Do You Have a Purpose?

I just want to feel alive and free. I just want to wake up every day excited. I just want to stop feeling so stuck and lost and unhappy.

Words from a new client last week when I asked her, “One year from today, how do you want to feel about life?”

I totally get this. I too used to daydream about feeling lit up and excited about life. I wanted to do work that filled me, work that made a difference, work that was my purpose, but it was overwhelming and confusing and seemed lofty. Like who the heck was I to think I had a “purpose?” Get over it, Carin. You have a good life – just be happy with it.  

But the feeling of being stuck didn't go away; it only got louder.

Until I got robbed at gunpoint and I had to start taking my heart seriously. I realized then that time isn't a luxury and that life isn't meant to be stuck. So listen to me loud and clear, Joshua:

Every single one of us is born for purpose. Even my client. Even you.

There's a unique way that you can impact the world that I can't because you have different strengths than I have, you have different talents, your life experiences have given you different wisdom, and you have a completely different circle of influence than me.

You are needed.

Your Strengths: No two of us have the same strengths – the natural way that you influence and live in the world. Strengths are who you are. You may be creative while your best friend is analytical. However, you have to accept your strengths and stop wishing you were someone else. One of my clients has a great strength in appreciating beauty and had longed to be an artist. However, everyone in her family is a doctor, so she devalued her strength of beauty. She hid it and in doing so, made herself unhappy and off purpose. She didn't have to choose between being a healer and an artist; she had to embrace her strength and bring it to every aspect of her life. The key to living your purpose is to know your strengths and embrace them as uniquely yours.

 

Your Talents: No two of us have the same talents – the honed skills that you use to serve. Talents are what you do. One of my clients was gifted at event planning, but she thought it was “smarter” to learn finance and import/export, so she found herself in a “great” career, but unhappy. You have talents that are your own and you need to embrace them. The challenge is that you may not recognize your talents because they come so naturally to you, or you recognize them but downplay them because you feel like a fraud, or you feel like you can't make money on your talents. Like maybe you're not really a good writer; your college professor was probably just being nice. Nope. You're a great writer and you can become even better with practice. The key to living your purpose is to hone your talents and give them to the world.

Your Passions: No two of us have the same passions – the causes, interests, or populations that get you excited, make you heartbroken, or juice up your motivation. Passions are what lights you up. For me, it's all about young girls and women standing in their power, speaking their voice, rising to the challenge, and living their heart's true purpose. I love seeing a girl boldly stand up for the kid being bullied. I love seeing a young woman rise above abuse to go to college. I love seeing a woman stand up for her heart and go for her dreams – even if they make no sense to her husband, her parents, or “society” at large. What are you passionate about? If it's art, start painting now. If it's theater, go volunteer at your local playhouse. The key to living your purpose is to begin taking a stand for your passions now. 

Your Wisdom: No two of us has lived the same life experiences so you have wisdom that is all your own. As life shows me again and again, it's hard. You're going to have hardship and pain. You're going to have loss. The question is what you do with all of it. Will you let the pain take you down or will you find the wisdom within and share that wisdom with others who need it? A 69-year old client of mine recently shared her story of marital pain with her EMPOWERED sisters and every woman was so grateful because they needed her wisdom. Whatever you've learned, don't squander it for yourself. Wisdom from trauma and triumph is the heart of a woman's purpose – and we need you sharing it!

You have purpose. You are needed. Especially in this crazy world, you're need now more than ever. 

Use this motivation to make it a powerful week.

With all my love,
Carin

PS: I recorded this video a few years ago and thought you might enjoy it!

Upcoming events:

Purpose in London! Do you want to finally fulfill that dream you've had? Do you want support in going for your purpose? Do you need help sorting out what your purpose is and how to bring it to life? Applications for my 2018 Purpose Mastermind starting soon! We'll kick off at the Driven Women Festival of Doers in London January, then work with me personally to create a plan for your purpose!

Divine Feminine AWAKEN – Do you crave reconnecting with your deepest self? Do you yearn to live in alignment with your heart and soul and live from a place of peace, openness and fierce feminine wisdom? The sacred feminine has many faces – from the Goddess of Compassion to the Wild Woman to Fierce Warrior – and in AWAKEN, you embody every aspect of your feminine self so that you live to your highest power. Look for an invitation soon to join me and my soul sister Stacey Hoffer to deepen in the fierce sacred feminine.

Facebook Live – You can find quick happy tips on Instagram and Facebook and I host a Facebook Live every Monday at 1 pm to motivate you for the week. I get very raw and real and always focus on how you can live a better life. You can watch Facebook Lives weekly here.

Women's National History Month in March – Do you work for a company with a women's initiative or do you want your company to start one? I've spoken to companies like Progressive Insurance, AVON and BMW and will come speak to your organization's women (and men) about leading as a powerful woman. I'll share why we're lower in self-confidence and provide tools, stories and motivation to excel from your fierce feminine strengths. Contact my speaking manager Heather here for more information.