I’ve just returned from a trip to Oregon to visit my family. We had quite the adventure while we were there – spending time with my grandparents (Ocean’s great grandparents), enjoying the gorgeous weather, taking Ocean for a swim in the pool, eating delicious food, and even take a nap (actually, two!), which felt completely decadent and very needed! It was a lovely visit all around.

I love travel for many reasons, but particularly because it takes me out of my routine and my comfort zone and offers me the opportunity to really reflect on my life. I often ask myself questions like:

• What’s working?
• What’s not working?
• Where do I require more support?
• How can I experience more beauty in my day-to-day life?
• How can I enjoy more luxury in my personal life and business?
• Are there places where things could feel healthier?
• Could I be more aligned with what my soul wants to experience?

As I started to reflect upon my life on this most recent trip, I realized that even asking these questions felt a bit (well, actually a lot) taboo. There was an old part of me that showed up and wanted to keep this line of questioning private –to not let anyone know that I was having this internal conversation – because it felt wrong and bad to be wanting and asking for more.

Now, at this point on my personal journey, I know that when these old parts of myself decide to make an appearance, it’s a sign that there is some internal work that I need to do. But it dawned on me just how easy it is to stop yourself from even dreaming or feeling your desires, let alone living them every single day.

More times than not, a small, subtle feeling comes up inside of you that tells you it’s wrong to want more.

It’s like there’s a subtle form of programming that’s happened at some point in your life that says if you want something you don’t have, then there’s something wrong with you. Shouldn’t you be satisfied and happy with what you already have? Why can’t you just be content with the way things are (a.k.a. What’s wrong with you)? Do you really need another ___________________? What will others think or say if they knew what you were thinking?

Dreaming big, desiring more, giving yourself permission – and I mean full permission – to have what you really want (not something that’s fine, or good enough, but exactly what you want) can feel pretty taboo. But here’s what I’ve learned about dreams, desires and longing for more:

Your soul speaks to you through the language of imagination, dreams, longing and desire.

I believe that we are all beautiful souls sharing a very human journey. Your soul is longing to have a wide variety of experiences so that it can grow, evolve and guide you on a path to fulfilling everything you came here to enjoy and learn.

The question to ask yourself is whether or not you are allowing yourself to listen to the part of you that might sound irrational, silly, and even child-like.

You might have a deep longing inside of yourself that feels absolutely crazy and impossible.

You may witness someone else fulfilling their dreams (and how amazing they feel by doing this) and find that it sparks an unexpected passion and desire inside of you.

Or, you may have no idea what you want – either because you’ve been disconnected from your desires for such a long time that you don’t know what they are, or because you’re so far along the path of fulfilling your dreams that you don’t know what else could possibly rouse your passions now.

What I want you to hear from me today is that no matter what you’re thinking and dreaming about, no matter how much or little you already have, no matter your degree of success or your current level of inspiration, your desires and dreams matter.

No matter how ridiculous or unlikely your dreams and deepest (perhaps secret?) longings might be, they are a roadmap to your most profound happiness and fulfillment. Even if they don’t make any “sense” to you, or if they feel completely off limits and wrong, they are there for a reason.

In fact, the thing that you long for the most often holds the key to unlocking your highest purpose, your most profound gifts, and the ways you are meant to leave a lasting legacy in the world.

My question for you today is:

What needs to happen inside of you to allow yourself to hear and connect with what your soul is calling you toward, even if… especially if it feels taboo?