“Let the guitar lead...”: Tips to Help You Truly Follow Your Bliss
By Amy Phillips-Gary

Many of us have heard the personal growth advice to “Follow your bliss.” These words, attributed to Joseph Campbell, are powerful and lovely for me to hear.

But actually doing this in real life isn't always very clear or easy.

Many times, I stop in the midst of my busy day-to-day life and wonder... “Is this anything close to following my blisst? Certainly, a blissful path would feel more...blissful than this!”

What does “follow your bliss” mean after all?

To me, this is all about allowing yourself to be inspired through life rather than trying to control it all. There is a definite aspect of tapping into the activities and ways of being that charge you and help you feel more alive that goes with this slogan.

This can feel scary, confusing and even crazy at times!

After all, what if your bliss changes or doesn't fit in with your current lifestyle?

Music is most definitely something that I get a lot of joy from being around and making. Maybe it's even some part of my own bliss.

Earlier this year I got to hear pop/blues artist John Mayer perform live. It was a stunning show. If you've ever seen Mayer in concert, you probably know that he talks a lot in between songs.

At one point, Mayer spoke about his teen years and his intense love of playing the guitar. He shared with the audience that when he was 19 years old, he decided to “let the guitar lead.” This is exactly what he's done-- his music and passion for playing the guitar have lead him to huge success and fame.

John Mayer was talking about following his bliss.

The trick with this bliss stuff...
The part where I get tripped up in this process of following bliss is in the “following.” There is a underlying requirement to give up some portion of control.

In order to truly be inspired and in order to be able to listen to the what that inspiration is calling you to do, you have to be willing to set aside or alter your grand plan for yourself and your life.

This is can be a challenge for folks like me who tend to feel like we need a LOT of control in our lives.

Behind John Mayer's example of “let the guitar lead” as well as the advice to “follow your bliss” is something bigger than Mayer, you or me that makes all of this happen.

You might understand that something bigger as God, Goddess, Allah, Brahma, Great Spirit, Source, Love, or in some other way. What spans across spiritual and religious beliefs, however, is the idea that some Source is present and available to each us.

This Source shows us how to live our lives in the most beneficial, abundant and fulfilling ways..if we let go of control, open up, listen and follow.

Signs of bliss... We're not all guitar aficionados like John Mayer. For some of us, figuring out what our passion is can be a little confusing.

After all, there might be many things that you enjoy doing and being, but these aren't necessarily your passion or bliss.

How can any of us tell if Source is trying to point us in some direction we may not currently be facing or planning on going?

Again, the importance of staying flexible and open cannot be overstated!

It's wonderful to be decisive about your life and to make clear decisions about what you'd like to do. However, it's also wise to stay loose and easy about these decisions.

Be willing to consider alternatives that come to you-- even if they are radically different than what you initially had in mind.

When you brush up against bliss, you'll probably know. Pay attention to what you are doing, how you are acting and the people you are with when you feel most alive.

You might not always feel joyful or happy, but there will undoubtedly be a level of presence, interest, engagement and even “electric” charge that is more than you normally experience.

These are all possible signs of bliss.

Once you become aware that you are connected in with your passion, stay open because you will almost always be given the opportunity to take another step on that particular path.

The more you appreciate and enjoy the unfolding of this journey, the more easily-- and effortlessly-- your next steps will be to take.
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Amy Phillips-Gary is a freelance writer and a personal growth coach who specializes in helping women accept and love their bodies and themselves more fully. Click here for more information about coaching sessions with Amy.