The Jewels Inside

The greatest of treasure hunts lies not in some far off land. It lies within.

“Surely something wonderful is sheltered inside you.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Many jewels await inside.
The universe hides them there...
Hoping we discover them.

I was fascinated by stories involving lost treasure and lands as a child. Tales of pirates, treasure hunters and far-off lands ensnared me with the promise of adventure. My favorite stories included...

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

• Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

• The Tower Treasure (The Hardy Boys) by Franklin W. Dixon

I continued my fascination with such tales well into adulthood...

• The Gold Bug by Edgar Allan Poe

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Even now, these tales call to me. Only recently did I discover another kind of treasure hunt: one not of the outer world but of the inner one. The treasure is not gold coins or precious gems. No... it is much more valuable.

Playing on one of the universe’s oldest and most endearing tricks, Elizabeth Gilbert explains it this way:

“The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them.”

She goes on to say...

“The hunt to uncover those jewels — that’s creative living. The courage to go on that hunt in the first place — that’s what separates a mundane existence from a more enchanted one.”

What exactly are these jewels hidden inside?

They are the precious gifts we are made with. We must journey to the lands within to discover them. Curiosity and creative interests show us the way.

Many jewels await inside. And only we can discover them. As treasure hunts and grand adventures go, this one trumps them all.

Start exploring today with creative living. Share each discovery with the world. Trade in a mundane existence for a life of enchantment.

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🤔 Food for Thought:

Do you love a good treasure hunt?

Have you ever thought about the best treasure being inside?

Are you settling for a mundane existence or living a life of enchantment?

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⚙️ One Small Step:

One of the best ways I know of to explore your interests is what Julia Cameron calls Artist Dates. Each week you spend time with your inner creative child doing one playful, creative thing of interest. Think of these dates as little personal adventures.