Almost exactly a year ago, a friend gave me the book The Answer, and it assigns one exercise, which the author recommends you practice every day. The exercise is to imagine your dream life, and then take time every day to close your eyes, be silent, and then visualize your dream life like a movie in your head.

It’s Not So Easy

Sounds simple, but it’s harder than you think. In order to be able to visualize, in great detail, the movie of your life, you have to be exceedingly clear on the life you’re longing to live. Most of us struggle with this part. What do we wish to achieve? How do we want to feel? What do we want our lives to be about? What’s our calling, our purpose, and how can we express it in such a way that brings us peace, balance, and joy? Who are we at our authentic core?

Okay, I admit it. I am a inspirational/craft blog addict. The good news is that there are benefits of spending endless hours on StumbleUpon searching for the latest art inspiration that will spark my next post or beautiful home creation. Some how I always land on a pile of gold, finding a post or ten that I can share on my personal blog or with all of you lovelies here at Owning Pink. Enjoy this fabulous tale of the Pleaps of all Pleaps from Jen Curran. -- Megan Monique

Next month, it will have been a year since I quit my desk job as an assistant at an entertainment law firm. I didn’t hate the job. In fact, certain aspects of it were pretty great. I was allowed to wear what I wanted, I didn’t have to be in the office until 10am, I got to chat with celebrities, I received a sizable bonus at the end of every year. The perks were undeniable and my position itself was pretty easy.

But I was still totally miserable.

Please welcome back the extraordinary Tama Kieves, life coach, career coach, Pink goddess, and author of THIS TIME I DANCE!: Creating the Work You Love. Today Tama discusses how to acknowledge, honor, and use our gifts - and what happens when we don't. A brilliant reminder to tap into what truly moves you. Thanks, Tama!

I am afraid of failing

I talked to a woman who had been very gifted in music, but who hadn't pursued it as an adult. "I am afraid of failing," she said, but as we talked further, she admitted in the quiet tones of held back truth, that she felt like a failure now. She felt tired and angry, out of sorts with her life. I don't blame her. It takes more effort to create a life you don't want than to create the life you crave.

I’ve never had that nightmare where I’m standing on stage naked, paralyzed in the footlights and the audience’s howling laughter. I was born and eventually bred to be a performer, and a big, open stage has always felt like home. But I wasn’t brought up to improvise. I was brought up to plan, to weigh everything from my produce to my decisions carefully. Whether it was in dance class or in algebra, I was taught to follow the steps very, very closely. No one ever suggested that I play with them or, God forbid, make them up completely as I went along.