Today’s blog post is inspired by my VERY FIRST podcast episode which launched May 4, 2021! Catch it HERE if you missed it!

My take on purpose wouldn’t be complete without a look at my journey. I will preface this with, by no means have I arrived at some magical place called purpose. But, I think it’s important to highlight the moments along the way that have impacted my journey.

Key Moments Of My Journey to Purpose

Who put 17-year-old me in charge?

I remember clearly a day in Grade 12, sitting in the cafeteria with a school counselor reviewing the results of a standardized test that told me. Based on my results, I was told I should be a social worker, a nurse, a teacher, or a journalist.

It felt very surreal. How could a simple test tell me what I was to do with the rest of my life? I also remember thinking, ‘NO’. I didn’t like those options. Reflecting on that moment now, I can’t help but think WHO thought it was a good idea to give a 16- or 17-year-old license over deciding which path I should go on to feel fulfilled and meet my financial needs.

Walking Life’s Beaten Path

University and my career path over the past 15+ years have been a back and forth between following what I was told I should want and seeking something more. I went to university because that’s what was expected of me. Funnily enough, I didn’t do any of the things that the test told me I should (I’ve always hated when people tell me what to do). I studied business because my brothers did, not because it lit me up and I was driven to climb the corporate ranks to arrive at a pension-filled retirement.

Every job I began post-graduation would start with optimism and quickly leave me feeling empty and lifeless. I knew early on in my career that there had to be more to life than THIS. I knew I couldn’t wait till I retired to finally start living. I dreamed of finding purpose in a title or finding that elusive company that would see me for my unique gifts and recognize and compensate me accordingly.

I worried that maybe I just didn’t know what my purpose was or that, god forbid, I didn’t have one. I spent countless hours, dollars, and time searching for it. I searched Google, because what can’t you find on Google, amirite?! I hopped jobs, I saw psychics, I did courses and certificates. I even quit the ‘perfect’ job and went searching for it on the beaches of India, Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, and New Zealand. “It”, my purpose was nowhere to be found.

Following the Curiosity Breadcrumbs.

All the while I was searching for meaning and purpose through work, I started following the breadcrumbs of things I was curious about. When I had moved to Vancouver in 2012, I was determined to do two things: Work at luluemon and learn to teach yoga. Both of which, I’m proud to say that I’ve done. One of the reasons I went to India in the first place was to complete my Yoga Teacher Training. I thought it was the physical practice that I was drawn to but the deeper we got into the training, I realized that it was the philosophy and stillness that captivated me.

In New Zealand, I went on to study Yin Yoga thinking it was the slower, more juicy movement that I wanted - closer, but still not quite right. Back in Vancouver, I took a meditation teacher training which led to a reiki level I and II certification. I was getting warmer. It felt like I was calibrating into my soul.

I eventually landed myself in a breathwork event that changed everything. Of course, I went on to study breathwork and this leads me to where I am today with Soulbody.

When You Get What You Thought You Wanted.

Breathwork played a huge part in my expression of purpose but the biggest ah-ha moment came when I got exactly what I was trying to manifest in my career. As I said, I had my sights set on working at lululemon and for 7 years I didn’t get even as much as a rejection email saying thanks for applying. When I finally got my dream job there, I thought “this is it”. I felt like I could settle into the path I was meant to be on and my life would start to unfold as I had hoped.

Well, getting what you thought you had always wanted can be a real mind-fuck. While, momentarily, I was elated, this job became much like the others. What I thought would bring me all the happiness and satisfaction I was looking for, would eventually stress me out, burn me out, chew me up and spit me out.

I realized it was about so much more than achieving ‘the things’. I reached what I thought would be my defining moment on the journey to my purpose and turned up feeling no different than before.

There’s nowhere left to look.

Here is where things got interesting in my quest for purpose. I had spent the better part of my life looking everywhere outside of myself. When I had nowhere else to look, I was forced to go inward.

If you want me to be honest, I resisted it every step of the way. Turns out, this is where I should have been looking the whole time. At the time, no one could have told me that - I’m much more of a learner by doing kinda gal.

My biggest ah-ha moments.

Here is what I am currently learning and unpacking around purpose:

A job title or achievement was NEVER going to equal purpose and fulfillment. That joy of attaining the physical ‘thing’ is fleeting. Go deeper.
Following the breadcrumbs of what I was curious about and what made me feel good were key steps in embodying a purposeful life.
Purpose is NEVER about the destination. You will not get to a moment and say, I’ve made it. It’s a journey, and THAT is living. The expression of your purpose may change as you do - that’s the journey - how fun!
The biggest revelation I had: Our purpose in this world to be so fully in our hearts that it becomes unbearable to be/do anything else. That means WE are our purpose, to be US and to EMBODY our self.

Takeaways On Purpose

If you take NOTHING else away from this post, trying this:

Get curious. Become the curious explorer of your life.
Do Something. Start taking action on the things that feel good or that you are curious about
Enjoy the ride. Loosen your grip on reaching the destination and let the journey guide you!

Subscribe to the Purpose + Possibility podcast where I have inspiring conversations with people who are choosing to live life on their own terms, in alignment with their purpose. My hope is that our journey’s can inspire you to open to BIG possibilities in your own life!

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