How Do You Want to Live?

I want to live with passion, purpose, and poise. I want to live fearlessly.

There are three things I value most: love, wisdom, and courage.

I want to love much, to appreciate much, to see beauty, in God, in others, in myself. I want to love my life. I want to love what I stand for and what I do, and I want to be loved.

I want to feel connected and grounded; to walk in nature and feel a part of it, as much as the grass and trees. I want to stroll on the beach and let the ocean refresh my soul. I want to ski in the mountains and be one with the mountain.

I want to love and laugh and sometimes cry.

I want to travel the world and make a difference, from Australia to Africa. I want to love beauty so much that I see beauty first, and tune into it, and let the rest fade away.

I want to be passionate and live a joy-filled life. Not an easy life, or even a pleasure-filled life so much as a life of joy—where I’m lost in the moment; a deep-seated joy like I found in developing countries that surpassed circumstance. A joy that sees beauty in little things… like an unexpected smile, a dog chasing a ball, or a leaf falling to the ground.

I want to pursue wisdom. I want to hear its call, teaching me how to live. I want the wisdom that connects me to a broader vision, one with purpose and meaning; one that unfolds into peace, because I’m living as my true self.

I want the wisdom that turns into conviction and leads to integrity. That is, I want to be complete, whole. I want to do what’s right, not what’s popular. I want to live so my actions are congruent with my values and words. I want the integrity that generates a deep-rooted trust and faith in who I was created to be, serving the world, filling my soul with confidence and self-acceptance.

I want an unburdened heart and a clear mind.

I want to be ok with my mistakes, not accept them straight off, but learn from them and move on to the next moment or misstep. I want the freedom to take risks, to fail, and to get up again with no less energy or enthusiasm. I want the freedom to dream that comes from self-acceptance and leads to clarity. I want to be creative and live those dreams.

Finally, I want to live with courage. I want to have immeasurable faith—like David who slew Goliath, with just a sling and a stone. A faith that steps out to face my fears; faith that hits the wall and goes beyond; faith that propels me to seek far more than I’ve ever imagined; faith that’s electric—that ignites people’s lives.

I want courage to live in the moment, fully and completely. I want the poise that comes when I’m fully engaged doing what I love. I want to live greatly, to walk tall like a conqueror so that when it comes time for me to die, to know that I truly lived.

How do you want to live?