At the age of 24, I knew there was something terribly wrong with my life.
I was dumped by a 37-year-old recently divorced man who I was foolish enough to date for two years (and he left me a wonderful gift of finding a woman in the bathroom while moving my things out of our home).
I realized that the only job I qualified for with my college degree was being a receptionist (a job I could’ve gotten with a high school diploma).
That starry-eyed and entirely-too-optimistic 20-something-year-old left 24-year old me with a Mercedes Benz Truck, luxury apartment and a daughter to feed. (After graduating from college, I thought I would have a “real” job. Silly me.)
I wasn’t feeling frustrated... I was angry. (Yeah, you heard that right!)
I wish someone told me life would be difficult sometimes. Taught me how to spend my money properly. How to stand on my own two feet - and never depend on a guy to support me. To run FAR away from men who were “separated.”
Where were the strong women who said: “here’s how you do it.”
I didn’t know what I was creating, but I knew it was bigger than me. I wasn’t the only person out there following damn-near married men down a rabbit hole, finishing college with high hopes and no job or trying to show my child that I, too, can find success.
There were millions of women, like me, trying to figure this crap out.
What if we could figure it out together?
It wasn’t until years later that I realized, that my little story was making an impact on thousands all over the world.
So today, I want to talk about how you can begin your journey of creating something (or contributing to something) bigger than yourself.
What does it mean to live your purpose?
Living in your purpose is one of the easiest things you can do with your life - because it freakin’ feels easy. Your purpose is driven by your passions and when you follow that passion, you fill your life with joy and feel fulfilled.
In fact, you feel an immense sense of freedom because you’re making an impact by doing what feels natural to you.
What happens when life has no purpose?
Life without purpose can feel like you’re walking up a mountain, while rocks are being thrown at you. (How’s that for a visual?)
You constantly wonder… Is this it?
You participate in activities thinking… Why am I here?
In the back of your mind, you think… I was made for more!
How do I know I’m pursuing my life’s work?
You can spend an entire lifetime trying to figure out why you’re here and whether you’re doing what’s right for you.
The only way you know is to follow the journey and see where it leads. If you can’t get enough, if more work feels more freeing, if you can’t wait to see what happens for your community, if you can’t believe this is your work - then you’re doing your life’s work.
But you have to start to know for sure.
How To Create (or contribute to) Something Bigger Than Yourself
Open your heart to self-discovery
In order to find the big thing you’d like to contribute to, you must first be willing to try something that may not work out for you.
You’ll need to keep trying things until you find that ONE thing. That thing that keeps you up at night. That thing that nags at your intuition and says….you have to do this.
Create a purpose statement
Define the purpose that you’re after. Find a way to put it into one short statement.
Post it somewhere that you’ll see it Every. Single. Day.
Let it be your reminder when things aren’t going your way.
Follow your passion
Be unapologetically YOU. Follow your passion and purpose as if your life depended on it.
Don’t let anyone hold you back. Find your people. Surround yourself with people who are excited to see you progress in your journey.
Make a real commitment
Don’t look back.
Take small steps every day.
Find an accountability partner.
How You Can Start Right Now
Be open to following that passion right down a rabbit hole with no constraints.
We all have a purpose to fulfill throughout our life. Don’t let life pass you by aimlessly.
In the comments, tell me one thing you’re going to explore unrestrained.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I'm passionate about vision boards and hosting vision board parties. Thrive Lounge is the ultimate resource for hosting high impact vision board parties and creating vision boards that work.
