Find Your Project
It’s time to find your project.
I’m guilty.
I won’t deny it.
In the last few weeks, I’ve caught myself saying to others they need to “find their purpose”.
Then, thanks to my friend Chip Conley, founder of Modern Elder Academy, I was gifted the opportunity to hear Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat. Prey. Love) share her wisdom in an intimate Zoom conversation.
Elizabeth expressed her feelings about America’s current conundrum regarding purpose. That many folks are suffering from, “purpose anxiety” taught from a young age to lock in on a purpose so we can each go out into the yonder and make our dent on society. That for some, this red thread of making their mark doesn’t just turn into a life long affair but continues in our minds long after we’re gone (See: legacy land).
Just last week I shared a clip of the posthumous Dr. J Wallace Nichols talking about our need to shift “mindset” to “mind state” because, from J’s perspective, being set to a fixed point might not be the healthiest of choices.
Swirl both these thoughts together into my mental cocktail and it had me re-evaluating the idea of nudging everyone to commit to their purpose.
The world, for many, is heavy right now.
Gilbert called it, “The Pressure Cooker of Expectations”.
The idea of creating more anxiety is never my intent.
I’ll also admit that I am very lucky to have my own love story (purpose) with courage.
I’m passionate about helping people reach for more because I believe many of us have so much more we want to offer!
But it doesn’t mean that we should lose sleep over not knowing exactly the thing that lights us up. If you are feeling like, “If I don’t leave my mark on the world, I have failed.” (another Liz Gilbert-ism) please find a way to give yourself grace and space right now.
It’s ok not to know.
If you do feel an urge to ignite a fire within, instead of finding your purpose, first, find your project.
A project is a little experiment that may take you out of your comfort zone that feels good to fulfill.
- Seeing if I could create “The Courageous Podcast” was me finding my project.
- Creating modules that could help others get over their fears (now a Coaching Program) first started as a project.
- Writing this “Weekly Dose of Courage” continues forward as a project.
None of these are death sentences.
No one is forcing me to carry on.
These are just experiments.
Add them up over time…
Yes, it fuels my purpose.
Find Your Project
Deep down, I do hope you find your purpose.
I’ve also learned a healthy way to start is to first find your next project.
Take action on it. Audit what you learn.
Then decide where to go from there.
