If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you’ll be unhappy for the rest of your life. — Abraham Maslow

I believe in dreaming, in magic, in a small (yet greater) purpose, in stories, in a universal connectedness amongst us all. I believe events and moments are placed in our paths for us to recognize purpose in them. I believe if we interpret less with our minds and more with our hearts we could see and experience so much more in people and the world.

We all believe. Confidently acting on what we believe is perhaps what separates those living with vitality from those that find happiness eludes them. Happiness, joy, contentment, peace come from living the life you want to live — a life based on your internal beliefs.

This is easier to write on a blank page than to put into action. I continue to forget what I believe for the beliefs of others. I'm continually in a process of reinventing myself, shedding old ideas and adopting new ones.

Past versions of myself have, more often than not, put my true beliefs aside in an attempt to fit into what I thought the world and others expected of me. As a result I often felt I didn't belong where I placed myself. Changing my actions to align with my beliefs is a learning process. Currently, acting with my heart, based on my beliefs, leaves me feeling like the fool much of the time — as though I exist in a time and place not meant for me.

The false beliefs that I've allowed to manipulate my actions shouted men don't speak from their hearts, men don't write poetry, they don't act on or say what they feel when love or vulnerability are concerned. Men are stoic, strong, emotional rocks. By default I cling to these false beliefs because they are easier to live. Being open and vulnerable is hard — in my relationships with others, in my writing, with myself.

Building confidence in who I am requires I shed these false beliefs and act based on what I believe deep within. I must act even when I fear the judgement stemming from past beliefs. I must quiet myself and listen.

Maybe it’s just in America, but it seems that if you’re passionate about something, it freaks people out. You’re considered bizarre or eccentric. To me, it just means you know who you are. — Tim Burton

This isn't about resolutions, or a list of goals for the coming year. This is about a continued path of reinvention. Myself as my Self. The Self that strips away the layers and masks I've built to reveal the rawness at my core. If my belief in dreams, magic, purpose, stories, and love as connectedness can impact one life then happily the fool I'll be. If it can impact one life, then can it not impact the world in a small way? I now accept the answer to be Yes.

What do you believe in? When you close your eyes in silence, when you recite your favorite quotes, listen to your favorite songs, read your favorite books, connect with those you love. When you feel from your heart and core, what beliefs surface? Capture and live them. The world will be better for it.