When you think of someone who loves life, what do you think of? Someone who

? is passionate about being alive?

? is their authentic self?

? dances to their own drummer?

? appears fearless?

Being fearless, being our authentic self, and loving life all go hand in hand. They are like close and intimate cousins. As allies, they propel each other into existence.

How can you become more alive - and in love with life?

1. Notice the ways in which you wear costumes and masks - ways that you 'protect' yourself and 'hide' yourself, through nervous laughter, a tough persona, stoic independence, or appearing to 'not care' as examples. Be real. Be honest - with yourself and thus with the world. Open your heart. Love more.

2. Notice the ways in which you are tough on yourself. How critical are you - both in how you relate to yourself and how you internally speak to yourself? Love yourself more. Be compassionate toward yourself. Be gentle and caring toward yourself. There is nothing inherently wrong with you - no matter who you are.

3. Uncover your passion for life. Brighten your inner light bulb. There is nothing admirable or beautiful about a person who is dull. You are not dull. You may allow yourself to behave shyly, or appear disinterested. These are just conditioned ways of 'playing safe'. Take a risk. Go for it. Do something that you've always been curious about, that you've wanted to explore. Now's the time. Today is when you are truly living.

4. Notice when you feel scared or afraid. Ask yourself, "What am I afraid of?" In doing so you 'shine the light of consciousness on' what was looming over you and controlling your comfort and ease and love of life. Once you reveal it, notice how it shrinks - how you 'disarm it' by simply becoming aware of it. You put it into perspective. As you realize what it is that you're afraid of, ask yourself, "What can I do to move forward toward what I want, even while I feel a little bit afraid?" It's as if you take the fear by its hand - just like you would a child - and you gently bring it with you. It stops screaming. It stops attempting to manipulate you and steal your attention. It stops freezing you. ... It comes with you ... And both you and it discover the joys of what it is that you want to explore and discover. It and you love life.

5. Take time to explore what your heart yearns for. This is your soul giving you 'clues' of what will make you really, really happy and fulfilled. Notice when you tend to deny the calling of your soul - your desire to explore things, your desire to experience things. Pay more attention to giving your soul what it is calling for - and you will discover that you are Being Yourself ? Loving Life ? and Living Without Fear!