Body? Mind? Spirit? Chocolate?
These questions have wrestled with me my whole life, through a successful escape from a dysfunctional family; a personal exodus out of Los Angeles; a successful corporate, internet startup, consulting and coaching career; and (not last) the birthing, nurturing and now-sending-off-to-colleging of a lovely family… Until the wrestling stopped and things got interesting.
You see, with 40/40 hindsight I can see that my entire life has been a progression into my personal purpose in life, and the health, peace and well-being that comes with it – except that it doesn’t always feel healthy, peaceful and well in each and every moment. As soon as I accepted this – that life doesn’t simply stop so you can get off and “wake up shoves” from the Universe are part of the fun – that’s when the wrestling began to abate. Among other things, I’ve learned that life will take a breather when I ask it to, and if I don’t, I get a wake up Shove from the Universe into whatever wall is handy.
Purpose? Health? Work?
Back to that silly triangle…
My journey into my purpose didn’t come to me in the proper order. Mine arrived – as is my way – backwards: Mind, Spirit, Body. Actually, it’s still arriving and when I lose and keep off that last 30 pounds while still managing a bite of chocolate now and then, I will say I’ve hit a major milestone. Until then, I simply watch in amazement as my purpose slowly but surely reels in and organizes all three aspects of my health and expresses it – to my total surprise – through my business.
This isn’t how it’s supposed to be, is the story I was told (and I bet you were, too). Work is supposed to be toil and drudgery, but my purpose never let me truly believe that. It kept knocking on my brain in short breaks between meetings or overseas trips. It kept telling me there was more. It kept telling me that I was more. And as I began to follow its guidance it showed me more. It showed me the joy and true fulfillment that could be had through work, if we just asked work to give us such opportunities.
What’s my purpose? Well, it’s not a thing (though I have lots of things). It’s not a statement (thought I have many). It’s not a manifesto (though I have several). It’s not even a business (though I have several of those, too). My purpose is a drive. It’s a power living within me that evolves and expresses itself more obviously over time. It’s not always abstract and can be very concrete at times. It’s definitely outspoken. The more I listen for it the more clearly it steers me to some things and not to others. It’s more powerful to me than my intuition, which nudges instead of pushing me like my purpose does. Right now my purpose is running my businesses, and I’m happy to let it. It’s also asking me make green smoothies for breakfast more often and avoid gluten wherever possible. The more I let it run things, the happier, more successful and more energetic I am!
Magic! Creation! Exploration!
Earlier this year when the triangle of health for me began to coalesce more noticeably, it was spurred by an experience I had – believe it or not – rebranding my companies. At the end of last year I had a Shove from the Universe and knew I was to create a web site for business women. As I was wrestling with the issues around launching new web sites and integrating the Universal Shove into my existing consulting practice (which had nothing to do with women, wha?), I did some personal branding work with my friend and colleague, Cindy Atlee of The Storybranding Group. Cindy teaches a wonderful workshop in personal and professional branding archetypes, as psychologized by Carl Jung, and as typified into a personality test by Dr. Carol Pearson. My personality type turned out to be a blend of the Magician, the Creator and the Explorer.
With the identification of these archetypes, my “purpose” became more concrete. As a Magician, I am driven to create the opportunity for others to tap into their internal power to drive them towards success (which feels like magic in the tapping moment) and this became InPower Coaching. As a Creator, I am driven to express and create new meaning in the world (did I mention that I blog on more blogs than I can count, am writing a book and burp up online courses out of sheer joy?) and this became InPower Women. As an Explorer, I’m driven to go into territory just being discovered and challenge “how we do it!” with “what can be done?” (not all clients like this, I’ve learned), and this became InPower Consulting.
Price? What Price?
I can’t say that any of this has been easy, but I can say it’s gotten continually easier. And yes, I’ve had to let go of a ton of “stuff” – physically, mentally, spiritually. But I trust it now. Everything I get rid of comes back to me in more joyful ways, ways that support my purpose more fully. This summer I lost my biggest client but in the same week, I was approached by two prospects eager to do business with me. The energy signature of the big one was tiring. The energy of the two new ones is exciting. My Magician was thrilled to lose the biggie and my Explorer is loving prospecting the new ones. Now all I have to do is let go of chocolate cream puffs and let my Creator spend some quality time in the kitchen (tomorrow night – avocado chocolate mousse!)
What about you?
What does your purpose do for you? What are your archetypes? How do they guide you and bring you ever closer to health and success?
This article originally appeared on Chronic Wellness Coaching.
