Searching for my purpose put me into a long and emotionally challenging creative block, but then I realized something that instantly brought me out of it.
As I embarked into my thirties, I started to contemplate my reason for being here. I was in a great place in my life, but I still felt like something was missing, like I was meant to do more with my time here on earth.
In a desperate attempt to find my ‘purpose’, I read countless self-help books and listened to podcast of the most popular self proclaimed gurus, each offering essentially the same advice and the same steps to follow-––which went something like this: First, identify what you are most passionate about, ideally something that the world needs. Then figure out how to make money off of it. Finally, once you turn your world changing passion into your career, you will be on the path of living a purposeful life.
But here’s the thing…that’s a total lie!
The self help industry will have you believing that in order to live out your purpose, you must be in an endless grand pursuit of achieving success saving the world while doing the things that you are most passionate about.
And I bought into it.
I thought that the reason I lacked purpose was because I was doing a job that neither aligned with one of my many passions––most of which revolved around creative expression, nor did it help me elevate the human experience in any way.
Following the advice of the many gurus, I tried to figure out which of my creative passions would lend itself best to starting a business around. And guess what, I couldn’t figure it out. I was stressing out over my lack of clarity, feeling like I was just being indecisive or letting fear of failure stand in my way. I was stuck in a cycle of coming up with a new idea, developing a strategy for monetizing it, and then failing to follow through. Worst of all, I was completely ignoring the thing I love doing the most, art!
And then, something magical happened. I stopped thinking and started feeling. I journeyed inward and I realized something that completely changed my perspective.
Purpose is not found…it’s felt!
Purpose is something you feel when you are present and doing the things that bring you joy––and in being joyful, you spread that feeling onto others. It has nothing to do with monetary endeavors (although the two certainly can align).
The moment I realized this, two things happened:
-
My perspective on my current career path completely shifted.I no longer tied my career to my purpose, so I actually began to enjoy it more. I realized that it provided me with the financial means to do what I am passionate about and I became immensely grateful for that.
-
My creativity flourished. I no longer felt like I needed to figure out a specific channel to express my creativity through. Nor did I feel the need to turn one of my creative passions into a career. The absence of pressure to create unleashed a desire within me to create as much as possible.
Now I wake up everyday feeling a strong sense of purpose and gratitude. I harness the light inside of me by doing the things that bring me joy, and I spread the light through every interaction, in the physical world as well as the digital one. I’m no longer in a creative slump and I feel more alive than ever.
So, if you are someone who’s still unclear of what your purpose is, or if you are in a creative slump, stop searching for purpose or inspiration and start feeling it by doing the things that bring you joy. I promise you, you’re going to love where the feeling takes you!
Sending love,
Irina