Thank you for sharing your journey and advice! Creepily enough, I just bought The Artist's Way and have done the pre-reading before the weekly tasks begin.
I'm absolutely at that crossroads right now of trying to nail down my purpose and balance the dreams with the reality of life. The trouble with finding your purpose is imposter syndrome sets in. And, as I am sure you can relate, figuring out your purpose with two small children makes the task fraught with second guessing and big emotions.
Oh Heather! I understand all too well! It was a bit of a journey for me for sure. The thing that helped me, and I am not sure if this is available to you, is that I HAD experienced a great sense of purpose previous to this personal crisis of mine. While that career and role were no longer realistically available to me I used it as a guide. I broke down what about my teaching career really lit me up. For me it was helping others to find and believe in their own potential, to shine a light on the inner talents and skills they didn’t or couldn’t see on their own. I am happy to say, that is something I found a way back to. First, with a podcast speaking out to a faceless audience cheering on writers from afar and now, face to face in Zoom calls as well as through a litany of other internet connections.
Think about the things you do that bring you that inner joy of “showing up” it could be something you do with you kids (lord knows I was drowning my kid in my purpose attempts), something you once did in a job you loved, or something that shows up in your favorite hobbies. If nothing comes clear, programs like The Artist’s Way also provide lots of introspection to help light the way.
Synchronicity! I just found a bit of my purpose that I lost the last few years. I recently recommitted myself to helping two community projects in Kenya that care for orphan children tell their story. Writing about that now (and drawing portraits of the children) on a separate Substack and it's giving me great joy... Maybe because I have purpose?
Thank you for sharing your journey and advice! Creepily enough, I just bought The Artist's Way and have done the pre-reading before the weekly tasks begin.
Well well well… if that’s not synchronicity in action!!
I'm absolutely at that crossroads right now of trying to nail down my purpose and balance the dreams with the reality of life. The trouble with finding your purpose is imposter syndrome sets in. And, as I am sure you can relate, figuring out your purpose with two small children makes the task fraught with second guessing and big emotions.
Oh Heather! I understand all too well! It was a bit of a journey for me for sure. The thing that helped me, and I am not sure if this is available to you, is that I HAD experienced a great sense of purpose previous to this personal crisis of mine. While that career and role were no longer realistically available to me I used it as a guide. I broke down what about my teaching career really lit me up. For me it was helping others to find and believe in their own potential, to shine a light on the inner talents and skills they didn’t or couldn’t see on their own. I am happy to say, that is something I found a way back to. First, with a podcast speaking out to a faceless audience cheering on writers from afar and now, face to face in Zoom calls as well as through a litany of other internet connections.
Think about the things you do that bring you that inner joy of “showing up” it could be something you do with you kids (lord knows I was drowning my kid in my purpose attempts), something you once did in a job you loved, or something that shows up in your favorite hobbies. If nothing comes clear, programs like The Artist’s Way also provide lots of introspection to help light the way.
Best of luck on this very important journey! 🤗
Synchronicity! I just found a bit of my purpose that I lost the last few years. I recently recommitted myself to helping two community projects in Kenya that care for orphan children tell their story. Writing about that now (and drawing portraits of the children) on a separate Substack and it's giving me great joy... Maybe because I have purpose?