We live in a world defined by money and control — at least that’s the world that subconsciously holds sway over our lives for most of us. We have been conditioned to accept that money and control are what make it possible to live a good life, provide for our children, and as the most sought after means to gain recognition and acceptance within our society.

To be sure, having money and control mean having power and influence, and the extremely wealthy often do hold the public’s eye more often than not. Working hand in hand with money is the exercise of control. Money doesn’t mean much if one has no control over external forces. Money is often highly prized as a way of gaining desired control over one’s privacy, life experiences, sense of accomplishment, and emotional fulfillment. We often base our happiness on on money. We often feel hopelessly unfulfilled due to a perceived lack of it.

Do you get a knot in your stomach when you sit down to pay the bills each month?  Wake up in the middle of the night wondering how you’re ever going to get out of debt?  Get a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness when you read headlines about the housing crisis, oil prices, soaring health care costs, inflation, recession and unemployment?

If you’re feeling worried and anxious about money, you’re not alone.  For millions of people, financial stress is eating away at their basic sense of security and well-being.  And it’s not just bank accounts that are being drained, but also physical and emotional resources, which in turn impact health, relationships, productivity and happiness.

I awoke to deep sweats only to find out it wasn’t a dream. I had locked myself up behind the bars of life. Dripping furiously with fear, anxiety, and worry that I let life over exhaust me, I became invisible to myself. I had sought the acclaim others gave me all the time on my validation of worth. I literally was being controlled by others opinions of me. Eventually I lost sight all together of whom I was and goals I had set.

Whose Life Are You Living?
Have you ever felt like you are living someone else’s life? It is one of the worst feelings one can experience, and most of us, at some point, do feel this way!

The first and most important step to living a fulfilling and authentic life that is totally and wonderfully yours is to realize that it’s your life, and you deserve to live it on your terms. The next step is to remember what life you are meant to live, to go back to who you really are, and to let your passions and true personal desires surface again.

The process is more difficult for some than others, but the benefits are well worth it! The following are some of the benefits of living your life: