Have you heard the song, “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw?

If you haven’t, click on the link and head over there after you’ve finished reading. It really makes you sit up and take notice of how you’re living your life. That’s what it did for me, anyway, when my coach at the time had me listen to it. It gave me chills because it made me realize that I wasn’t really living but avoiding life. I had numbed out. I’d let my fears take over and stop me from following my dreams and living life the way I’d always wanted.

I had become all tied up with what I thought was expected of me and what I thought I was supposed to do with my life. Because those thoughts didn’t really match up with my dreams, I’d come to a complete standstill. I wasn’t moving forward in any particular direction that made me feel good about me. That song helped me pull my head out of the sand and jump back into my life again. I started to live again and enjoy my life. Making decisions that moved me closer and closer to my dreams was something I had to learn. I’d spent my life making decisions that I thought others wanted me to make, whether those others were my parents or my spouse or my kids. It was a new experience to make decisions and take actions based on what “I” wanted. Maybe you can relate?

I turned 52 this week.

I don’t feel old by any means. In fact, I feel better than ever and am living a life I hadn’t even dared dream about when I was younger. I credit this change, in part, to this song. It really spurred me to take a look at what I was doing and the choices I was making. It helped me really dig into my self and see what was making me tick. Eventually, I realized I was full of clashing desires that made me feel frustrated, anxious and unhappy. From there, I really focused on finding out how to be peaceful inside. I’d heard of inner peace but I’d never realized how much I needed it and what a difference it would make when I had it.

As I’ve learned to calm and quiet my inner critic and replace a lot of the noise in my head with positive, life affirming thoughts, I’ve been able to consciously choose how I want my life to be. It’s turned my life around and I’m focused on living life full-out. I’ve taken Tim’s advice and I focus on living everyday like it’s my last. I appreciate the people in my life. I tell them I love them. I do things that take me closer to my dreams. I also help people who want this, too.

How about you? Are you living life full-out, sticking your head in the sand or running scared? Are you making decisions and choices that move you closer to your dreams or are you trying to meet everyone else’s expectation? Let me know in the comments below.