BOLDNESS + BRAVERY Page 13 of 21

Do What You Love Interview – Dale Thomas Vaughn

Written by

thebiginterview1

Today we’re excited to bring you a fascinating interview with Dale Thomas Vaughn, a champion of self-discovery and authentic healthy masculinity. Having written four Amazon best-selling books, run with the bulls in Pamplona, walked the 500 mile pilgrimage that is the Camino del Santiago, and tried, and failed, in the world of business, Dale knows a thing or two about passion and purpose. He reached the top of his game when he began coaching men on how to authentically be healthy men; men who find other healthy positive guys to be in a pack with. Today, through his work with The EmpowerMentorship Institute, Dale helps guys discover what they want from their lives and then empowers them to make a plan to go and do it. He is also Editor of Leadership & Business at The Good Men Project, a site about men that regularly reaches unique traffic levels that rival Oprah.com and Politico.com and his award-winning work with men and at-risk boys has led to the foundation of the Global Center for Healthy Masculinities.

1. How are you ‘doing what you love’?

I love my life. I get to see guys at their best. I get to mentor good men to step into their greater purpose and pursue their passions. I’ve helped school teachers influence their toughest students with positivity and compassion. I’ve helped people change their culture at work by being more present and team-oriented. I’ve watched men transform from poverty to six-figure salaries while simultaneously pursuing life goals they thought were impossible… there’s nothing better than building hope. Every time I get to help a single person I feel honored, I know I’m at my best, and I see the difference I’m making in the world. And although I’ve been at this for a decade or more, I feel like I’m just getting warmed up. Life is a creative pursuit. We make what we want… often unconsciously or passively. I try to be active each day to make my world around me. Buckminster Fuller summed it up when he said, “I seem to be a verb.”

dale-thomas-vaughn-strategic-communications-6-1024Image credit: Emilie Zeug

(more…)

Do What You Love Interview – Luis Peña

Written by

thebiginterview1

Every once in a while you meet someone really talented in an effortless, weird and fantastic sort of way. The kind of person who can bring any dream to life because they possess boundless energy, bags of determination, and truly believe that anything is possible. Luis Peña is one such person. A creative thinker, designer, film maker, art director, and photographer from San Fransisco his gift lies in his ability to see the world in the wide-eyed ‘wow-this-is-amazing’ way that only children do. This purity of vision is rare, and it allows him to capture small fragments of truth and beauty, as well as the unexpected – things that most people would miss – and make great film. We caught up with him to find out more about his work…

i2xIBEgA

1. How are you doing what you love? 

I love making things. I get lost in the act. I have music blaring when I can and all outside influences and distractions disappear completely. If I’m filming or taking photos I spend most of the time staring in the viewfinder watching it unfold and finding the beauty where I can. I feel alive, my blood is racing, I’m constantly challenging myself. It’s play. I have a lot of childlike energy that I apply to my work life.

A015_C028_1120LN.0000067

(more…)

How do I plan my next adventure?

Written by


DWYL_BLOG_EXPERT_COLUMNISTS_TYPEWRITER_550X200PX_LR

Alastair Humphries

This is a guest post by adventurer, author and motivational speaker Alastair Humphreys. Find out more about Alastair here.

Turning an empty calendar and a lack of direction into an exciting, rewarding, challenging, money-generating expedition is both easy and difficult. This is how I go about making stuff happen…

 

  • Block off the biggest chunk of time possible. Guard this jealously. Time is so precious and demands on it so numerous. I can always earn more money. I can never reclaim lost time.
  • Sit and daydream. Think of all the places I have not been. Think of all the journey styles I have not done. Pore over an atlas as I pour the coffee. Browse my bookshelves for inspiration. Drool over Google Images and Flickr and Sidetracked.
  • Try to think of a trip that is, for me at least, fresh, novel, difficult and different.

planning-adventures-1230x819

  • Draw up a shortlist of the few plans that currently excite me most.
  • Narrow this list down against criteria such as cost, season, timeframe and potential partners available.
  • More or less settle on one preferred option.
  • Faff around for a while.
  • Send out an email / meet up with somebody / do something that tips me over from day-dreaming about how fun this would all be to actually getting off my arse and making it happen. The tipping point is often small but significant: walking across India was solidified merely by having dinner with a friend’s parents, for example.
  • Buy a plane ticket or whatever is the single most expensive, painful, committing action to take. This is without doubt the most significant and difficult stage of the entire process (hint: it’s far harder than the scary expedition you are worrying about). This single act of commitment is what differentiates dreamers from do-ers. It’s not hard, but it is bold.
  • Run around like an idiot, realising that I have grossly underestimated the time and expense involved in making the trip happen. (NB: I have never looked back at a trip).

For the post-expedition phase, here is a post I wrote on how to make a living from your travels.

Eat. Pray. Wi-fi.

Written by

DWYLCOLUMNISTSTYPEWRITER550LR

Ben profile NEW

 

This is a guest post by Ben Keene. You can find out more about Ben here.

 

 

Has moving to Bali for winter with our family worked out?

I’d only been at Bali’s first co-working space, Hubud (a bamboo beehive of digital nomadic activity at the heart of the island’s ‘eat, pray, love’ capital, Ubud) for an hour when Steve Munroe (a ‘post-UN-cubicle survivor’), uttered his mantra. Perhaps even more interesting than what Steve was saying was the fact that he was speaking to a group of Harvard students who had come to Bali to study ‘remote working’ and sustainable business.

Working (more…)

Shared story: Lisa Langer

Written by

DWYL_BLOG_SHAREDSTORIES_650X250PX_LR

The first thirty years of Lisa Langer’s life were guided by habit, conditioning and the external distractions. And then she found yoga. With regular practice she was empowered to throw off the shackles of the past and live more consciously, compassionately and happily. Today she shares how she’s doing what she loves and supporting others do the same. Here she shares her story…

Lisa Langer

In 2004 Hugo Cory, my self-inquiry teacher, asked me the question that changed my life: “If you had two weeks completely free, with no responsibilities and no schedule, how would you spend your time?” Well, I said, that’s obvious, I’d practice yoga, read about yoga, teach yoga and study yoga. I had been a yoga practitioner since 1999, a teacher since 2001 and considered yoga as my hobby. But I’d never actually considered yoga as a legitimate career until that moment. You see, until then, I lived in the way that I thought I should live – I did well in school, followed rules, celebrated obligatory holidays, was active with family and society, married a brain surgeon, became a corporate lawyer, had a baby, etc… I  valued the external world over my internal truth every time until Hugo and my yoga practices taught me otherwise.

(more…)

The big idea

Written by

DWYL_BLOG_EXPERT_COLUMNISTS_TYPEWRITER_550X200PX_LR

Lara profile NEW

 

This is a guest post by Lara Tabatznik. You can find out more about Lara here and read our interview with her here.

I wish I could tell you that this has been my dream since I was five years old, that I have thought about it every day of my life, and that I knew this was what I wanted to do with every ounce of my heart, but this is not how the story goes.

In some ways I have been a seeker my entire life: searching for answers, searching for meaning, and always searching for happiness, but it wasn’t until I turned 28 that I formally set out on my journey of self-discovery.

On a retreat

I remember the moment so clearly; I didn’t realize it back then but it was the beginning of a whole new chapter. I picked up a magazine and started reading an article about the Hoffman Process*. I had heard about it years before as my cousin did it and it had a profound affect on her. The headline read something like: ‘The equivalent of eight years of therapy in eight days – a process that will change your life.’ The words spoke to my soul, and I just knew I had to try it. I wasn’t sure what it would involve, or why I felt so compelled to go, but I trusted the voice deep within me. (more…)

A new beginning today

Written by

lovenewbeginnings

Earlier this week I woke up to a magical winter wonderland – it was snowing! As I stood at the window admiring mother nature’s spectacular work, I started thinking about how beautiful the world looks in white.

There’s something quite special about the colour white. In colour psychology, white symbolises purity, innocence, awakening, growth, completion and new beginnings. It’s thought that we wear white clothes (often subconsciously) when we are moving in a new direction in life, such as travelling abroad, moving house, embarking on a new relationship or changing careers because white makes us feel calm, organised and optimistic. Colour psychologists also say that surrounding yourself with white is good for your soul because it cleanses and purifies your thoughts, emotions and, ultimately, your spirit, refreshing and strengthening your entire energy system.

Venturing out into the crisp white snow – a big blank canvas full of possibilities – was just the inspiration I needed to be bold and start the art course I’ve been dreaming about.

What’s will you begin today? We’d love to hear what’s inspired you.

DWYL_BLOG_WORDCLOUD_LOVE-NEW-BEGINNINGS_JANUARY-2015_550PX_LR

Download a high res version here.

Shared Story: Renee Scheer

Written by

DWYL_BLOG_SHAREDSTORIES_650X250PX_LR

After working in the land of corporate America for over 25 years, Renee Scheer knew something had to change. Her passion for creativity and desire to help people realize their dreams had come full force and she decided to risk it all to fly solo. Last year Renee found the courage to wave goodbye to the office cubicle that was slowly suffocating her, and swap her high heels and smart suits for the barefoot boho lifestyle she’d always dreamed of.

Now, as an artist, guide and facilitator of authenticity, Renee uses her own personal and  business life experiences to help others find what they need to live passionately and joyfully. Renee is a certified life and spiritual coach and she has received several accolades for inclusiveness, leadership and creativity. Today she shares the truth about her journey towards doing what she loves…

Renee Scheer

_MG_6782_med

 

(more…)

Help me write my TEDx talk!

Written by

TEDx

When I heard last week that I had been confirmed as a speaker for TEDxYouth@ Islington I was in equal parts thrilled and terrified. It’s a fantastic but somewhat daunting platform, and something I have had on my dream list for quite some time. Most people get around 5 months to prepare for a talk like this. I’ve got 7 weeks, and I need your help! In fact, I would be so grateful for your help that one person responding to my quick survey will win a free place on the Do What You Love course.

My topic will be “How to teach your parents to give you better careers advice”. It is based on the premise that careers advice is nearly always well-intended but frequently flawed, because we often ask our children the wrong questions when trying to help them discover their path in life.

In the talk I will offer the young people in the audience:

(more…)