Every morning when I wake up, one of the first things I do before getting out of bed is check my email for my daily Note from the Universe.

I know, I know. You’re not supposed to check your email right when you wake up, but believe me, this email sets my day off on the right foot.

Are you familiar with Notes from the Universe?

Described as, “brief passages written by ‘The Universe,’ personalized with your name (and occasionally your personal goals and dreams), designed to remind you that you have, indeed, been given dominion over all things,” these emails are life-changing.

Sometimes they are short. Sometimes they are long. Sometimes they mention a personal goal of mine.  Sometimes they are generic. Sometimes they make me laugh. Sometimes they make me cry.

They always, always inspire me and remind me that I have control over my day.

Last week, I received a really poignant Note from the Universe that stopped me in my tracks.

Here’s what it said:

Whatever it is you want, however you want to have it, no matter why you want to have it, you can have it faster if you can first be happy without it.

Desire and happiness need not be mutually exclusive; they actually work best together.

Yeah. For some reason, this note really hit me. I found myself thinking about it all day. I even used it as my theme for my yoga classes that week.

Here’s what I shared with my classes:

Think of the thing you want most in the world.

The one thing you wish for before you go to sleep at night. The first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning.

The thing you can literally feel your heart and soul yearn for, day in and day out.

For me, a couple of things immediately come to mind.

Now, think…what if that thing NEVER comes?

Can you be happy and whole without it?

Can you be happy and whole so that perhaps IF and WHEN that thing does enter your life, you can see it as a beautiful addition to an already full life, rather than the thing that completes you and makes you whole.

Because…you are already whole.

You are already complete.

Just as you are.

Right now.

In this very moment.

Live your life. Do your thing. Work toward your goals. Desire what it is that you want most.

But, at the same time, relax. Breathe. Let it come to you. Don’t push.

Because it’s when you’re out there living your truth and doing your thing, THAT’S when it comes.

Desire and happiness <3 They work together.