“All good things are wild, and free.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

This article is a close-up look at how to build a life of freedom on your own terms, and how to set the stage to make it happen no matter who you are or what you do.

This article is only meant for those people who are truly ready to make the jump and to fully embody the life they were put on this earth to live.

Firstly, let me set the scene and explain a bit more about where I am coming from. Then my 9 powerful steps to get whatever you want in life will make even more sense.

I’ve been through some truly insane experiences and tough times in my long quest for true freedom. But I’ve learned so much along the way, it’s time for me to give back now in a real direct way. So I’m glad to have this opportunity right now…

In my Passion-Maker Life Purpose Test, I ask 10 simple questions to help you identify and commit to your true life purpose. Questions #7 & 8 refer to your big goals for the next 6-12 months, and they ask what’s stopping you from achieving them. But question #9 may be the most important one:-

What are you committed to doing to turn it around and make it happen?

A passion-driven purpose is what makes it all possible, but without a commitment from you to turn around your life and overcome the obstacles, the rest is just a waste of time.

There’s no unwritten rule that you have to find the spark of your passionate bliss, live a life of freedom and inspiration, and change the world.

It’s up to you to make the decision to cultivate that spark and fan the flames of your passion until it sets you — and the world — on fire.

I created this post, and the 9 powerful steps, to outline an approach to what I believe is possible for just about anyone to achieve. These steps have worked for me, even though I’m still polishing the edges!

Only a small percentage of those who read this will actually do the work that’s required.

Will you be one of them?

The real question is how badly do you want your freedom? It’s really up to you to make it happen!

This is what “True Freedom” looks like:

The way I see it, true freedom is the ability to do whatever you want, whenever you want.

Could you put it any simpler really? With that kind of freedom, your thinking might be somewhere along these lines:

‘I need a break, I think I’ll plan a little trip over to New York to visit some old friends…. You know, I REALLY need a break, so after that, it would be so good to spend a few weeks in that little secluded holy town at the foothills of the Himalayas in North India. I’ll just have to bring the team up to speed on what to expect while I’m gone. Afterwards, I can come back fully refreshed, and excited to work on that new book proposal…’

Doesn’t sound half-bad, right? Actually, that’s exactly what I’m thinking for myself right now. Not sure exactly how it’s going to unfold, but that’s what I’m planning as soon as my latest project is launched and wrapped (hint: it has something to do with creating a life of freedom).

I’m really not trying to toot my own horn, I’m just really trying to show you what I mean by living a life of freedom. I have spent the better part of the last few years working 60-70+ hour weeks building an online media company and working on some very high-pressure projects – the kind of projects that make you seriously consider jumping off very tall bridges.

Before that, I was unemployed, and working hard to make ends meet as a freelance cameraman and media producer, after quitting the world of “Reality TV” production in Los Angeles, and never going back. I wasn’t doing too hot…

My quest for the Secret to True Happiness (aka enlightenment)

Before I landed in LA, I spent a few years on an epic quest in search of the secret to enlightenment that pretty much dragged me kicking and screaming through the streets of New York City, and eventually landed me on a ten-month journey through India.

By the time I actually HAD learned the secret, I was fully in the nectar of eternal bliss, and had no worries in the world…. At least I thought so at the time.

The only trouble was, it wasn’t at all sustainable. It was the kind of bliss you can only have when you’re on a spiritual quest in a beautiful country, living your dream, and with few cares in the world. Pretty much full-time nirvana. But that can only last so long when your funds aren’t inexhaustible.

It sure as heck doesn’t work when you‘re trying to survive on your own in a city like Los Angeles, where I ended up when the inevitable time came for me to return.

This was only false, temporary freedom. It gave me a taste of immortality, and the illusion of freedom. But as one of my great spiritual teachers, Ramana Maharshi, once said:

“What comes and goes is not real.”

So, it was back to the drawing board…

If At First You Don’t Succeed, Don’t Try Again – unless…

I’ve failed more times than I can count. I can now finally say that I’ve learned how to succeed at one thing: Failing miserably.

At the failure-point I’ve usually dusted myself off, hung low for a bit, and then tried something completely different.

The problem with just trying again “if at first you don’t succeed…” is you’ll likely just end up with a tumble and fall again, if you don’t take a really hard look at what you’re doing.

You’ve GOT to do the inner work, see what you’re doing for what it really is, and change course if it ain’t working. Learn to master your psychology, and build a foundation of true clarity. That’s when the really juicy stuff starts to emerge.

It was only recently that I finally figured out what I was doing wrong, completely reorganized my business and hit the reset button on my approach to EVERYTHING in life and work, to make it actually work for me.

The one thing that changed everything

It was earlier this year when I was sitting in meditation, that I came to the realization that the only thing that was stopping me from really living the life I envisioned was my approach to my work.

I had been looking at things from the perspective of growing a business, and leveraging my resources to generate more income. Sounds reasonable, right?

Although my business is geared towards helping people who are doing great work in the world, and I was and still am completely dedicated to that mission, there was a big hole in the picture. A missing link per se…

The missing key was the element of real service: The acknowledgment and embracing of the fact that I was in this to make an impact, and I was willing to do whatever it takes to use my know-how to make a difference.

That’s the difference between a limp mission statement, and a purpose-driven mission that encapsulates the essence of who you are and what you’ve been sent on this earth to accomplish!

That passionate mission is what fuels all beautiful, magnificent, larger-than-life things that otherwise ordinary people can accomplish in their lives.

That commitment is what changed everything for me. But there’s one thing to watch out for…

Manipulating the system for what you want versus allowing what’s meant to happen

The difference between manipulating the system for what you want, and enabling the circumstances for your purpose to unfold, is huge. It’s a subtle dance between the two, but they represent very different approaches!

The first, most common approach is to say, ‘hey, I want this thing, and I will stop at nothing to get it!’.

The second approach is more along the lines of, ‘hey, I feel this strong calling in my heart to do this thing that can really help make a difference in the lives of so many people, and I’m going to do my absolute best to make it happen!’

I think you can see the difference pretty clearly.

One is driven by greed and desire. The other is driven by passion and purpose.

When you commit your life to getting something done, you better take a real good look at what you’re out to accomplish, because it’s going to be a whole lot easier if you’re doing something that’s genuinely for the greater good.

That way, there’s a lot less energetic resistance to face, and the ‘universal energy flow’ is free to come in and help carry you along the journey.

I know now without a doubt, the most important thing by far is to pay attention to the aspect of your work that calls from the deepest part of your soul.

It’s the joyously passionate part of the work, the part that just bubbles up from within you. Your calling is also the bedrock and foundation of the following nine steps – follow and develop that, and you cannot fail!

The 9 Steps to Getting Whatever You Want, Whenever You Want It.

1. Know Your Passion-Driven Life Purpose

Know this in your deepest heart of hearts, and let it set you on fire. Find the muse, the passion that calls from deep within you, and pushes out from your very existence. This is the foundation of EVERYTHING else.

Take this passion, indulge it (and make sweet love with it). You will be rewarded with sheer acts of glimmering beauty beyond your wildest dreams; beauty that emanates from places within you and the world that you didn’t know exist.

It’s quite marvellous, really. You’re allowing for the world to blossom in so many vibrant colours before your eyes.

The Passion-Maker Life Purpose Test I created will help you identify and commit to your purpose (in about 10 minutes), but what you do with it is really up to you.

If you’re at all on the fence about your passion, purpose and commitment, you should go get the Passion Maker by clicking here.

2. Develop a Rock-Solid Commitment to Living Your Purpose Above All Else!

This is where you will be put to the test, when life’s distractions, your deepest fears, and the opinions of others threaten to throw you off track.

There’s nothing worse than passion and talent gone to waste, or the feeling of defeat when you’ve finally thrown in the towel. I’ve been there, and it sucks!

If you waste away letting your biggest dreams die a slow death, they will kill you too… truly. Your buried dreams will fester and rot, and turn up in other ugly forms, such as addictions, depression, bad relationships and disease.

Don’t let yourself become another statistic! Commit to your dreams above all else. Stick to your purpose even if you have to walk the path on your own.

3. Know Your Self

Your quest to know who you really are, to master your psychology, and to heal your past must never end. The real secret to success is in mastering your inner game, and conquering your dragons. No way around it!

You are a fierce wisdom warrior, who’s being called to fight an epic battle with your own demons.

Will you heed the call?

The hero’s journey is a journey of conquering your own biggest fears, and confronting the dragons of hell. Once you’ve gone there, and conquered, you can do just about anything.

So, get strong enough in yourself to do something worthy of remembering.

Make a stand for what you believe in, and be ridiculously fierce in fighting for that ‘til the bitter end. If your true heart’s calling is pushing you, and you’re working for something bigger than you, the universal energy flow will come in to help you out.

You’ve gotta feel it boiling in your blood: veni, vidi, vici. (I came, I saw, I conquered)

4. Get Clear on Your Goals, and Create a Master Plan

Here’s where it can start to get a bit trickier. Whose advice do you follow? Where is the best place to start? Which goals do you actually follow?

It’s not that hard, really, when you’re coming from a place of real clarity on your passion and purpose. The clarity is key.

If that isn’t there, I recommend you do some more work on that!

Starting with those first three steps above, you’ve gotta take a hard look at what you want to achieve. What’s the big goal?

Set yourself up for some real big goals. Not just something like I want to make X more income this year. I’m talking big dreams, life-changing goals, stuff you might consider out of reach in ordinary circumstances.

Looking at stuff more along these lines: Write a New York Times bestseller; travel around the world for a year and study ways to alleviate starvation; start a non-profit to provide housing and rehabilitation to the homeless in your community, etc.

BONUS TIP: With really big and beautiful goals, you have to study hard and learn from the best to see what they’ve done to make it happen! Then you adapt that for yourself.

One thing you can try is this: Do your research and choose about 10 people you respect and admire, who are doing work that you love. Then start to learn from them, follow them on twitter, read every article they write (and comment if they have blogs).

If you know what you want, and you start to associate with the people who are already in the flow of living their dreams, oddly magical stuff can start to happen. Keep your eyes peeled. Here is a good place to start.

5. Take Action! (Now)

What’s stopping you? The only obstacle is you!

Virtually any obstacle that comes in your way can be overcome by simply staring it down square in the face until it buggers off, or by delegating it to someone else, or when all else fails, manoeuvring around it.

Take consistent action, and be sure to check in and recalibrate on your short-term, medium and long-range goals regularly.

Obviously it helps to break down your goals into smaller tasks, and commit to a schedule of sorts. Just try and focus overwhelmingly on what feels right in your heart, and what you’re called to do. At the same time, you’d be amazed at the results a good partnership, or virtual assistant can bring.

When you focus on what you’re truly good at, and hand over or delegate the other stuff whenever possible, you will consistently outperform your wildest expectations (as long as you are doing the work that lines up with your passion, of course…).

6. Develop Relationships With People Who Are Already Doing Similar Work

This is the hardest part for some people, me included, and potentially the MOST rewarding.

The truth is you can’t go it alone – it takes a global village these days.

Going the lone rebel hero route is also totally over-rated. It’s part of our collective mythology, and there’s great value to believing in yourself and fighting for something bigger than you, of course.

The truth is, though, your work will exponentially grow and reach many more people when you start partnering with others.

Don’t hide out in your safe little cave for too long, its loads of fun to get out and start making meaningful relationships!

It all starts with a simple little conversation. Like – ‘Hi, I like your work, just wanted to tell you why…’

Get out there and start meaningful conversations. You never know where they might lead…

7. Build a Passion-Based Freedom Business So You Can Finally Be Free

You may be a successful business person or executive already or you may be someone who delivers pizzas for a living and loves every second of it.

Unless you’re truly in love with the work aspect of your life, it’s gonna be hard to be truly happy and fulfilled.

If you can’t pretty much do whatever you want, whenever you want, you’re not really free right?

If your goal is to be really free, you can start by creating a small freedom business based on your passion, and work hard and smart to build it into an empire.

8. Help Others Accomplish Their Dreams

The most beautiful thing of all, I reckon is making a difference, and helping other people out, which makes cool stuff happen.

There’s a karmic flow that happens when you give, and use your skills and talents for good. You set yourself up for more good energy flow coming back to you. It’s just a universal principle.

Here’s a little example: my friend Jonathan Fields starts almost every day with a simple tweet: “Who can I help today?” But the kicker is, he really means it.

It’s not like he just has a bunch of time on his hands. He’s really dedicated to using his talents to make a difference and help people out!

I was inspired by that, and it cemented my respect for him. So, when it came to locking in on MY “top 10” list (see #4), he was right on there, and I featured him in a post about it.

When you switch to the model of being of service, and using your talents for the greater good, that’s when really cool stuff happens! (Like people you’ve befriended online, writing about you randomly in blog posts like this).

9. Let Your Passions Run Wild

If true freedom is what you’re after, you have to want that freedom so bad that it burns!

You’ve gotta let that passion run wild and burn free. When the smoke clears, you’ll rise from the ashes in glorious 3-D.

When you’re crystal clear and laser focused on that passion, you’ve got to give it the freedom to do its thing. Stand out of your own way.

Forget the doubts, and failures of the past, and let miracles happen. Take risks, let go of your schedule, get out of your comfort zone, and take big, wild, glorious leaps.

Your only real obstacles are your own self-limiting beliefs. Accessing your imagination, your convictions and your passion, are all in your hands.

Feel the fear, and Make it Happen anyway!

One Last Reminder

On the day I was invited to write this post, I was struggling with some aspects of my life I really don’t love. The stuff was related to about the last 10% or so of stuff I still have to deal with that sometimes drives me mad – bills, debt, and tricky clients.

What happened, though, is on that day, Arvind’s email turned everything around, and suddenly that last 10% didn’t seem so bad.

The little difference was so minimal, yet so huge: I had hope, and a reminder, that I was in this for something bigger than me, and for that reason, it was all going to work out.

Plus, I had a plan I’ve been formulating for a while to take over the world, and accomplishing this plan was a lot bigger than me and my little worries.

Without a plan, I’d still be lost in trying to manipulate the system to get what I want, instead of creating a system to allow for what is meant to be.

When you’re doing great things, in alignment with your life purpose, it’s pretty common to hit up against a LOT of resistance. But it’s usually 90% your own, and 10% from outside.

That’s because there’s a little voice of doubt that’s been planted in our heads from so many different sources all through our upbringing and into adult life.

That voice is always trying to shoot us down. It’s the mind, trying to prove our biggest fears right.

You just have to put systems in place to quiet the voice, and master your inside game. It’s not that hard, it just takes a little practice.

Like any sport, as you practice more, you get better and your confidence grows. Your confidence then also helps you play better!

It’s the same with your inner game. Never overlook the importance of mastering your psychology, and committing to live a life of purpose and passion.

It is truly the greatest secret to a life of freedom and choice. Combined with a master plan, persistence and consistent action, you can make amazing things happen!

What is your true passion? What are you here for? What would you do with your freedom?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments, and see a whole mess of tweets on this post… let’s make it happen! 🙂

With love and gratitude,
~ Satya

This is a guest post by Satya Colombo of Fierce Wisdom.

“Satya” means truth in Sanskrit and there is a lot of truth and wisdom in Satya’s long and detailed article. Please enjoy and apply in your life.

Satya Colombo is on a mission to live a life of 100% fearless service to Truth and Freedom. You’re invited to take his Passion-Maker test from Fierce Wisdom, but no results guaranteed. You’ve gotta take what works for you, make it your own, and make it happen!