It’s so easy to look at most of the obstacles in your path. “I need to do this for so‑and‑so. I have to clean up that mess. I have to check my e‑mail or see what’s up on Facebook. I have so many meetings to attend. The phone is ringing.” You get the idea. There’s always something else you could or should be doing, and somehow you let that get in the way of doing what you really want to do.

So those are the other obstacles. What about YOU as an obstacle? What are the ideas, thoughts, and expectations that block what you really want? What would you have to give up in order to play full out, to go for a totally fabulous life?

Do you like to think of yourself as a busy, productive, generous person? Would you have to give up that image of yourself if you were having fun with life?

Do you like to present your best self to the world—attractive, competent, organized, likable? How might people perceive you if you were trying new things, living a daring, adventurous life, having fun?

Do you like to make sure everyone else is okay before you take care of yourself? What would happen if they had to take care of themselves a bit more, while you were out “playing” and exercising your talents?

What might happen to your image of yourself if you let go of old expectations and spent more time doing what you absolutely love to do? Surely it’s a trade‑off: living up to your “reputation with yourself” versus living up to your own brilliance. Might be worth a try.

What do you think?

My suggestion: take the bushel off and let your lamp shine. See what happens.