Everywhere you look; in magazines, newspapers, online and televised articles and bios of people who face challenges are examples of people who have moved beyond their challenges to create extraordinary lives. There are also plenty of examples of those who have literally and figuratively destroyed everything they have achieved. In every inspiring success story lies the common denominator of an examined life and a recapture of personal power, authenticity. In every disappointing story of self-sabotage lies the common denominator of the victim mentality, a giving up personal power and life experience responsibility over to others. And there are stories of people who have turned a life of self-destruction into a fulfilling life of creative endeavors that enriches their own life and the lives of those they touch through their presence and their work.
I woke up one recent morning and read Parade Magazine’s article “In Search of the True Drew” by Kevin Sessums. Delightfully, this is a story of a stunning turnaround in what could have easily been a sad story about what could have been. It is commonly known that this “ET” child star led an early life of drug and alcohol addiction, rehab and a series of short failed marriages. Today Drew is an accomplished actress and film producer. With her new film, “Whip It”, Drew is adding Director to her credits. Her production company, Flower Films, has produced ten movies including “He’s Just Not That Into You”, “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle”, “Donnie Darko” and “Never Been Kissed”. Nancy Juvonen is Drew’s partner at Flower Films.
“I never regret anything. Because every little detail of your life is what made you into who you are in the end.” – Drew Barrymore
How did Drew make the transition from a has-been washed out child-star following a path of self ruination to an award winning highly recognized power in Hollywood? Drew discovered that life experiences are not events that happen ‘to you’, they are the direct result of choices made. This new way of thinking about her past experience and what she wanted to create for her future is the result of a shift from “I am a victim of my circumstance” to “I have the power to create the life I want to experience”. Drew moved from being a victim of circumstance, a child born into a dysfunctional yet famous Hollywood Family recreating the same destructive life for herself that her Mother experienced to taking deliberate charge of her personal and professional choices.
“There is a joy that’s earned by failure or triumph. All those things add up to teach us, if we are open to it.” – Drew Barrymore
Drew realized that there is purpose in every experience she had in those difficult early years. Each experience came with a gift in the lesson that could be learned by it. Drew looked for the lesson, learned and applied it. Today she makes different choices, choices that will take her in the direction of her dreams instead of further away from what she desires most.
“I aspire to be that, to be a voice of reason one day.” – Drew Barrymore
Instead of continuing to act as a mirrored reflection of her Mother’s misguided influence, Drew acts as the Mother who guides her child, herself, in a positive and supportive method of parenting. Acting as her own Mother, Drew parents herself by mindfully speaking and behaving in a way that empowers her to create a lot more of the good experiences and fewer of the, shall we say, less than optimal experiences. And with each experience that could have resulted in a better outcome, Drew looks for the gift, learns the lesson and applies it the next time around thus creating a newer and better outcome!
With this trust in her own internal guidance system Drew’s life is now the shining example of a story well told. With her willful intention to live a life well lived, we look forward to seeing what Drew creates next in her work and her life.
“I used to look in the mirror and feel shame, I look in the mirror now and I absolutely love myself. – Drew Barrymore
Exciting News!
My gut, my intuition, my Inner Wizard has been calling me to allow it to come out and play, to boldly and fully express herself.
The day has arrived. The Inner Wizard now boldly expressing herself at Moxie Therapy. This is the last blog I will be posting at InnerWizard.
For those of you who are new to this blog, the Inner Wizard is your unique expression of the human spirit. Some people call it a Higher Self, Inner Being, Soul, Heart-centered God force, or any number of other names that describe the voice of authenticity, intuition and the source of inspiration within each and every one of us. I playfully call it the Inner Wizard.
The Inner Wizard is:
Worthy
Inspirational
Zealous
Authentic
Responsible
Deliberate
When you show up in your life fully expressing those attributes, you’ve got Moxie!
What do those who achieve extraordinary success – Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, J.K. Rowling, Bette Midler, Mary Kay Ash, Angelina Jolie, Howard Stern, Danica Patrick and Ellen DeGeneres have in common?
Moxie
Those who rise above mere success to create an extraordinary life have the guts, fortitude, Moxie, the confident courage to achieve authentic greatness with unrelenting drive and passion.
“When you feel in your gut what you are and then dynamically pursue it – don’t back down and don’t give up – then you’re going to mystify a lot of folks.” – Bob Dylan
You are here to mystify a lot of folks. As such you already have within you everything you need to astound, amaze and electrify your world. You were given these gifts as your birthright:
M – ability to Master your opportunities
O – Omnipotent; having unlimited power to create
X – the “X” factor – your Authenticity; who you really are; unique purpose
I – Intuition: inner wisdom
E – Energetic expression: boldly thinking, speaking & acting with intention
In a word, you’ve got MOXIE!
“We are all divine, but I was the only one who had the nerve to call myself that.” — Bette Midler
To apply this formula you must first ask, acknowledge and honor what would make your heart sing. If you don’t know the answer to this question or are feeling miscast in the story that is your life you may be on a path that is not your own.
Unless you are tapped in to your Nature, your authenticity, instead of your Nurture, your conditioning, you cannot express your MOXIE.
To achieve, maintain and enjoy extraordinary success you have to stand centered in the truth of who you really are. You must think, speak, act and renew your commitment to express your Moxie as you live and breathe each and every day.
Join me to Claim Your Truth, Own Your Power, Command Your Stage at http://www.MoxieTherapy.com to Muster Up Your Moxie!
