboardblog@gmail.com. We have a limited amount left!