Sustainable souls
This is it. The final everyday wellness blog of this year.
And what a year it has been. How was this year for you? Did you feel free or…?
When we are born, we are free.
Free of societal constructs and imposed beliefs, expectations of what you ‘should’ and ‘should not’ become. Sadly, even the best of intentions from the adults in our lives may have led us astray to our intended purpose and who we were meant to be. Most of our lives is spent trying to remember who were to become. When we have that ‘aha’ moment after trying something new or after trusting your gut and you decide to courageously move in the direction of your dreams, something magical happens. Our souls recognize it - the joy and peace that comes with finding our ‘purpose’. You can feel it – usually deep within – a knowing you are right where you are meant to be.
Some call this personal growth, finding your “North Star.” Just as the literal North Star acts as our compass in the sky, our internal navigation system can do the same. And when you find it, you are happier. You can dream, take chances and if you lose your way, you’ve got a beacon to return you. We all have two selves: our inner and our outer selves. The inner self is our basic personality, likes, longings, emotions and our overall personal identity. Conversely, the outer self is the part that forms as a result of family and societal expectations, pressures and norms. When both are in harmony – life is good. When they are not, something may feel off. This could be an indication you are not living your true purpose.
This can happen when the outer self is directed more by others at the expense of the inner self, which is why often you will see a medical school student quit after realizing medical school was her father’s dream and not her own. The man working in corporate America realizing his passion is unrealized and wanting to make a change.
So, how do you find harmony between the internal and external to find your North Star? If you are off course you’ll know it. You may self-sabotage or ‘blow’ the big interview for a job that looks good on paper but secretly you know you are unhappy pursuing. Alternatively, you know you are on track when you light up, find energy and excitement around a particular topic. Heightened intuition and the stars tend to align more quickly. You will know and so will your soul when you are reawakened to your own personal joy. It is then you will find the way forward for a more sustainable soul – a life worth living. Meditation, asking yourself the right questions, remembering when you were a child before the world got a hold of you – what made you light up? Take a deep dive inside and ask yourself if money were no object, how would you spend your time?
Are you living someone else’s life or are you living your authentic purpose?
Soon, a new year will be upon us.
If you are not living your true purpose, what steps will you take in the direction of your own North Star?