All Entries in the "Life Inspiration" Category
Beating, Stomping and Otherwise Assassinating The Voice In Your Head That Says “You Can’t.” Violently.
It’s that fear.
It’s that dirty little lurking thought in the back of your head that moseys on up to the forefront every single time you’re finally prepared to step up to the plate and take a chance in life.
You’re not smart enough.
You don’t know what you’re doing.
People will see right through you.
This [...]
Slugs, Angel Hair & Vespas, Or, The One Thing That DOES Define You In This Life
A Sexy Little Love Affair
So, I’m sitting in the bar at this restaurant.
I’m lovingly twirling my fork into a steamy, lemony, buttery, most delightfully angelic heap of angel hair–the creamy, makes-you-throw-your-head-back-with-glee kind of pasta that, I was thinking, should probably be forbidden for nuns, because, I swear, this pasta is far more decadent than the [...]
How to Deal When the World Collapses Right On Your Face
Note: Would have put an image here, but since I’m publishing this from the car as we drive through Arizona, as I’m tethered to my cell phone, it’s pretty much impossible. End note.
“But, but, but, but, butttttttt….nothing’s going my way and everything is wrong and, and, and, and, andddd I might just slather myself with [...]
On NOT “Following Your Dreams”
Gag. Gag. Gag.
You know, this whole “follow your dreams” thing is getting a little old.
Coming from me, that’s probably surprising.
But the problem is that so much of it is fluff. So much out there encourages you to get moving, and start “living the life of your dreams,” while frolicking on a big white puffy [...]
Why Stereotypes Piss Me Off (And How They’re Ruining Your Life)
A Little Story From My Childhood
We were only in the 6th grade. I had been friends with Angie since I moved to the area in the 1st grade. She was my first friend, as a matter of fact, which is why when I walked into the locker room to change for gym class [...]
The Real Value of Travel (Come Sneak Away to the Beaches of Costa Rica, If You Dare)
A Sexy Story With a Lesson
We sit in near silence, the only interruptions being an occasional mojito-induced outburst of nervous laughter, the sound of my silver chandelier earrings gently clinkering together, and the relentless tropical rains that steadily pelt the top of the canvas roof of the 4×4 automobile we are in.
It’s shamelessly cliche, where [...]
Are You Your Own Dream Zapper?
Why Not Take The Leap?
I’ve been meeting a lot of truly smart, savvy, remarkable people lately. So many are saying to hell with the safety net, and are leaping toward their passions, and haven’t looked back since.
On the same token, however, so many of those smart, savvy, remarkable people are not.
Frankly, this makes [...]
When Being in Control is a Disservice
I’ve got little patience for excuses.
I proactively call myself out whenever I catch myself making excuses in order to either procrastinate or invent reasons why I shouldn’t put myself out there.
Why?
Because sometimes, putting yourself out there is nail-bitingly, blood-curdingly, will-drive-you-to-drink, flat-out terrifying at times. It’s far easier to continue doing what we’ve always done, [...]
Do You Have The Guts?
I can vividly recall the first time I wrote a resume.
I typed away on our clunky, oversized HP desktop, silently muttering words that shouldn’t appear in any resume each time autoformat would sneakily attempt to take over my painstakingly-created bulleted list of achievements.
To this day, autoformat and I remain sworn enemies–and with reason, might I [...]
Why Rule Breakers Run the World
I’ll admit it–I’m a tad embarrassed.
I can’t decide if I’m embarrassed in light of the nonchalant display of nudity that is currently lounging alongside of me–quite proudly, and with reason, if I do say so myself–on this clothing optional beach, or if I’m embarrassed for another reason–perhaps at my own relative prudishness, something that seems [...]
To Create The Life You Want, Passion Is Not Enough
Sometimes, you just know.
Just like I knew, the very first time I heard the most beautiful Spanish being spoken by a blonde-haired, USA born girl who had studied abroad in Mexico, that I, too, would someday have foreign adventures fueled by a lustful curiosity, a carefree spirit, and heaps of naivety that would eventually turn [...]
Life Isn’t As Serious As We Make It Out To Be
This Isn’t Actually a Love Story
In a strange sort of way, love has been one of my greatest teachers of life.
It has taught me patience.
It has taught me compromise.
It has taught me dedication.
It has taught me intimacy.
Not to mention the importance of a snappy comeback.
But perhaps most of all, love has taught me something that [...]
How to Start a Revolution (Or 3 Ways to Change the World)
See that baby face up there? That’s my friend Karol–pronounced like Carl–who is a writer, traveler, & all around adventure-seeking bad ass over at Ridiculously Extraordinary. Right now he’s living in Poland, but before that he was downing noodles in Thailand, dodging kangaroos in Australia, and doing the zen thing in India, to name a [...]
Introducing the World’s Newest Form of Religion
We hear it all the time:
FIND MEANING IN YOUR LIFE.
It’s become the advice du jour. The magical solution to our woes. The on-call prescription for disappointment with life. The hope we hold onto, when our own has abandoned us.
In a sense, the search for meaning has become a religion of its own.
We [...]
The Surefire Way to Save Yourself from Mediocrity (That You Already Know, But Don’t Do)
Q: Who’s Your Daddy?
A: Novelty
In the last year, two of the countries I’ve lived in are Chile & Costa Rica. In both places, I did a number of things, kissed met a number of people, and learned a number of lessons.
Many people advocate the value of travel–that’s nothing new–but what they’re really advocating is [...]
Why We’re All A Little Crazy: Uncertainty, Flower Petals, Shimmery Gold Dresses & A Personal Story
A Personal Story AKA Scared Out of My Damn Mind
I was 20 years old when I started watching her slip away. Normally during the summertime, she would spend all morning and a large portion of the afternoon out in our garden, diligently tending to every last petal, stem and root. Her forehead would glisten with [...]
The Lost Art of Quitting
“Quitters never win & winners never quit.”
Excuse me, divine gods of all Protestant work-ethic – inspired proverbs, *takes drag of imaginary cigarette* but I beg to differ. *Apathetically exhales and flings cigarette to ground before grinding it with the ball of not-so-imaginary fire engine red high heel.*
We’ve heard these types of statements all our lives: [...]
Get Your Own Picket Fence (Or Don’t) : A Note on Relationships
My friend & fellow blogger Carlos Miceli of Owl Sparks once told me that he was relieved that I never waxed on about relationships here on the site, which I had sort of made an unspoken rule.
But what can I say? I’m a rule breaker, baby. Even when they’re my own.
And with that, [...]
Still Waiting for that Promotion? Learn How to Put Your Career & Life Back Into Your Own Hands, Once & For All
In this post, I talk a lot about my own personal journey, and how I’ve gotten to where I am today. If you just want to skip to the end where there are resources that will show you how YOU can get rebel against mediocrity and take your life & career into your own hands–sans [...]
2 Minute Guide to Getting a Grip & Reclaiming That Thing Called Your Life
If you clicked on this post, you either:
a) Need to get a grip.
b) Want to reclaim your life.
c) Have no time to do either.
d) Googled “mating habits of porcupines” and this just came up.
e) You read everything I write because you’re secretly plotting my demise.
With the exception of letter E, I completely [...]
Shattering the Current Model of Reality (And a Big Announcement!)
Most of you reading this website are here because you want more. Tried and true may be comfortable, but boring. The traditional life path may be safe, but uninspiring. The status quo is average, but nothing extraordinary.
You know there’s something missing, but you can’t pinpoint what, exactly, it is.
We’ve essentially been told for years that [...]
When Being Professional Is Harmful
Do not be alarmed. This photo will make far more sense in a moment.
Look, Ma! I Named My Very Own Pandemic!
If you’ve been reading The Middle Finger Project for some time, you know that I’m not shy when it comes to making bold claims.
Today is no exception.
I’d like to share something that’s been tormenting me [...]
Bullshit & The All Mighty Dollar
A harsh look at the unflattering reality that we live and die by, day in and day out . . . without even knowing it.
18 Ways To Avoid Becoming a Human Robot (And Why Circles Are Better Than Lines)
A discussion on how erasing the lines that divide us can be beneficial in more ways than we imagine–complete with 18 examples to get you started.
U.S. Concept of Time & Why It’s Preventing You From Finding Your Passions
Here in the U.S., we’re all about go-go-go. It’s a fast paced lifestyle, and if you don’t keep ahead you’ll soon be left behind. It’s a race to the finish. It’s the survival of the fittest. It is time-is-money, and the early bird gets the worm.
Time, in essence, is a something [...]
Dream Zappers Part II: Why They Zap, Squash & Belittle Your Aspirations
A continuation of the Dream Zapper post, discussing why Dream Zappers zap in the first place. Get your GRR face on.
The Flip Side of Unconventional
It’s not easy being freesy: Unconventional doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
What Life Gets To Keep In Return: On Making Big Decisions
Your life is essentially the outcome of a never ending series of decisions. Make sure those decisions are truly in line with your goals by using a commonly overlooked factor beyond simple pros and cons.
Live Alive, Not Just a Life: Guidelines for Rebelling Against “Reality”
A collection of truths life truths & the premise for this entire website.
All Wants Are Not Created Equal
A breakdown of the motivations for the things that we do, and which category we should be focusing most on in order to start living more inspired lives.
Perhaps The Preamble Should Read: We, The Robots. (Prove That You Aren’t, And Win $100)
The negative effects of socialization. AND…An introduction to the HULA HOOP CONTEST 2010! (Get out your video camera and get ready to free yourself of unnecessary inhibitions!)
Surprise Yacht Party, And You’re Invited. (Bring Your Dancing Shoes)
For my readers. With love & a high five, Ash.
The Flawed Cycle of Success That Could Be Causing You To Fail
We’ve got a love/hate relationship with the word “success”–by standard definition, it’s measured as a black & white outcome, but perhaps that’s the wrong way to go about it.
Tired of Having A Neverending To-Do List? Use It To Your Advantage
At what point did productivity become worth dying for? At what point did we stop feeling, and just start doing? At what point did our lives turn into a never-ending assembly line, where the work is never done and we are never done? And at what point did we become okay with it?
One Big, Fat Mistake To Avoid On Your Path To Awesomeness
The distinction between desires versus dreams, and why it’s important to remember which is which.
Why Seeking A Meaningful Career Is Bad Advice
A career is a glorified version of a job–you aren’t the product of the tasks you perform, but rather, the experiences you’ve had. You are not your career.
You’re Not Drunk, But Your Vision Is Still Blurred – One Reason Why Religion, Marriage & Even Education Sucks
Common “absolute truths,” such as our version of what an education should look like, a good job should look like or even a good person should look like are all just one model of reality and as such, aren’t absolute at all.
If You’re Wrinkly, It Better Have Been Worth It: A Stern Talking To My 90 Year Old Self
A letter to my future self where I ask some big, life-changing questions–are the things I ultimately expect out of life in line with my actions today?
The One Thing That Can (And Will) Mess Up Your Life…If You Let It
There’s no such thing as luck, and if you’re banking your life on getting lucky, you might as well plan for the worst. In terms of lifestyle design, the word “design” implies “deliberate intention.” So if you want control over yours, it’s time to get up, get out there, and BE DELIBERATE AND INTENTIONAL.
Don’t Make Me Say Staycation
You don’t have to travel to have the life of your dreams; lifestyle design places an arbitrary emphasis on travel, but it’s not the be all end all solution. A smart, sassy, hard-hitting guest post by Andrew MacPherson, author of Rules Optional & Sail to Trail.
Rebellion is Sexy: One Really Big Reason Why You Should Do It Now
Think critically about the things you do in your everyday life–does everything you do actually make sense, or do you do it just because that’s the way it’s always been done? I argue that it’s an unfortunate case of the latter.
The Smart Ass Guide to Dealing With Dream Zappers (Guest Post @ Free Pursuits)
Do people tell you that you should be more realistic? That you’ll need to join the real world someday? That your ideas will never work out because of x, y and z? Check out the uber popular guest post I wrote for Free Pursuits.
Dealt a bad hand in life? Learn How to Snub Your Circumstances & End Up With a Royal Flush
“I got dealt a crappy hand of cards” is not a valid excuse for your circumstances; you’re in control of you. Bluff your way right into a royal flush.
VIDEO-Introducing TMFproject’s OPERATION: GET EXCITED
I lauch Operation: Get Excited with the goal of showing people that they can lead excitement-filled, passionate lives starting TODAY. Regular video series depicting me trying new activities designed to push my comfort level. This episode? Salsa dancing. Ole!
Tales of a Terrified Lifestyle Designer
On restlessness, and its source–an intense fear of mediocrity.
Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death – Fate Versus Choices
A major diss to the concepts of “fate” and “destiny,” and a discussion on the power of individual choice. “You are not a marionette. You are a human being with opinions and emotions and likes and dislikes, and you’re also a human being who is entitled to what it is they want out of life. All you’ve got to do is choose it.”
