Introducing The Porch Light Profiles

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman

Welcome to the Porch Light Profiles. This year I'm shifting the focus of my blog to writing about men and women who allow their light to illuminate the world. What do I mean by that? I mean people who know who they are and express their inner selves to humanity. This expression always brings them joy and manifests itself in their life's work. I'm discovering that if you follow what most excites you, the right people, resources and opportunities will appear to help you share your gifts with the world.

Although "Porch Light People" are a part of all walks of life, I'm going to begin by focusing on artists. For me, it's easiest to see this principal in action in them. Growing up they learned the same societal belief most of us did: you must find a career path that will earn you a living. Yet the flame inside urging them to create, burned so brightly it was impossible to ignore. Instead of asking, "How can I support myself?", they said, "If I don't do my art, I can't go on."

Doing what makes your heart sing, seems like a good way to starve in the logical world. We may reason that the only sure way to keep ourselves safe is to follow the cultural rules of survival. Often, that means turning your back on doing what makes you feel alive. Some get so good at suppressing what brings them joy that, sadly, they lose touch with it. They never learn that paying attention to the "still small voice within" is what will help them succeed. Those who have a wide-open connection to that voice are who I'll be writing about. They know their work flows through them from another source. That doesn't necessarily mean they take part in a formal religion. What it does mean is they don't control the process, but let something greater than themselves take the reins.

Here are some questions I hope to answer over the next few months:

Do we all have an inner guidance system that will direct our path if we listen?

Can you make a living by following your heart?

What happens when you give into fear and move away from your passion?

Can following your bliss lead to your life's work?

Is doing what we love and answering our calling the same thing?

In these profiles, I hope to give evidence that it is safe to share your deepest self with the world. In fact, I believe that is what we are here for. Being who we are and doing what feeds our soul is our life's work. When we allow ourselves to shine, the world can't help but be drawn to us. Our life has become a prayer. In that state of being, it doesn't take a lot of thought or planning to figure out how to share your gift with others. Like moths to a flame they will find you.

*Coming up next: Profile of New York Times best selling author, Anita Moorjani

Text and images Sue Shanahan. All rights reserved. www.sueshanahan.com

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