(Artist: Erika Peterson, Instagram:@erika.anne)

Living like Prince can be fun and exhilarating — but forced “fun” that doesn’t feel like you isn’t the point! Living like Prince ideally should feel like you’re stepping outside your comfort zone in a way that feels like a “coming home.” 

Not recognizing this when I started was a mistake. I started the year with big aspirations and a month of alternate day fasting. But I quickly found out that fasting wasn’t right for me. Still, I persisted for a month out of stubbornness and that typical January energy of “new year, new you!” Oh brother. I forced myself through it using willpower and restriction. Not cool! Not living like Prince!

As the year progressed, I realized that the trick was to undertake each month’s theme in a way that’s a natural and authentic match to who you are. Yes, you want to challenge yourself and not be too lenient in allowing yourself to stay squarely in your comfort zone. But what I didn’t immediately recognize was that striking a balance between maintaining a sense of comfort and safety along with the fun and adventure was the key. 

When (not “if,” ha!) you enroll in the 12-week course that starts on June 7, there might be some challenges that feel more “you” than others, and that’s okay. You can adapt them in a way that feels authentic. For example, on day one of the Live 4 Love Challenge, the theme was “prioritize play.” One participant decided to play with clay. That felt best to her. She created bowls using clay art and they looked stunning! Others played with their pup or danced around the kitchen making Valentine’s Day dinner for their sweetheart. All different, all achieving the same result of keeping a playful spirit in your heart.

Trying something new can be a test of your patience and sometimes the things you try can feel like a failure of sorts. At best, you learn something from the experience. At worst, you’ve wasted your time. A failure can serve as a validation of what’s not right for you, which leads you back to what is right. What’s never wrong is keeping your heart open and not judging yourself for the new things you try, no matter the outcome. 

The balance of comfort and safety with fun and adventure is what we strive for in living like Prince. That is truly how we all can live in a “legendary” way.