What does it really mean to follow your bliss?
And how do you even begin to know what your bliss is?
Perhaps a simple place to start is this:
When you think about what you have planned for today, how does your body respond?
Is there a sense of ease, curiosity, or quiet excitement?
Or do you feel a heaviness, resistance, or dread settling in?
If something consistently feels heavy, it’s worth lovingly asking yourself whether this is truly aligned with your bliss.
We spend a large part of our waking lives working, so it can be deeply supportive to pause and look honestly at the career path you are on. Was this a choice that came from your heart? Does it still nourish you? Or did it arise from necessity, fear, or the expectations of others — perhaps even a parent’s dream rather than your own?
Here in South Africa, many people remain in jobs they dislike because they are afraid that if they leave, nothing else will come along. That fear is very real, and it deserves compassion. Yet it’s also helpful to notice that when we are in strong resistance — when we truly don’t want to be somewhere — life often seems to reflect that back to us. The conditions feel heavier, relationships become more strained, and things appear to get harder rather than easier.
Why does this happen?
Take a moment to notice where your energy goes. How much time do you spend thinking about what isn’t working? Talking about it? Replaying it in your mind? Whether it’s your job, your boss, or your colleagues, whatever receives the most attention tends to grow.
I’d like to share a little from my own journey.
I ran a decorating business for seventeen years. There were parts of it that I truly loved — working with colour, fabrics, textures, and creative spaces. I focused on corporate interiors and met many wonderful people who became friends over time.
As a decorator, I subcontracted much of the work, and this is where the strain crept in. I often felt as though I was constantly juggling, managing expectations, and putting out fires. Clients had deadlines, subcontractors sometimes let me down, and the pressure mounted — especially toward the end of each year when everything had to be completed before the builders’ holidays.
I knew this pattern well, and I kept trying to manage the pressure and make it smoother. Yet at the same time, I was constantly focused on it. And this is where the deeper lesson lay: by giving so much attention to the stress and trying to fix it, I was unintentionally feeding it. My higher self simply reflected back more of what I was focusing on — more stress, more urgency, more drama.
Perhaps you can relate.
Take a gentle look at your own life. What isn’t working for you right now? And how much attention are you giving it? How often do you talk about it, replay it, or feel it weighing on you?
Another important sign to notice is your health. When we live in resistance for too long, our bodies often speak up. Fatigue, tension, or recurring symptoms may be quiet messages inviting us to listen more deeply to ourselves.
Here are some gentle ways to begin shifting this:
1. When you listen to and follow your inner knowing, you are always being guided — even if the steps feel small or uncertain at first.
2. If a book, course, person, remedy, or idea keeps appearing in your awareness, take notice. Repetition is often your higher self saying, “Pause here. Explore this a little further.” Allow yourself to follow that nudge without overthinking it.
3. Ask yourself: What could I do in the next ten seconds that would bring a small smile?
A sip of coffee, a stretch, a favourite song, a moment of movement, or thinking of someone (or an animal) you love. These tiny choices gently recalibrate your energy.
4. This may be the most important of all: stop judging yourself — and others.
Know, deeply, that you are enough. That you are valuable. When you truly know this, you open the doorway to receiving — support, kindness, love, friendship, and abundance. You deserve to receive it all.
5. Ask yourself what you have been striving for. Recognition? Approval? Validation?
What if that external recognition helped you survive or succeed, yet also kept you small? And what if recognising your own worth, fully and gently, could change everything? When you truly know who you are, you naturally begin to seek peace and contentment rather than approval.
6. We often complicate our lives, sometimes believing that complexity makes us look important or intelligent. What if that is no longer required? What if life could be simpler… and easier?
Feel into that possibility. If it brings even a hint of joy or relief, begin looking at where you can soften expectations and simplify. Less pressure often creates more space for joy.
7. If your energy feels low, allow yourself to rest. Listen to your body’s wisdom. Perhaps you need more time in nature, near the ocean, or simply away from constant stimulation. Even if you cannot change your circumstances right now, you can still feed your soul in small, nurturing ways.
8. Finding your sense of purpose can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve been disconnected from yourself for a long time. Begin simply. What do you enjoy doing? Where does time seem to disappear?
Painting, gardening, dancing, listening, creating, supporting others — whatever it is, give it more space in your life. As you do, your focus naturally shifts away from what isn’t working. From there, you may feel inspired to share this gift with others, perhaps even in ways you never imagined.
9. When you move closer to your bliss, your health often responds. Vitality and wellbeing tend to flourish when your life feels aligned.
When you follow your bliss, new doors open — often quietly, gently, one at a time. Your only task is to notice them, and to step through when you feel ready.
Returning to my own story…
One day, in the midst of stress and uncertainty, I picked up a book on colour therapy. As I read, every cell in my body seemed to awaken. I knew — in that deep, unshakeable way — that this was something new to explore. Within three weeks I had signed up for my first course.
For four years I ran my decorating business alongside my colour readings. Then, in 1997, I gathered the courage to step fully into the unknown. I closed my decorating business and committed myself to supporting others in their healing journeys.
Now, more than thirty years later, I am still learning, growing, and exploring. There have been many ups and downs, and each time life feels heavy again, I know it is an invitation to open up and allow something new to enter.
My bliss is supporting others in finding their wellness, their passion, and their light. Through the sessions and modalities I offer, and through training other therapists, I witness lives soften and eyes light up again. Each time that happens, my heart sings.
Life is a beautiful, unfolding adventure — and I am deeply grateful to be of service in this way.