sadeewhip

it can be terrifying.

Case in point:

I recently worked with a very successful business woman. She is self-assured, dimensional, intelligent, highly educated, and worldly. In our first session we got to the very core of why she is on this earth - of what her purpose is.

Do you know what happened in the days and weeks that followed?

She got horrible insomnia and was on the verge of a panic attack. She found herself crying and terrified.

She didn’t say anything to me for awhile because she was looking deep within herself to understand what was happening. For a self-assured, powerful person this can be really disconcerting.

When we finally talked about it she still wasn’t sure why she was so disturbed, so I shared with her what I am about to share with you and she made peace with it.

What I’m about to say comes from years of experience, so please take it to heart.

Our purpose is the most sacred thing we have. It is how God wants to be in the world through us. And our job is to open our hearts and get out of the way as much as we possibly can.

When you find your purpose something very strange can happen: you can freak out.

The reason is because our purpose is so important, so precious, has such magnitude that we feel very protective of it. And if you don’t know how to bring it into the world, if you don’t have a plan, it feels very high-risk. But when you know it and name it and it is witnessed you also can’t keep it to yourself anymore. It starts to eat at you and knock knock knock from the inside wanting to come out. It is impossible to ignore.

This is one of the reasons working with a good coach is so important. A good coach not only helps a client find their purpose (if that is a specialty they offer), but a good coach also understands the psychological and emotional significance of finding your purpose and has the tools and the skills to help you navigate the entire process - from discovery to actualization.

So for everyone out there that is not fully living your purpose but wanting to, here is a realistic picture of what to expect:

1. Discovery - your purpose is either right under your nose or buried really deep. Getting help to find it, name it, and own it may be one of the most significant gifts you can give yourself.
2. After-Shock - all kinds of emotions can come up, from empowerment to embarrassment to terror. This is totally normal. I tell clients, if you aren’t terrified and excited in equal measure then it isn’t your purpose and we’ve gotta keep digging.
3. Overwhelm - you need to understand that what you are currently doing in life is probably what you thought you “should” be doing, and not necessarily relevant to your purpose. You may find it impossible to imagine how you are going to start to live your purpose without losing everything you have worked for - your income, your reputation, your education, and maybe even significant relationships. (i.e. “my husband/wife/friends will never support this!”)
4. Rally - After you discover your purpose you must become a guardian and staunch champion of your purpose.  You need to view it as a gift to the world but not as something you own and author. Your purpose is a combination of genetics, upbringing, circumstance, timing, the influence of others, and hard work on your part. But you are a very small part of it so don’t get puffed-up or torn-down by what’s inside you. You are the doorway for it, but what it is isn’t yours.
5. Commit - when you commit to living your purpose you commit for life. There is no “trying”, you just do. You do and do and do over and over and over. And each time you learn and get stronger and are less afraid and more clear and energized.
6. Make a plan - spend as much time and research as you need to in this stage  so you can create the smoothest transition possible. This is a beautiful thing you are doing and you can do it gracefully and powerfully and with a ton of love and support. And since this is new and everything will start to change very fast make sure you work with a professional who believes in you and has the tools to help you shine.
7. Go public - Tell people. Or better yet, show them. When you bring your purpose to the world the world can support and encourage you. People will open doors for you and seemingly magical things will begin to happen.
8. Buckle your seat-belt - when you live your purpose you have to grow big enough to accommodate the incredible things it brings to you and from you. When I really started to live my purpose I started to love people so much I cried at any beautiful thing - IN PUBLIC. I thought I was losing my mind. I was just being opened to more life and I was not a big enough vessel for it. I got bigger but until I did I felt like an idiot.
9. Expect Miracles
10. Enjoy the person you are becoming and don’t let your brain try and make your heart small. Your heart will win and the less you fight it, the less painful it will be.