This is how an epic life is lived!

January 8, 2013 by Mastin Kipp 38 Comments

Any project that you start is some kind of leap out into the unknown. It just is.

The truth is that there is no amount of certainty that you can get to prove to your fear that what you want to do, what you feel called to do, will work out.

We have no idea of knowing what will happen.

No one who has ever been successful in their life has ever created or started a project with certainty of the outcome.

Those whom we look up to, those who make dents in the Uni-verse, those who make a mark on the world are those who have become friends with and learned how to master uncertainty.

Your relationship with uncertainty is a measure of how successful you will become. If you are addicted to comfort, addicted to control, addicted to certainty – then you can surely count on your life to shrivel up and die a slow and boring death.

The thing about this kind of death is that it’s not all of a sudden. It’s not a single moment. It’s a subtle and slow death that happens over a lifetime. It’s a death that is riddled with excuses and stories about why it didn’t work out, or subtle white lies you say to yourself and those that you Love, “It’s okay, I like my life.”

But, how many of us can really say that when we die, we will die fully used up, fully expressed, fully in our purpose?

Not many.

And those of us that do leave a mark on a generation.

Are you living for comfort or are you living for the ages? Are you living to just get by or are you living to be fully expressed no matter what comes your way?

If you wish to be expressed, if you wish to live in your purpose, if you wish to Love and be Loved to the fullest – then become friends with uncertainty.

See your life as an experiment in uncertainty. See your life as a giant dare to The Divine – you weren’t made to fall. You weren’t made to fail. You were made to learn. To Love and to pick yourself back up.

Erase failure from your vocabulary. It was a lesson.

Erase self-doubt from your mind. You have no idea how amazing and powerful you are when you are connected to your Source.

Step into uncertainty today and a little bit every day.

This is how an epic life is lived.

As always, the action happens in the comments below. Leave a comment and join the conversation! The TDL Community thrives in the comments and it’s a GREAT place to get support!

Love,

Mastin

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Hannah Gabriel

This is just what I needed Mastin. Thank you, a true heart felt uncertain thank you x
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1204415497 Travis L Thomas

Amen Mastin! I was sitting here this morning wanting certainty – yet it is the uncertainty that continues to fuel and feed me.

I just booked a date to do my first ever LIVE event for 30 Days of YES. I am not even sure how to promote it – but I am listening. Will anyone show up? Will it be any good?

I don’t know. But my heart…my purpose…my YES is calling me to put it out there. Maybe no one shows up – and maybe it is sold-out…but either way I am doing it!

Thanks for the inspiring nudge this morning to help me along the path!

Travis
http://www.Yes30.com
CaliShelley

Embracing this concept that there is no certainty in the outcome makes me feel empowered. It makes me feel like each day I have the choice and ability to affect the change I desire and keep to the course I choose. Thank you Mastin! I feel strong.
Helgavulcan

What if I don’t want an epic life, I don’t really want to be noticed or be at the top. I like my life of certainty but I still want spiritual growth, I just don’t think I need to jump up and express everything in doing so. I read your blog every day and most of the time it hits me right in the heart and I feel better but sometimes like today I feel like I am being put down for not wanting this epic life. I am a very happy introvert, I want to make a change or two in my life but in a quiet subtle way.

Not everybody needs to achieve something huge, many just want to be comfortable, that makes them happy.

I have been reading your blog for a very long time and I kinda miss the sentence you had at the end ‘take what resonates with you and leave the rest’ or something like that, it made me feel like you were talking to everybody even though something you said one day didn’t fit me.
- http://www.are-you-there-kathleen-its-me-god.blogspot.com/ Kathleen Reynolds Chelquist
  
  Dearest Helgavulcan, an “EPIC LIFE” means being….you. The real you! If you are at peace and joyful being an introvert…than you are living your epic life. I follow a mantra that says, “THIS ONLY HAS THE MEANING I AM GIVING IT.” I do not hear Mastin saying that an Epic life=”being on top” or “noticed.” I can see possibly why Mastin took that sentence out (although, I hadn’t noticed) because he is speaking from his heart and giving you the responsibility to take it or leave it. I so want you to know that YOU are that powerful to do just that. Take it or leave it…without his instruction. YOU can create any feeling you want. He cannot make you feel anything without your permission. I hope this helps you, help yourself, in living… an EPIC LIFE of YOUR CHOICE! Lovingly, Kathleen
- http://www.facebook.com/mastinkipp Mastin Kipp
  
  spiritual growth = epic life )
- Vee
  
  Helgavulcan,
  Seeking spiritual growth connects you to YOUR epic life. It’s not about jumping up and down, being noticed or even being at the top. It’s about being noticed to yourself. Living in your own awareness and fulfillment. Doing so IS achieving something huge because most people cannot do so.
MyFitStation.com

Beautiful!
Thank you for spreading the love Daily, your posts really help redirect me in the direction I truly wish to follow in life!
Isabella
Drew

Once again, awesome words Mastin! I am learning to really become friends with Uncertainty… It has made HUGE and fulfilling differences in my life, more than I can say… Its not my best friend yet, but DEF always invited to the party…. Thank you again Mastin!
Love
Drew
http://www.facebook.com/howardcarteriii Howard Carter III

Another great article,!!! My favorite which leads me to step into an uncomfortable territory. Sorry for over stepping my boundaries I miss the recordings of your “love letter” to the Uni-verse…lol.. . U-have a really soothing voice that is very reassuring fist thing in the morning and I unfortunately became accustomed to it. Far be it of me to request of you something more than I already generously receive. I read a quote from Madonna, i think, “If you don’t ask for what you want how can you ever expect to get it.” Funny, I know but it is bronzed with truth. I didn’t “fact check” before posting the quote so I do apologize if I improperly quoted or inappropriately assigned it but this is just a comment so I think I gain an extra mile before I am fined.
Jo

“You weren’t made to fail. You were made to learn.” Love it. Thank you for the encouraging and inspiring message.
http://www.are-you-there-kathleen-its-me-god.blogspot.com/ Kathleen Reynolds Chelquist

“If you believe in failure, know this: Failure is not about falling down a thousand times; it’s refusing to get up.” Cinnamon Lofton (A human that knows she has lived her life 100% on purpose, and I want to spread her message to the world). Just two days ago, I created uncertainty with TDL. I was flagged for review, and am still not quite sure what that means. Is it a glitch? Still, uncertain. At first, I feared that the TDL Community changed their mind and decided that they did not want me to be a “Contributor” on their site. I called my mentor who showed me (through example) what love is. She said, “Now, what is this “comment thing” you are talking about?” My mind crazed, “You know, Cinnamon…I comment on Mastin’s blog daily.” She lovingly replied (something like this), “I hear irritation in your voice and please know Kathleen that I counsel so many people. As soon as I am done counseling, I let go of all the details. Otherwise, I would not be present to each new situation. Please know that I so desire to get my message out to Oprah as well, and if I don’t-I am just as peaceful. Just as blissful. I am not addicted to the outcome.” It was then that I breathed and relaxed into the uncertainty, and trusted. I know that I am living on purpose. I do not know the outcome. Little by little I am moving with the Uni-verse-not against. And, guess what? You are reading my comment….today (the only moment that is a sure thing)!The Daily Commenter,
Kathleen
are-you-there-kathleen-it’s-me-god.blogspot.com/
http://Www.BigDivaHq.com Ms. Pillowz

I cannot tell you how much I needed to read this today. This is a huge sign for me. I have been wrestling with my need for control and my risk aversion and my dislike of being uncertain. I KNOW that what lies on the other side of all that I am is absolute freedom. I just need to let go of the fear. Reading this will definitely help me with this shift. Thank you so much, Mastin. This site is a blessing!
Jen James

Uncertainty, failure, and self-doubt are all doable. The most crippling of emotions that I battle daily is fear - Fear that I am being to controling, fear that I won’t lose the weight I want to (I’m over-weight), fear that if I do lose the weight that I’ll gain it back, or that I won’t be happy if I do. I fear failing before I even get the chance to fail. It makes me angry, tired, depressed and impatient.

I fear that I will never live to see the person I feel I am inside.

To let go of that fear and just be – just live life, and feel how awesome everything around me is, and how lucky I am to experience the things I have. I want that. I want to feel the emotions I experience and be able to accept and let them go. That is what my epic would be.

With the help of a therapist I am beginning to understand that it is all in the way we view it. That a shift in perspective or paradigm makes all the difference. I’m not there yet, but I hope I will be. All it takes is making the commitment to want more out of your life, and making what’s important to you important again.
- Faith
  
  Jen – I totally feel your struggle and am starting to work with people on spiritual weight loss. I would recommend investigating what are the payoffs for keeping the weight on? it keeps you safe, its your comfort zone…..there are many! what will happen when you lose the weight? Uncovering the subconscious beliefs that keep the weight on or keep people turning to food are KEY in letting it all go and moving forward with life. As far as uncertainty, it may be an issue of wanting guarantee……that it will all work out as you want. It may be issues of safety or power. There is always a way the weight is serving us, even if we are not conscious of it.
  - Jen James
    
    You are awesome Faith, thank you for your reply. Total food for thought. I have been dancing around these topics recently in my sessions. I wish there was a way to turn the light on to the sources of the conscious thoughts… but I guess thats what the therapist is…the light. Great idea about the spiritual weight loss focus. I wish people considered this before they went to such drastic measures to loose the weight without really solving the issues that put them in that place in the first place.
    - Faith
      
      I SOO agree. Everyone is looking for the right diet, the magic solution and no one wants to look deep into the real roots of weight struggles…..which takes courage for sure!!! I am a nutritionist and had struggled with food/wt and my body image for my whole life. I had searched and searched for answers trying different ways of eating and self diagnosing myself with all sorts of imbalances. Many of the physical imbalances were there but all manifested from my emotions. I have sure lived this battle. So my own journey has led me to looking at wt and food from the spiritual angle and I have found my life’s work..to help others free themselves from this so they can live in full expression of who they are. The tool that has really uncovered and shifted things for me is EFT (tapping). I highly suggest you look into it. This technique taps into the subconcious to uncover and shift the beliefs and emotions keeping people stuck in the battle with food and weight. It is an amazing journey and I truly believe the path to freedom. All the best to you Jen!!
Ssbrown82

I’m so stuck on this? sheesh..
Ssbrown82

I guess I don’t mind the uncertainty I just want to be in something real that has uncertainty. Like a new relationship you never know what’s going to happen so I’m ok with the uncertainty since if were just dating then things can evolve into certainty. I guess I can put it into that perspective and it makes sense. I do believe that life is full of uncertainty and we aren’t promised tomorrow or even today but I’d rather know of the uncertainty to live life then to not know of the uncertainty to where I can’t grow or learn. Does that make any sense?
Jules

I have been practicing on focusing on my day and the moment; trying to do the action (even if that means sitting in quiet meditation); and give the outcome up. It was suggested to me that I put the outcome on “the shelf”. I picture my loved ones, my career, my goals, my future activities that I am planning now, as books lined up on the shelves. Outcomes are yet to be seen. Lessons learned, rather then failures! Love this! Thanks, keep sharing.
Nikie

“The truth is that there is no amount of certainty that you can get to prove to your fear that what you want to do, what you feel called to do, will work out.” ….This is very interesting; I had not thought of it before. I have been searching for CERTAINTY that the big change I want to make in my life will work out. And somedays it feels like I might end up thinking my way out of this ‘project’ I have in mind….(b/c ‘what if” it doesn’t work out?! I tell myself. What if I lose people I love in the process? What if I Actually miss my old job?! What if I end up hating this project that I want to take on in my life?, ECT.) …I guess I am venting a little right here….but maybe someone else has been through this before and can give a sister a hand here….This ‘project’ I have a desire to do, well, if I told it to you, you might think ” what’s the Big deal here, it’s not like your thinking of going to North Africa to stand in the middle of a war?” …the BIG part about it is that it has quite a few risks (some which I stated above)….SOooo, I guess I wish there was some way to know that the ‘projects’ which one wants to take on are legit. Does any one have advice about knowing whether your decision is a legit or non-legit one? Thanks Mastin and Thanks community.
- Amro Salama
  
  Do what your heart calls you to do. The Uni-verse will show you a U-turn if it is needed! Do what makes you happy. And remember, the Journey is the destination! And that includes U-turns. Hope that helps! Continued Happiness TDLers!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1617343764 Özge Burçak

This is one of your best yet.
Cathy Ladd

I receive and love your message today Mastin. Thank you!
http://www.facebook.com/ciceron.altarejos Ciceron Altarejos

Dude, same tribe.
http://www.facebook.com/Margaretclarkledane Margaret Clark LeDane

This is how I feel everyday! The only way to grow my biz and myself is to fail (sometimes) and I remind myself that this is normal. Keep posting uncertainty messages for it pushes me to keep going in creating my epic life and not give up:)
peggy braswell

I adore this! DARE.
Deja_099

Hi, I really enjoyed what you had to say here. Can I ask that you also give us the option to email and print this? I noticed you have facebook and twitter, but I would like to email myself a copy or I would have liked to printed it, or both! Thanks!

And I love what you are doing! Keep going!
Faith

This could not be more perfect for me right now. I am in a place of breaking through the fear and need for certainty. I have uncovered that I stay stuck partly because I dont have a guarantee that change and moving forward will meet ALL my expectations, haha. Staying stuck surely is a guarantee, I know that very well. But I am living my life small when I know it is suppose to be big. It is not even something I have chosen consciously. I would probably use fear to convince myself that my epic life is small or private (if i could) but I know my contract here is big. Stepping into that now by surrendering to the fear and trusting the universe has my back =)
Bowditch

this is just what I most needed to hear today. Thank you x
Kim Conway

Mastin, how do I get rid of the fear and doubt and that little voice in my head that keeps saying that I’m too old and it’s too late?
Mpurn

This is something I struggle with every single day. A year ago I ended a very unhealthy relationship but since then I have been scared every single day that I will never find love again. I can say that in the year of learning, reflecting, healing and growing…I have found myself, but I want to share myself with someone equally special. I know they say that you will find someone the moment you stop looking, but I can’t seem to shut that part of my brain off. I am so grateful for everything in my life..its pretty idyllic…yet I have this gaping hole and scary fear that it will be an solo idyllic life experience.
http://www.sivitrimultimedia.carbonmade.com/ Sivitri

Wow!! There was definitely some fire behind that one. Thanks
Ashling574

If at first you don’t succeed, redefine success

I have that as a plaque up on my wall and I read it every day when I wake up. It’s a great motto to live by.
TDL Reader

I partly believe what you are saying but my only thing is this – there are many people these days that just want to be famous. You know, they sell their soul to ‘be seen’. Ask anyone who deals with the entertainment industry (which I’m sure you are aware of) and it’s a mixture of talent & people who will do anything for fame – some people who claim to be really spiritual, quote all the right things then go off & do all sorts. Pose on instagram semi naked for publicity, publicity stunt dating etc – & these are the ones I’ve noticed who didn’t make it, and it’s sad because somebody out there genuinely loves them, & they are talented but keep getting exploited & allow it. I’m an extrovert too, but I don’t want to be famous for the sake of fame. I get confused with this & understand it’s not your intended message here but i often think of those who push themselves to no end for the 5 mins of fame & it horrifies me.
Casey Cheche

My friend Sandra “introduced” me to you a few weeks ago. Since that time my life has had substantial change. The energy shift is remarkable and I am trying to save to attend one of the mentoring sessions. This post in particular SCREAMS at me. I recently went skydiving and was terrified and invigorated all in the same breath. This blog is TRULY what life is about. I have had to cleanse my life of someone I love very much because he refused to seize the day and would only accept things as they are. Life is short, embrace change, opportunity and go and find your calling.

Mastin, thank you for helping me to find the passion in myself to go and find mine.
http://www.facebook.com/sarah.seidelmann Sarah Bamford Seidelmann

Spot on!:)
http://twitter.com/Dflorestal Dukeslande Florestal

I agree with the idea that in order to achieve great/authentic things we need to be comfortable in uncertainty. But I also believe that those who can do this get their strenght from certainty. It’s the absolute belief that even if they don’t really know the outcome of their actions, there’s a part greater than them that has their back and all will be well in the end. I believe that without this type of intagible certainty, most people will fail miserably and will shy away from leaping into the unknown.