Washing dishes, I suddenly saw myself from above. Although the person standing before me looked and sounded like me… she didn’t
feel like me.
No, I wasn't having a near-death experience. It was the moment I finally admitted to myself that cancer had changed me. I needed to stop ignoring the voice inside my head begging me to figure out how.
Up until that point I'd been ignoring that voice because:
- What if the feeling was transitory?
- What if I made a big change, only to later determine it was a mistake?
- What if I couldn't figure out my new, post-cancer purpose?
That last one - it's what I feared the most.
What I've since learned is that this is actually somewhat common - especially among us high-achievers.
You set out on a path, and forget to check in with yourself to ensure it’s something you still (or really) want.
And sometimes, a life-changing event happens that changes virtually everything. Like a cancer diagnosis.
Regardless of the reason why, the effect is the same. Simultaneously feeling desperate to figure things out yet terrified to do anything about it.
But I have good news, Friend...
Contrary to what the so-called experts say, there's no such thing as having one purpose. So, you can stop putting so much pressure on yourself to figure it out.
And you don't have to make life-changing decisions, give up your worldly possessions or save the world.
You actually don't find your purpose... you create it.
Before I let you go, I want to be clear about something. I eventually realized that I no longer wanted to practice law and started an entirely new business. So yes, I did make big changes to my life.
But I had regained my sense of purpose + meaning long before that. The cool thing is that - by taking the steps outlined in today's podcast - you'll:
- start feeling more content with yourself and your life, and
- be building self-confidence that will empower you to make big changes (should you decide you want to).
XO,
Heather
