The term "inside-out" is used often in our language, yet it meets the fate of most cliches, and suffers death by drowning in shallow waters. When we look at the idea, we see that it requires us to sacrifice the usual. The events of our lives have likely worked to turn us outside-in, creating an ever escalating state of dependence. The truth of the matter is, we have the power to take action, turning things inside-out.
Our society has taught us well that we are directly a product of all the externals which surround us. As infants, we depend on outside influences for our mere survival. Studies show that the human baby cannot survive without physical contact. The pattern continues as we begin to grow. We gain great reinforcement through attention when we learn to respond to our outside world. Our parents "ooh" and "ah" over each new discovery, and soon we learn that we can manipulate the feelings of others with our behavior. In one action, we can become aware of our ability to benefit from the manipulation of external things. What a powerful lesson it is when we see that these "things" we manipulate are often the people who stand as our chief role models in life. The hook is driven in deeper by the idea that, in reacting favorably to our actions, they model for us the effects outside objects can have on our attitudes and emotions. Throughout our learning experiences the pattern continues and we are trapped. As we grow more independent, the habits are already ingrained, and quite often we fail to realize that we are not in control of ourselves to ourselves to the extent we think we are.

So the first step we must take in living life passionately is to become internally motivated - to live life inside-out.

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