Have you ever asked yourself, “How did I get here?” and felt puzzled about the passage of time, almost like your life has happened without you really feeling that you had a part in it?
I’ve been there
Time is what a friend of mine calls a “flat pancake”, an amorphous idea that has no beginning or end. With the pandemic, I know it’s been easy to lose track of time in general. I have no idea when something happened because every day has the flavor of being the same- on repeat.
Choosing your own adventure is just that- an adventure
One thing that happened to me during the pandemic was the opportunity to slow my roll a bit. Given the space that opened up inside me, I would look in the mirror and reflect on the path life takes all of us on. Usually, it’s a path with many twists, turns, and unexpected moments of choosing your own adventure. However, if you’re like me, you just might think you were going to end up somewhere else doing something else.
Not quite a crisis, but a real moment of reflection
Often, looking back can be hard. Painful or bittersweet memories are woven into the memories of joy and euphoria. The passion you felt as a 20-something has mellowed over time as you grew into a career or grew a family. Now as someone in their 40’s, you might be in the midst of a mid-life moment of realization that your life may or may not be at a mid-point. It can hit hard. It’s easy to wonder what lies ahead and how to keep your happiness as the guide in that journey.
Looking forward can also have an impact- especially when you’re not sure what you want to do or who you want to be. All you know is that something has to change and that you feel drawn to learning more about what you of today wants whether or not she connects directly to you of the past.
In my case, as the pandemic rolled on, I kept being hit with the thought that there is something more for me to do or to be, and what my impact could be on the world. Now, as a Certified Life and Life Purpose Coach, I get to help other women make space to do the same and that is my most purposeful work and brings me great joy.
Here are some guiding questions to start the journey of finding your purpose:
- Do you feel peace and joy in your work even when it’s hard?
- What brings you hits of joy in your life (at a heart, soul, or gut-level)?
- What matters most to you?
- Do you have any reflective practices in your life to help you make space to hear your inner wisdom?
- How many decisions are you making out of fear instead of bliss?
There are no wrong answers. Just develop awareness around how you answer and take note of what is feeling good versus not great and so on. When you give yourself permission to take a look at how you’re living your life, you will begin to notice what works and what no longer serves you. Change can come simply from realizing how you feel about it all.
Each and every day is a gift- a real opportunity to start fresh and find new joy. It really is. And because time is a “flat pancake”, don’t miss the moment to take action around your own happiness and purpose.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to live a more purposeful life, let’s chat. Schedule a discovery call with me and let’s learn together how to help you live your best life.