Belief is a truth held in the mind. Faith is a fire held in the heart. Joseph Newton.

On the journey of life, being aware of whom you are and what you’re really all about – living on purpose, if you will, is what can set you on fire, if only you will pay attention.

More often than not, most of us have created a habit of moving through our days too quickly, too distracted to stop and just reflect on our own humanity and our place in the greater scheme. We’re so obsessed with taking action, designing our lives, doing instead of being, so focused on things rather than on people that we are outrageously unaware of the energy we are radiating – much of it negative in nature.

This can create a toxic cocktail of uncertainty, doubt and mistrust. Many of us are plagued with constant worries and fear. We have a tendency to lower our expectations in a what-if scenario, instead of expecting the best. Often, as a result, relationships in personal and in our professional lives are often strained and tenuous, things can go wrong and abundance eludes us.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Not if we don’t want it to be. External circumstances do not determine our emotional state and energy. We do. Our lives are not meant to always be filled struggle, hardship and heaviness. Rather they were meant to be filled with joy, light and ease.

What is your dominant perspective?  Pause for a moment and think about it. Are you an optimistic or a pessimist? What expectations and beliefs do you hold? Are they big or small? Do they indicate faith and trust or fear and doubt?

As you travel through the years, you get to decide to how you will respond to the circumstances and events in your lives. This freedom to choose is always available to you, even when it feels impossible to find a new perspective, one that radiates positive energy.

The future is not predicated on the past. It’s your choice and how you decide impacts on every aspect of your lives. But here’s the thing. That kind of energy – the flame that sets your soul on fire can only come within and only you hold the match to ignite it.