Leading a life with purpose
The secret to leading a life with purpose and discovering your passion is less about finding an external ‘thing’ as it is about showing up as all of you, and providing yourself with the best possible environment for that to happen.
With this approach, every step of the way regardless of how ‘successful’ you are by those external metrics, you will be wholeheartedly on purpose.
As clichéd as it sounds, a life full of purpose really is all about being the most authentic version of yourself.
For some this permission and invitation to be all of ourselves can leave us saying ‘who am I any way’, or feeling intimidated. Fears can arise, and we might wonder ‘what if my authentic self is ridiculed or not loved?’
In this process it’s essential to support ourselves. Know that you’re learning a new skill, take time to feel the fear and do it anyway.
My advice is always to start at the most simple entry point. Even if you’re not sure how that will connect you with where you’re wanting to get to, trust me it’s the best place to start.
There are two essential practices that can help you to tap into and support a life full of passion and purpose.
Define your light
The first is getting to know what lights you up. What things do you feel good doing?
At what points in your day do you smile the largest or feel your greatest sense of achievement? Start small and fill your everyday life with as many of these things as possible.
From feeling inspired watching the sunset, to feeling confident in your favourite colour or comforted by the smell of your most cherished childhood dinner – make sure these things are part of your everyday. It may sound overly simple. The best habits often are!
We might be unsure about our big life purpose, (or even if there is just one of them) but we might know that we love writing, working with children, getting creative with mathematics, or travel, or experimenting with fashion.
There are so many mostly free or inexpensive ways we could incorporate an element of all these things into our day almost immediately. Start small and follow the breadcrumbs of your interest. This will most often lead us to connecting with like-minded people, events or discovering where a relevant course might be offered.
The second and often most reliable navigational tool we have on our pathway to our purpose is our bodies! Your body is a wonderful GPS, so get to know yourself. Pay attention to when you feel energised, or tired or nervous. That excited feeling in your belly is trying to tell you something! Observe and take note like you would learning a new language or getting to know a new friend. Knowing how to tap into the wisdom of your body will give you an internal anchor in times of uncertainty and in times of distraction.
We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose – Bob Coff
In Chinese Medicine the soul that resides in the heart is called the Shen. It represents the fire element and the emotion of joy. When we are feeling on purpose our hearts are lit up and our Shen is seen shining its undeniable light into the world.
In Chinese Medicine we are reminded that we are composed of the same material as the infinite universe around us. Much like the stars in the sky and flowers that are blooming in our gardens we all have an inherent purpose and path possible within us. This is often referred to as our ‘spiritual cleverness’ and despite this lofty title it is possibly a lot simpler than it sounds!
In nature passion is the flow of divine (innate) directive. A flower simply just opens.
By following our passions into a life of purpose we are re-connecting to our true nature. Who are we not to shine brightly?
The topic of purpose is part of the Diploma of Wellness Leadership Program.
The strategic and sustainable approach to wellness
At the Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy, we’re not just an academy delivering accredited wellness training, we’re a movement to create healthier and happier individuals, workplaces and communities.
The Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy provides a strategic, flexible, scaleable and sustainable approach to educate, empower and enable individuals and organisations to thrive at their personal and professional best.
