Yes, You DO Have a Purpose…
What the heck is purpose anyways?
To some, the word lights a fire in their belly because they truly understand what it means to live life with a purpose or calling. Others will cringe at the word… what a silly word, purpose. They doubt that everyone (including themselves) has a purpose or that things really do happen for a reason.
I believe that absolutely everything, including the awful, happens for a reason.
To enlighten us… or those we leave behind.
To force us to change our ways… a catalyst for growth.
To shape us into the people we’re meant to be… so that we can live our purpose.
You really do have a purpose, and it’s simply this:
Be you. Totally and completely. Fully expressed at ALL times.
When you’re just you, living that authentic self FULL OUT, it’s impossible to live a life off purpose. You do the things that you love and are skilled at. You spend time with the people you’re supposed to be with (because those who aren’t supposed to be in your life fall away). You travel to the places that you’re meant to be. And naturally, you begin to pursue your passions.
Ask yourself this:
If you didn’t have to please or worry about anyone else, what would you do? If money was no concern, how would you spend your time? Where would you be? With whom?
Don’t roll your eyes at these questions because you’ve heard them a million times… there’s a reason for that. It’s EYE-OPENING when you take the time to honestly look inside your heart to discover your truth.
Many times this questions is avoided out of FEAR. Fear that the life you have now isn’t the one you really want. Fear that the person you’re with, the friends or the tribe is actually steering you further from your truth. Fear that if you answer honestly, it will mean you have to DO SOMETHING about it.
Humor me… take some time with this question. Sit with it. Feel what bubbles up for you… what visions flash into your mind. Where your wildest fantasies take you. Discovering your truth requires honesty with yourself! And don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you have to throw everything away or start over.
Make an effort to simply know yourself and what you truly desire.
At a total loss?
Three simple ways to begin to discover your purpose:
1. Start following your tiny urges.
Do you really want to paint? Play guitar? Try some fancy new recipe? Have you been secretly dying to learn salsa or maybe even take a pole dancing class? Whatever your tiny little urge… indulge it. Take a class, buy the tools and try something that will begin to move you in the direction of what you REALLY want to do.
Nothing is too random, crazy or silly. If you have the urge, follow it! It will lead you into amazing new territory and allow you to get to know yourself on a deep level.
2. Be completely honest, ALL of the time.
Whether it’s with your friends, family or yourself, be totally honest about EVERYTHING. Don’t just agree with what everyone else is saying or doing. Don’t say you’ll do one thing when you really don’t want to or you’d rather do something else. Explore your truth.
Be honest with your words AND your actions… the purchases you make, clothes you chose to wear and things you decide to do. Your actions reflect your truth as strongly as your words. Begin to be honest and express that through everything you do.
Start small, but be confident in who you are and what you believe.
3. Realize you are the ONLY PERSON who knows what’s best.
Input can be phenomenal, but oftentimes we rely too heavily on our friends or family when making decisions. Before we know it, we don’t feel as if we can truly be ourselves because we’re so concerned about the approval of others. Don’t hand your power to someone else.
As much as they love you, these people’s assistance can sometimes hinder your ability to find and follow your purpose. They want only the best for you, and their actions can come from a place of protection… which is not always congruent with total support.
If you feel like something is right for you, then you need to trust your intuition!
Take action now!
Leave a comment below sharing some things you discovered about yourself when you honestly answered the questions above!
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman
Pssst! If you’re ready to dig deep and take an honest look at your life, discover what you REALLY want and make an easy-to-implement action plan to make it happen FAST, then my new program Foundations for Unshakable Joy is for you!
The Four Things You MUST be Doing to Build a Life Around Your Passion
If you’re like me, there’s probably something in your life that you’re deeply passionate about. You would love to build your life around this passion, your purpose, or your craft, but you “just can’t.”
After all, you have responsibilities. To your family, maybe even your children or your spouse. Maybe you have a responsibility to that bank that holds your car loan. You can’t just give your whole life two weeks notice and start living your dream tomorrow. Besides, what would people think?!
So you continue to work at that job that pays well… you socialize with the people in your life… you do the things that everyone else is doing. You figure that you’ll create a life around your passions, later. When the bills are paid and the timing is right.
But you’re not happy, because you want MORE. You want a life that’s centered around the things that light you up. A life surrounded by people that you connect with on a deep level. Where you’re doing things that nurture your soul. You want to be GREAT and live an AMAZING life filled with joy, passion and fulfillment. And you also know that you shouldn’t have to wait for the time “to be right.”
So what’s a gal to do?
How to Build a Life Around Your Passion
Commit, 100% to Becoming The Person You’re Meant to Be
The MOST IMPORTANT thing that you can do is commit 100% to becoming the person that you’re meant to be, living the life you so deeply desire to live. This means more than just saying, “I want this.” It means that you will go after this dream of yours with every ounce of energy that you have!
It means structuring your life in a way that can only support your success. You may have to work at a job you don’t like in an unrelated industry, that’s okay. If you’re ready to commit to making your dream a reality, then find a job that allows you to be done at the end of the day. Don’t look for the competitive position with room for growth, look for something that pays and lets you leave when the day is over.
Committing 100% means you don’t waste time sitting on the couch watching hours of MINDLESS television. It means you’re reading, practicing, applying, writing or DOING SOMETHING that moves you closer to your goal. It’s all about hustle baby!
Yes, take breaks, care for yourself, but COMMIT to making it happen by eliminating anything in your life that does not support your growth, OR making the necessary changes (like with your job) so that it’s more supportive of your dream.
Give Yourself Proper Nourishment: Mind, Body and Soul
In this day, it’s so easy for our mind, body and soul to be completely depleted of any energy, inspiration or joy. Between stressing about the bills, relationship troubles or the never ending stream of online information and entertainment, we’ve lost sight of what’s REALLY IMPORTANT to our success.
Your dream may require that you spend hours online hustling, but your dream also requires that you spend hours nurturing your mind, body and soul. Without your physical and emotional well being, you’re nothing. Literally. Nothing.
Making sure that you move your body, fill your tummy with healthy foods and spend time meditating, writing in your journal, or doing any form of contemplative practice is ESSENTIAL to your success. Without the energy, mental clarity and spiritual strength that these practices give you, you’ll only find yourself more stressed, more lost and more out of sorts than ever before.
It is a PRIORITY to care for yourself.
Write in your journal, take hot baths, drink tea and read a good book, DAILY. Meditate, practice yoga, walk, pray… do whatever it is that brings you peace and clarity, DAILY.
Train and Practice… CONSTANTLY
I don’t think there’s a single great writer, speaker, athlete, artist or other that started out at the top of their game. First, it takes discovering what it is that they’re passionate about… then it takes LEARNING how to do it… and most importantly, it takes PRACTICE! Constant practice is the key to mastering whatever it is that you want to master in your life.
If your dream is to be a world renowned author, you had better be writing EVERY DAY. Reading books, practicing your craft, trying new things and GROWING. You can’t find your voice, hone your skills and blow the minds of this world if you aren’t writing ALL. THE. TIME.
If your dream is to create beautiful art and make a lot of money doing it, you had better be making art AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. Capturing ideas, filling the inspiration well, trying new techniques, turning sketches into finished pieces… you have to be practicing your craft CONSTANTLY.
If you want to be great, and live an amazing life doing what you love, you can NOT overlook the parts that require you to work HARD at being the best that you can. People that are the making a living doing what they love, they know how important it is to constantly learn, grow, try new things, fail, and try again.
Practice, practice, practice, but also TRAIN. Train with the masters, with your idols and with anyone who can teach you something that you NEED to know. There’s no sense in being prideful… yes, if you wanted to, I know that you could learn whatever it is you need to learn totally on your own. But someone else has already spent YEARS learning what you need to know and can literally teach it to you in a matter of HOURS. Let them teach you. You’ll get there faster.
Surround Yourself With the RIGHT Team
It is so, so, SO important to surround yourself with the right people. If you’re trying to commit to your goals and your dream, but no one in your life cares enough to check in on you or support you, then it’s time to find a new support system.
Find people that are passionate like you are… it doesn’t have to be the same field, and it doesn’t mean these people don’t know how to have fun or talk about other things, the point is that they will support you. They will understand what you’re going through as you push hard, learn, grow and hit unavoidable bumps in the road.
They will cheer you on and keep you motivated when you’ve lost steam. They will remind you to take those necessary breaks, to nurture your soul and to remember the end goal when you feel like giving up.
No matter how strong or independent you may be, you need this support system for when things get hard, because things getting hard is unavoidable. You will hit bumps in the road, obstacles, set backs and emotional breakdowns. You don’t want to be surrounded by people that don’t support your dreams when this happens. You want people who know how much it means to you so that they can remind you of this when you’ve forgotten in the midst of stress.
Take Action Now
Do you have a dream or passion in your life? Have you committed to it 100%? Leave a comment below sharing your passion along with three things you’re going to implement or change in your life to show your commitment to making it happen.
Not sure what you want out of life? I’m getting ready to launch a program that will help you not only determine what it is you really want out of life, but what steps you need to take to get there, fast. Subscribe to my list below and receive a special discount when it launches!
Do You Have Everything You Thought You Ever Wanted, Yet Feel Like Something’s Missing?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
If you’ve read my story, you know that I spent a lot of time and energy building a “perfect” life that was not ideal for me. The problem was that I built a life around what I thought I wanted and what made me feel accomplished in the eye’s of others, without staying connected with my own truth.
The TRUTH of the situation was that I got addicted to the thrill of being “ahead.” I’ve always been impatient and highly driven… spending most of high school dreaming about the many businesses I would create, the things I would accomplish and the places I would go. So when I learned that it was possible for me to graduate high school early and get started with life, I was all over it!
The Slippery Slope
While I’m thankful that I’ve never done anything I really didn’t want to do for the sake of impressing others, I did get caught up in the idea of constantly “one-upping” myself. I was also highly motivated by being the first, youngest or “best” in whatever I was doing. It started with graduating high school early and led right into a 3-year Bachelor’s degree program. During school, I was more than eager to get started working and was taking on small freelance clients and internships.
By my last year of school I was working overtime at a busy design firm while working on my final portfolio for graduation, had bought a brand new townhouse with my then boyfriend and was still working with some small freelance clients, always dreaming of starting my own business.
I was rockin’ it. People were proud, things were happening and I was completely lost in it all.
After graduating college, settling into a full-time salaried position and getting all set up in my new house, things started to feel… off. While my job kept me extremely busy and distracted during the day, the time commuting, weekends and evenings (that were no longer filled with homework and freelance clients) left me feeling very antsy and uncomfortable.
I had everything I thought I ever wanted, and yet a part of me still felt like something was missing.
Can you relate?
For me, my whole life felt off course. I lost my ability to express myself creatively. I lost sight of who I really was in my relationship while trying to reduce tension. I spent all my time and energy working towards a profession and career that I mistook as my “calling,” when really it was more of a necessary skill set for larger dreams I’d forgotten.
If you’re feeling unhappy, discontent or like something is missing… this is a very good indicator that you’ve lost your way. While you may not have gotten caught up in something like being “ahead” or impressing others, you could very well have set your truth and DREAMS aside out of necessity.
Maybe you got distracted by someone or something… or maybe you’ve avoided following your heart for fear of failure. Whatever the reason, feeling like something is missing is only the beginning. If you try to “snap out of it” or brush these feelings aside, you’re only going to feel worse as time goes on.
It’s OKAY to feel this way. There’s nothing wrong with not being satisfied with where you’ve ended up, even if you thought it would be your dream life.
Even if everyone else is proud of you, idolizes you or wishes they had what you have.
If it’s not for you, it’s not for you.
How to Determine What’s “Missing” for YOU
For now, I want you to spend some time thinking about WHY you feel off. Is it your relationships that don’t quite feel right? Does your job leave you with a nagging feeling of dissatisfaction at the end of the day? When you’re out and about in your town, does it just not feel like the right fit for you?
Spend the next week listening to your body and what you’re feeling. You may not be able to pinpoint the why, but start taking note of what you feel when you start to feel off or like something’s missing. Where are you? What’s going through your head? What physical sensations do you feel?
Next week I’ll share some surefire ways to find the source of your off-ness and what you can do about it!
Share your thoughts, reactions, insights or “aha” moments in the comments below!
I’d love to here from you. xo
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How to Create More Synchronicity, Miracles and, Honest to Goodness, “Luck” in Your Life
I’m surrounded by synchronicity.
What exactly is synchronicity?
syn·chro·nic·i·ty ›› The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.
It’s the simple mindset shift or decision that’s followed by an opportunity. A happy coincidence. The perfect person falling into your life. The necessary funding showing up. The first client. The big break.
My most recent experience with this amazing phenomenon goes as follows…
I make the decision to focus my business around my true passion, personal responsibility.
A good friend emails me with an opportunity to enter a guest blogger contest with Brian Tracy.
I leave for an entrepreneur mastermind retreat with some fabulous ladies in New York to discuss my new business focus… and upon landing find an email saying that I’m a finalist in the contest.
I’m pushed in new and necessary ways… I’m exposed to the right crowd… I’m reassured that this is my calling, this is my path… Things literally begin to fall into place in ways I could never have imagined.
I’m not lucky. I’m on the right path.
When you’re being true to yourself and your passions, you’re going to discover that synchronistic events become more and more frequent. They become a part of daily life. People literally SHOW UP. Money literally FLOWS IN. Opportunities, big and small, are ABUNDANT!
I remember the days when it seemed like absolutely nothing went my way.
I was unhappy, unfulfilled and totally lost. It was hit after hit, my stress levels were extremely unhealthy and I cried far more than I smiled.
Since those days, the only thing that’s changed has been my commitment to create a life built around who I am, what my purpose is in this world and what I’m TRULY, UNDENIABLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
When you feel like these kind of things only happen to lucky people, it simply means you’re living off course. You’re not following your heart, living true to yourself or pursuing the things that mean the most to you. Maybe you’re settling for less than you deserve… or maybe you’re just afraid to embark on the road you feel called to travel. Whatever the reasons, they’re the very things that are blocking miracles in your life (or, if you like, “luck”).
How to Create More Synchronicity,
Miracles and REAL “Luck” in Your Life
Show up and be ready for the miracles that you’re handed!
When I was lost and depressed, life was scary. Now that I’m following my heart, living true to my passions and giving life my all… life is SCARY! It’s always going to be scary. ESPECIALLY when you wander away from the comfortable, settled life that you’re likely living.
But I promise you, it’s SO WORTH IT!
So SHOW UP and BE READY. Keep your eyes open and be ready to say YES the next time something seems to tug at your heart. When you’re given the tiniest of signs that you really should quit that job, go out with that guy, move across the country or do something else that seems terrifying and insane!
So long as you’re being honest and truthful with yourself, you’re going to find that the universe really does shift to support you. It’s not always easy… it takes faith and commitment, but if you want to live a life of abundance, happiness and fulfillment, it’s the only way!
Leave a comment below and share what synchronicity has appeared in your life!
Commit 100% to Yourself and Your Purpose
A few months ago the financial strain began and I refused to let it shake me. I knew in my heart that I was on the right path and that if I could muster up the strength to push through, despite the stress and chaos around me, everything would fall into place.
And boy has it ever.
I’ve always liked the concept that if you put yourself and your dreams out there, and take consistent action towards them, the universe will shift to support you. Doors will open, answers will appear and your life will become amazing through a glorious stream of synchronistic events.
There will be many small gifts of support. Gifts such as finding the perfect apartment and office space to go with it. Connecting with the right people just as you realize that you need them. Job deposits and payments that begin to arrive as if the universe is rationing them out at just the right times.
But here’s the thing…
The most important gifts are the ones that seem just out of reach. For me, it was the free ticket to an amazing event on the other side of the country – with no airfare or lodging included. This came at a time when I simply had no money for it. But I told myself I had to go and I committed to finding a way. I recognized that this was an important next step on my journey.
Consider it a test. How committed are you to yourself and your purpose? Are you willing to leave your comfort zone, accept/ask for help and do whatever it takes to make the leap to the next level? If you are, I guarantee that what you find when you get there will absolutely blow you away.
Since returning from the event in New York, amazing things have fallen into place for me, especially in the past couple weeks. After being supported in small and meaningful ways, I suddenly found myself presented with the next important step. A huge commitment that will require me to reach further and work harder than I have before. I’ll share more about this another time, but the point of this post is that you have to commit. You have to clearly state what it is that you want to achieve and you have to take action.
Most importantly, you have to stay committed. 100% committed. If you find yourself presented with an opportunity that’s just out of reach, but you know in your heart is something that you have to do, then make it happen. Do whatever it takes, because I promise you the shifts that you will see in your life as a result are far more powerful and fulfilling than the comfort of settling with where you’re at.
Have you committed 100% to your goals and purpose?
What action can you take right now to prove your commitment to success?
Be the Best, Healthiest and Happiest You™
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