Angeles Arrien (a heroine of mine) says there are four rivers of life that we need to track to insure that we are fully alive: The River of Inspiration, The River of Challenge, The River of Surprise and The River of Meaning. These four rivers are such a meaningful lens right now for reflecting on our lives, businesses and creative projects.

We are definitely living in The River of Challenge these days. Challenges have the potential to stretch and grow us. They teach us about resourcefulness and can be catalysts for new ideas or perspectives.

The River of Inspiration is like food for the soul. It’s about noticing who or what inspires you. I’ve been inspired daily by companies pivoting to meet the needs of their communities and by so much creativity and generosity of spirit. WOW! Are you allowing yourself to be fed by inspiration?

The River of Surprise can show us where we are stuck and inflexible but it’s also a combination of delight and awe. These are difficult times, what surprises are you experiencing? How have you surprised yourself?

And finally The River of Meaning is about looking at where you have been touched or moved. It’s about our sense of purpose and holding dear what has heart and meaning for us.

To be fully alive, especially in these times, is to step up, to lead, to be of service and to be the river of inspiration to others and to create from a place of purpose and meaning.