Mistake #3: People are unsure how ‘their life path’ involves purpose.
(Click here to see article 2 of 3)

Often times we end up acting and reacting to life based on what it gives you or what comes up. Life gets busy. We have kids, or take on new projects. When we reach a new level of success we are then faced with opportunities and obstacles related to that new level.

And just as we get something figured out a whole new set of things appear. It’s not that we have to stop the progress we just need to know how to live our path while on purpose. (But first what the heck are path and purpose anyway?)

PURPOSE: What you are meant to do in the world.

You were meant to do something:
·      To impact the world in some way.
·      To learn a lesson or teach a lesson.
·      To inspire or motivate.
·      To lead or to support.

LIFE PATH: The actions you take and the experiences you create in your life make up your life path.

Since the actions you take and the experiences you create in your life make up your life path. The more they are centered around your purpose, the happier you will feel.

If this is so important why do we often miss the mark?
Our path and purpose are thought to be connected to our career. See the previous blog about how this is so untrue.

People have trouble walking their path with purpose for 3 reasons:
1.     It’s a tall order: What we are meant to do can seem even bigger than us. We must have the confidence that we are capable of achieving it or at least building a team to get there. Oprah said that as a child she knew she wanted “to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.”  She didn’t realize her path would take her onto TV to reach millions but it did and she found her confidence to inspire in front of the camera. *

2.     You get challenged: People will challenge you. People might mock you or tell you that you are making a bad choice but having belief in the importance of what you want helps you stay connected and stand up for it. You might even not believe in yourself or find the saboteur (inner voice) pipes up and gets in your way. You must believe so deeply it’s something you want and make the necessary steps to get there. 

3.     Life gets in the way: You get busy. You have an expected expense, illness or obstacle. Sometimes it may seem simpler to just get a 9-5pm, or to step back and let others do it. Or you start to deviate because you let the priorities of others become more important than your purpose.

You might be wondering…

Can you be sort of living your purpose, but not on the right path?
For sure! And what happens is that you’ll feel good when you are doing it, but not completely fulfilled – like something is missing. Also, you’ll hit a point when you just can’t be growing and expanding anymore. For example, I was meant to teach and inspire, but not in a typical classroom with set curriculum. 

Can you be on the right path, but not know your purpose?
Yes again! It can feel so right to be doing something, but you don’t quite know why you love it or how you would continue with it. My great friend got involved with an organization that focused on nature art that inspires conservation of the environment. She knew she loved volunteering with them in any capacity and as time when on (2 years) she became really clear about her purpose to engage others through public education. It was her trust in being on that path that helped her to figure out her purpose.

This Week’s Challenge: MATCH YOUR PATH AND PURPOSE 
1.     Get clear on your purpose by creating a Life Purpose Statement. Don’t have your Life Purpose figured out? I’d love to help you craft one.  Yes, they can take time. But are totally worth it!
2.     Make your purpose a priority by scheduling time to work on it. In the early stages maybe 3 x 1hour and work up from there.

xo

Diane

P.S. Start asking people cooler questions, “Why do you do what you do?” or “When are you happiest?” and “What legacy do you want to leave?” Just see their eyes widen and the surprise as it changes into a smirk and a smile. #LifePurpose

* Read more: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/How-Oprah-Winfrey-Found-Her-Purpose#ixzz2uBZmfDme

Mistake #2: Living your purpose doesn’t always mean finding it in a career. That’s one myth you can shake off.

Last week I started to cover the three major mistakes people make on their path to a purpose filled life. Already forget the first one? No worries here is a recap of all three…

1. People don’t have clarity about their purpose (Click here to ready 1 of 3)
2. People assume purpose and career mean the same thing
3. People are unsure how ‘their life path’ involves purpose

This week I’m going to help you overcome stumbling Block #2 – Career and purpose don’t have to be married to each other.

Perhaps it’s the literature and media of our time, but many people have become convinced that in order to live on purpose – they have to WORK their purpose. But that doesn’t make sense for everyone. What if you don’t want to leave your job and it pays the bills? What if you are retired?

Did you do last week’s challenge of scoring your resonance? If yes, pull it out and have a look for this week’s solution.  Haven’t yet? No judgments here - we all get busy, but you can have a quick look by clicking here.

Bringing more of what you resonate with into your life can take the shape and form of anything.

Some examples:
Do you love crafts and wish you could be an art teacher, but you’re a stay at home mom? 

• Be a Girl Guide Leader or teach at a local community center
• Offer to have an art class for your friends kids
• Start doing your own YouTube videos
  
• Make crafts and sell them on Etsy
  

Is your purpose to inspire others to be healthy and you work behind a desk?

• Start a running group
  
• Post about your healthy lifestyle on social media
  
• Invite friends to go hiking, biking or out into nature
  
• Cook healthful for your family

I have a similar experience. My daughter had just turned one and I didn’t have my women’s programs ready yet, but I was longing to lead groups of women. SO I thought how can I do this? I jumped on Meetup.com and started my own group called Dynamic Women in Action. At the first one I felt nourished, energized and such joy for the experience.

One year later I’m leading two groups a month with up to 35 women each time and have plans to expand it into more cities. If I had tried to force it into a job I would have been disappointed. If I had ignored it I would still be feeling the same lack of satisfaction.

This Week’s Challenge: LIVE ON PURPOSE
Think of what you love doing – what you resonate with.  Forget how you could get paid for it. Brainstorm your own ways to bring more of it into your life. Then be sure to keep your eyes out next week for me next email that resolves mistake no.3 and explains how living your life path and purpose intertwine. 

xo
Diane

It’s in the paper, it’s on Oprah, it’s in thousands of books, it’s all over the internet…living with purpose is one hot topic.
 
When you live your purpose you live in passion, motivation or resonance for what you are doing. Yes, we want to feel like this! But if there is one thing I’ve learned from my coaching and mentoring work, there are three major mistakes people make on their path to a purpose filled life. 

In today’s post, I am going to tackle the 1st mistake.
 
How to get clarity about purpose
 
In order to explain what being clear in purpose looks like, let’s look at what it doesn’t look like…
 
So many people struggle with a void that they can’t seem to be filled.  You know that feeling of emptiness when it’s quiet for a moment and you wonder, “What’s that weird feeling?” or “Why can’t I sleep?” and “Where’s my energy gone?”
 
These feelings usually happen when we are missing something in our lives that we truly resonate with.
 
What does resonance sound like?

• Like listening to a die-hard sports fan talk about their team winning,
• or a parent sharing about their child’s success
• or an advocate giving a speech about the purpose of their organization. 
• Still to hard to imagine? Think of a child talking about their trip to Disney.

Identifying what you resonate with and when is a big clue to getting clear about your purpose. Remember last week when I asked you:
 
What is at the heart of what you truly want?
What is the essence of it?
And what makes that important?
 
I was guiding you to think and feel into what you resonate with.
 
This Week’s Challenge:
Live this week as you normally would and just be looking for resonance.  When you are going to do something see if you’re excited or dreading the task. In the middle of the action check in with how you’re feeling: energized or tired and slow.

Writing this down would be helpful.  You can even score yourself from 0 (no energy/excitement) to 10 (lots of energy/excitement). You might start to see patterns of when you’re in resonance and when you’re not.
 
Stay tuned for next week when I’ll cover mistake no.2 and share how people assume purpose and career mean the same thing.
 
xo
Diane

Adults love asking children “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

My first grade answer to that question was “to be a teacher.” Do you remember yours?

It’s an interesting question posed at an expansive time in our lives. The child in us is able to speak without fear of the challenges and with an innocence of possibility.

But this question muddles being and doing together and it lacks some crucial follow up questions to help us get clear on the details about our life path. So, it’s no wonder that many of us as adults come to a point where we feel…muddled! I certainly did.

I did become a teacher. AND I wasn’t completely happy. I loved teaching the kids and helping them, yet something didn’t seem to fit.

It didn’t feel completely right AND I felt terrible GUILT for it.

(How many of us are familiar with that?)

There I was being ungrateful for what I had (said the saboteur in me!) I had promotions, a good paying job, great co-workers and even a great boss. The child in me was right… I wanted to be a teacher. But the adult in me never asked some crucial follow up questions, such as “A teacher of what?” and “Why?”

If you are feeling a bit muddled about your path (or know someone who is!) now is a great time to ask some deeper questions. Play along with me!

As a child, what did you say you wanted to be?

You see, the child in me was clear on the first question. I knew I wanted to be a teacher. But it was only when I explored more deeply that I realized coaching was the path for me. I filled in important details.

I love teaching and helping, but I also value variety and going with the flow. Working with clients on their chosen topics and going at our own pace allows for all of that. I found my perfect fit.

So try it yourself! Maybe revisiting the career you wanted as a child will confirm the path you are currently on or will shed some light on what is missing for you.

Let me know if your 1st grader was right or not!
 
xo
Diane