guilty desires unite

Wow - I was just thinking about similar issues after I posted a response to a post on DailyWorth (http://dailyworth.com/blog/235-aim-higher), but there it was not about feeling important, but about why I feel like I should only offer my services to customers who really need them but can't afford them (you know, altruism and all that). But if I realize that I am also important in this equation (who's offering the services anyway?) I would also know that it's okay to sell to customers who can pay more and use that revenue to sell/donate to customers who can only afford to pay less. Anyone else have a business model like this? This issue has been crippling me so that I can't move forward. I want to feel that I am of service, but I want to reap the fruits of my labor as well (read: I'm selfish enough to want to enjoy my life beyond providing my services).

I think about this a lot. I call it "the tribal mind," the part of our brains that helped us to get where we are today. see the movie "10,000 bc" to understand how the tribal mind helped us to survive...we banded together against foul weather and beast, we thought of the group and not our selves.

I feel like I've internalized this voice so well, that whenever I consider stepping out and thinking/doing for ME, it cautions me against it.

I try to love that voice, because it ultimately is hoping to protect me. But I also tell myself that we (my voices and I) are living in a more prosperous time/place, and we get to tend to higher levels of need. What guides me on is this: it is OK to NEED to reach my potential. It also helps me to think about the tribal mind I'm gifting to my kids--for sure I want them to know that following your dreams is real and necessary.

:) You have the most amazing ability to clear away the clutter (crap) and see the truth! Thank god for your divine calling!!

LOVE THIS! I need to give myself more permission to say want what I want. Here goes: "I want to be paid well to do what I absolutely love (so that I can in turn have even more free time to do more of what I love!)". I struggle too with what Paula says about feeling guity that somebody cannot afford some of the services we offer. But my fantastic business partner Suzi reminds me always that we are "giving it away" in so many other ways- through our website through, just being joyful with the fabulous clients we have and showing them how to have more fun in the process! Thanks Danielle!

another piece of gold in this post. Thank you. Going to go journal on that question right now.

When we try to put ourselves in a mold that we think is right we put out that passion within us. We have desires for a reason and it's ok to listen and want them to come alive. So many experts say the ego is bad and we need to stop listening to it.

It's all about moderation.

We need to listen to our ego and follow it, but not blindly.

So true. I am reminded of what Zooey said in Franny & Zooey: "...half the nastiness in the world is stirred up by people who aren't using their true egos...Nobody who's really using his ego, his real ego, has any TIME for any goddam hobbies." The questions posed on this site help steer us toward our "true egos."

Love this post. Letting yourself want what you want can be the scariest thing. But if you ignore what you want for long enough, that voice gets so quiet that eventually you can barely hear the whisper, and then it take one hell of a journey to reconnect. So like you said, hooray for "starting with being okay with wanting to feel a certain way and seeing where that leads you."

Hm, talking about things like that is when our eyes light up. It's good to have those sparks in the eyes!

It amazes me how your posts sync up with what's in my head so often, and give me more fuel to act. Just yesterday I realized that my heart has been screaming "unfulfilled" for years. I've tried over the years to listen and take action on it, but I have continued to stick with my "safe and secure" life. However, a number of things have come together to help me break loose and act lately. And it feels so good. Like I am also sitting up straight and proud.

I love your concept of "planning for love." Somehow it takes the guilt away from acting on my desires. Thank you again for this, and all that you do!

I ask myself every day how I want to feel. The weird thing was, recently, when I was ill, all I could come up with was "better". But even in situations like those, you still have to drill right down till you get more specific and can ask the question "What could you do that would make you feel ____ right now? Even the tiniest kaizen step in the right direction gets rewarded by the universe.

Nice one, Danielle - I missed your calles to dynamism when I was logged off!

Your blog really helps me...Thankyou :D