Day 7: Permission to be YOU!

Do you have a Life Purpose?

What I appreciate most about COVID -19 is that it gives us permission to not always be ok! That’s right: It allows us to be more vulnerable, truthful and reflective!  Even before COVID-19, I’ve been in process of determining what is most important in life.  I’ve used the philosophy of Life Purpose as a centering force with myself and my clients to determine how things might need to change in order to be more of an expression of our unique selves in all areas of our life. I know that there are market and business realities, but giving ourselves the permission to be more of ourselves, and making choices from this lens can be transformational for you and those you lead!!

Could discovering, rediscovering or
remembering your sense of purpose arise from this chaos and bring you a sense
of CALM and resilience?

Searching for ways to make a
difference seems to be a natural human response when we face adversity.

Can our trauma’s inspire us and
other people to change and grow, putting us on a path toward purpose and
greater authentic leadership presence?

As a purpose driven entrepreneur it is a resounding YES for
me!

Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective, meaning, and an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.”
-Edith Eger

I
believe trauma can transform!

I
have learned the power of post traumatic growth

Post-traumatic growth is seen as not only an outcome, but
also as the process of coming to terms with trauma and changing your life to
proceed in a more meaningful or positive direction.

Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004) define post-traumatic growth as “positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances”

Post-traumatic growth has 5 facets that survivors report experiencing:

• A greater
  appreciation for life,
• Closer
  relationships
• Enhanced
  feelings of personal strength
• Spiritual
  growth
• The
  recognition of new possibilities for their lives.

We are still in the midst of COVID-19 and other large concerns. I know
that these times have been challenging for many.

I want to disclose up-front that I am NOT a therapist, so if this
message is finding you too soon, I recognize that it is imperative for you to
seek the help you need.

I have felt the ache of having pain
and suffering minimized and the impact of my
losses not being seen, heard and understood. It’s hard to let go!

So, try your best to go forward
with loving kindness and compassion for yourself and others. There is hope that
your purpose can bring you Fulfilment, Freedom, and Focus!

Life Purpose is simply defined as your calling, your mission, or the overall theme for your life that transcends your everyday activities! It is your piece of earth you have come to heal or bring to awareness to. It is YOUR contribution!  Many people desire a life purpose.  Yet, some people never look for their purpose and so it remains lost their whole lives.  My Life Purpose metaphor is a journey of transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly that takes place in the chrysalis/pupa.  A butterfly goes through a life cycle of 4 stages: Egg, Larva, Pupa and Adult.

Inside the chrysalis, several things are happening!  It is not a “resting” stage. The caterpillar’s old body dies inside the chrysalis and a new body with beautiful wings appears after a couple of weeks. I’ve taken this time of isolation as my own chrysalis to allow my own purpose to deepen and become clear. We know our purpose, but it often becomes buried because of our habit of comparing ourselves to others!

In this age of comparison, chaos,
overwhelm and ambiguity, your purpose can be your space of clarity. It is your compass! If you are lost in the
woods and have taken several metaphorical detours, purpose helps get you back
on track, despite obstacles! It helps you to know what to say yes to and no to
because it helps define a mission for your life
that transcends your everyday activities! It is much broader than one’s job or
career.  It permeates your entire life
and brings you a powerful energy that fits you perfectly!

It is your piece of earth that you have come to heal

It is Your contribution

My hope is I’ve planted a seed to help you remember…

 You were designed to be

Authentically YOU!

You
know you are on track to your purpose when you:

• Enjoy going to work
• Feel your making a contribution through your work
• Money is flowing easily and abundantly
• Relationships feel satisfying
• You health is vibrant
• And you feel a sense of peace!

Imagine
you and your team showing up with that much Personal Power despite external
chaos!

Life Purpose is just one of the competencies we examine in CALM Power™  as we move toward intentional FOCUS and career and leadership mastery.  This will lead you to

Owning “Your Powerful Leadership Presence”

To EMERGE STRONG

A Coaching Exercise for You:

Find a quiet spot and give yourself permission to imagine you are writing your epitaph.  What things do you want to be remembered for? What things would life be incomplete without? This exercise is a good way to quickly access the essence of your life and goals. Write down the first thing that comes to mind before your chattering voices (quacking duck) overrides your initial impulse. Another way to approach this exercise is to imagine you only had 6 months to live.  What would you do differently than what you are doing now? You may be startled by the things that come to mind.  Once you realize what is most important to you, answer the next question: “What are you waiting for to make those things real for you”?  Lastly,  imagine you are observing your own funeral, what would you want people to say about how they remembered you.