“What is it that you want to be ‘known’ for?
What idea do you want to represent?
The next 24 hours bring insights, signs and sudden revelation!”
Kim Falconer asked this question yesterday.
I let it sit with me.
At first my mind ran through all the things my social self wants to be known for, things like:
- Making a big difference in this world
- Inspiring thousands of people to live their best lives ever
- Making the most of my life & opportunities
- Being a successful coach
- Helping tons of people get clarity in their lives
- And so on
I let it sit some more.
It was about 10 hours later, that by pure synchronicity, Carol posted this Abe video on Living With Passion on the Good Vibe U forum.
And as I was watching it, it suddenly struck me.
JOY!
Yes, I want to accomplish a lot and make my time here on Earth “worthwhile”.
Yes, I want to inspire people to follow their dreams.
Yes, I want all this and much, much more and still do.
But above all, I want most of all to Further Joy!
To be known for being a JoyGiver, JoySpreader, JoyMonger & ALL things JOY.
It was so ridiculously simple that I had to catch my breath.
Could it be THIS simple? THIS easy!?
As I sat there wondering, I realised my essential self, the part of me that wants to give and share without wanting anything in return was speaking to me loud and clear.
The part of me that knows living my purpose is more about Being than about Doing.
Have you asked yourself questions like:
- What’s my purpose, my mission in life?
- Why am I here?
- What am I meant to do with my life?
- How can I best use my talents to help people?
- How can I be happy?
- What fulfills me?
Yeah, me too. In a quest to answer these questions I read a lot.
From Wayne Dyer to Steve Pavlina to Don Miguel Ruiz to Lynn Grabhorn to Eckart Tolle to Abraham-Hicks, you name it, I’ve read their books.
I also discovered coaching, got myself a coach, attended coach training, became a coach, kept attending workshops (and still do), listened to hundreds of audios and watched countless videos.
With each passing month, I had a better idea of what I wanted to accomplish with my time here.
And yet, it felt like I was trying too hard.
I’d decide what I want and then change my mind as though the “thing” I’d settled on – like inspiring thousands of people to live their best lives ever – somehow seemed hollow and vacuous.
What the heck does that mean anyways? Inspire people to live into their potential?
And who was *I* to take on this mission? Something about it just didn’t sit right. Could my life purpose really be about other people instead of about me?
Got me thinking about Mother Teresa – what was hers? Was it to provide support and help the poor? Or was it to love? Seems to me that everything she did came from Love. She was BEING love, not just giving love.
Too often we make ours about “doing something for others”.
When you realise it’s about being who you were meant to be, the doing comes naturally.
It’s not important to know what to do before you know what or who to be.
So last night when it came to me with intense clarity that I needed to let the answer come to me rather than go chasing to it, it sure surprised me when it did.
Cos joy is something I take for granted, not something I thought could actually be my purpose.
I’d thought my purpose was something bigger…. grander….. on a larger scale that would make me feel like I’d REALLY made a difference.
A little thing like Joy? Really?
Yes, really.
I haven’t stopped smiling since this revelation. I’m not sure how exactly I’ll do this but I have an idea – to start with, I’m bringing joy into what I do, how I engage with people, my thoughts, my actions. I already practice this, and with this new awareness, it seems a lot more delicious.
Fancy my purpose being something I can live each day, every day!
Fancy it being something I’m already being and doing 🙂
(No co-incidences there, hey!)
Now, I’ve got a little exercise for you.
First, write down what comes to mind when I ask “what do you want to be known for”?
– Leave a comment & let me know.
Second, take this question with you into your day.
– Let it sit with you as you go about your routine.
– Every now and then ask yourself the question again and write down what comes to mind.
– Don’t try to force it, or write what you think you should write.
– Let it flow.
– At the end of the day, revisit your list and see what pops out at you.
I have a feeling whatever you think it is right now, it’s probably simpler and more basic than that 🙂 It’s something you are ALREADY being and doing, and just haven’t fully realised yet. Or maybe you have? Can’t wait to hear it!
What is your soul calling you to be or do? I’d love to hear if the answer changed or remained the same after a while. Enjoy the process and thanks for sharing your thoughts, as always, you inspire me!
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You and I must be sharing the same space energetically right now, Tia. Everything you wrote in this post spoke to me just as the videos did. In fact, I’ve listened to these videos over and over today, and I think I’m FINALLY getting it. And then I bop over here and see you’ve posted a new blog. 🙂
“But above all, I want most of all to Further Joy!
To be known for being a JoyGiver, JoySpreader, JoyMonger & ALL things JOY.
It was so ridiculously simple that I had to catch my breath.”
It IS that easy! I, too, have been trying to figure out my life purpose. Expecting it to be something more than what I already am.
I’ve listened to Abraham thousands of times, but this set of videos REALLY spoke to me. (And I almost didn’t post them last night, but they made such a difference to me that I felt I HAD to share them. lol)
In all of our cases, we mean a whole lot to a lot of different people . . . all in different ways. Our families, our friends, and all of the various people we interact with in any way, shape, or form. In every interaction we are offering others who we are and spreading the joy.
Think of all of the joy you have given to the world already, Tia . . . and all of the inspiration you have given to us, your peeps. You’ve touched so many lives already. And you’ve been living your life’s purpose ALL ALONG!
These videos and your blog have helped me to realize that I’ve been living mine all along, too! Oh happy day!!! I don’t have to be or do something specific . . . I JUST HAVE TO BE!
What a huge relief, huh? 🙂
Heck yeah! What a relief to know that it is done :D!! And that it HAS been done for a while… The rest of our lives is just an expression of who we are – as it has been so far.
Gee, wonder how many people are expending too much time and energy wondering about this … hope they all read this post! Thanks again Carol, I gotta feeling tonight’s gonna be a good night! Woohoo!
Hi Tia
I wonder how some people in different parts of the world could be on the same thought process at about the same time .
Recently when I was goading my 12 yr old son into studying well, I gave him an example of my cousin who managed to get into a very good company even before finishing his gradualtion. So his question first was “so what will uncle do now? Will he get married ? and then his question ” Mommy what’s life’s aim? So innocently he put across such a big question.
I normally would have thought long and wide and then answered his question. But this time my answer just came out spontaneously – LIFE’S AIM IS TO ENJOY. Only after uttering those words, it hit me – yes, that’s the basic essence of LIFE which we all struggle to come to terms with. Not that we do not know it, but somewhere in the journey from childhood to Adulthood we keep forgetting that more and more. Now, I consciously want to make an attempt at doing that.
I also feel that the reason for not being mindful of this fact is that we somehow get lost in the muddle of mundane things which we definitely need to do to earn our bread and butter.
So let us be CONSCIOUSLY ENJOYING whatever we are doing – however boring or interesting the task may be.
Well done Sujata! What an amazing mother you are and how lucky is your son!? Isn’t it so awesome to get to the basics of it all – to enjoy and have fun? If that’s the aim then why not embrace it every day instead of the ubiquitous “someday” hey.
We forget it cos we keep getting told how important it is to be successful and cos often, we haven’t defined our own idea of success and take on the world’s view. Here’s to conscious enjoyment indeed! Thanks for that 🙂
OK…seriously! I *knew* you were my SOUL Sister!!!
Or maybe I should say, my JOY Sister!!! teehee 🙂
Girl, you know I AM ALL ABOUT THE J O Y, JOY! It’s my passion, purpose, and all around JOY in life…haha…funny, right? My JOY in life is…JOY!
And I LOVE assisting others in getting as crazy for JOY as I am!!!! Thus, JOY of Brilliance! 🙂
…and as I wrote on another post… I’m pretty sure TIA means JOY in another language. I know DEBRA does! …and I’m so HAPPY to know CAROL does, too!!! We are the JOY sisters!!! …along with throngs of others! LIFE is AMAZING!!!
XO 🙂 In JOY… DebSoul
Hahahhahahha I just have to see your NAME and I start smiling and feeling happy as can be – THAT’S how much of a joy YOU are Ms Debra! Seriously, poster child for all things good and beautiful, I must’ve done a lot right to have you in my life 🙂 I love you JOYgirl!!