On the surface level, there was no reason that I should have been unhappy. I was making six figures as a radio programming executive. My Facebook feed was a parade of celebrity encounters and photo ops ranging from hanging out at Taylor Swift's apartment to backstage meet and greets with Ed Sheeran. I had the means to travel and take amazing vacations. I lived in a beautiful home and never had to worry about whether I could pay my bills. So why did I feel so empty?
I would lay in bed at night struggling with this idea. I would beat myself up as I fell asleep with negative self-talk ranging from "Why are you so ungrateful?" all the way to "Dan, you're an a**hole!"
The fact is that I wasn't ungrateful at all. I just knew, at a soul level, that there was something more out there for me. I knew there was something bigger than spending my days miserable at a company that I didn't believe in. I had a bigger purpose than playing Justin Bieber songs on the radio every 20 minutes, I just didn't know what it was.
This led to more self-doubt. "Purpose is the title of Bieber's album. Jesus, even Justin can articulate his purpose and you can't. You suck, Dan!"
Here was my real issue. I didn't lack a purpose for my life. It wasn't like my purpose my hiding from me.
I just lacked the courage to align myself with it.
Things began to shift when I understood what drew me to a radio career in the first place. For me, it was never about meeting celebrities and going to concerts. It wasn't about being schmoozed by record labels or sitting in pointless two-hour corporate meetings where everyone was panicked about how to make more money.
I was drawn to broadcasting by the sense of connection. The magic for me was in how radio could make a difference in people's lives. There was an ability to be that one, friendly voice in someone's day. Radio could make people laugh, think, or sometimes cry. But at the end of the day, there was a one-to-one connection that could make people feel.
But how could I still make a difference if I was no longer a broadcaster? After much reflection, I realized that was merely a self-imposed label. I was so much more than a one-dimensional title. I was a communicator, a content creator, a writer, speaker, a friend, a spiritual seeker. The list went on and on.
With this knowledge, a new vision for my life began to come into focus. My purpose wasn't my corporate job. It wasn't about selling my soul to make money. It was to create a sense of authenticity in my own life so that I could use my talents to serve the world, connecting with others and inspiring them to do the same.
From there, the path became clear. I created the action steps to start my coaching business, launch a website, get my writing published worldwide on websites such as this, and begin serving clients in 5 countries on their self-development path.
Our purpose is not some abstract thing that is forever out of reach. Yet, we treat it like the Loch Ness Monster, a mythical creature that a handful have claimed to encounter, but most doubt its existence.
Do you want to know if you have a purpose? Here are three questions that will give you the answer:
- Do you have a skill or talent that you excel at?
- Does it genuinely light you up inside when you do it?
- Could this talent or skill provide value to other people?
If you answered yes to those questions, congrats! You have a purpose!
If you answered no to any of those questions, then you simply aren't being honest with yourself. Why?
Admitting you have a purpose destroys your biggest excuse that keeps you playing small. It creates accountability for you to pursue it. And pursuing your purpose will take you out of your comfort zone. Leaving the comfort zone is scary. It will trigger every fear of rejection, failure, and self-worth that you have.
And perhaps that's the point.
Pursuing your purpose means challenging your self-limiting beliefs. It forces you to heal. It will require you to grow into the kind of person that you need to be to live your dreams.
Embrace the fear. Every worthwhile invention and advancement that has ever been brought into existence was done so in the face of the uncertainty that comes with not knowing the outcome...but move forward anyways.
So today, take one grounded action step towards your purpose. You will be surprised at how quickly it takes three steps back toward you.
One of the best ways to move towards a life of purpose is to find a coach or mentor who has already walked the path. Get a FREE, 25-minute, Discover Your Strengths Coaching session now by logging onto www.creativesoulcoaching.net