Revealing Your Life Purpose

Up in the hills after a long day of walking, my feet hurt. A lot. Not the usual blister hurt, but a throbbing soreness that pressed against the balls of both my feet. Were my boots wrong? Or had I just become a tenderfoot office gal?

In any case, my feet hurt, and I had a lot of walking to do, starting with a creek crossing in freezing water.

In spite of the glorious surrounds, the rain having stopped, and the brekkie warm and yummy, I was not in the best of moods.

Nothing like a few aches and pains to spoil your enthusiasm.

So Rob, ever Mr Happiness, bounced across the river leaving me to fend for myself.

Why are there always super happy people around when you are grumbly?!

My boots were off, the stream was bracing, and every step was on slimy, slippery rocks that hurt my tender tootsies.

The inner dialogue went something like this:

“This sucks. My feet hurt. Stupid boots. This is Rob's fault. He left me behind. I feel so alone. I am stuck all by myself out in this stupid river.”

There was nowhere to go – I had to keep moving. There was no one to blame, and no one could help me. It was just me, my pack, and the river.

So I vented a few expletives, and went deep.

All I had was my inner resilience. The dialogue went something like this:

“C'mon, don't be so wimpy! This is hardly a river, it doesn't go past your knees, so what if you get wet?

What would you do if you were leading a group?”

And that's when it struck me. I had forgotten who I really was.

I've hiked mountains, paddled thousands of kilometers by canoe, run six marathons, moved around the globe, and survived cancer treatment...

And I was complaining about a cold river?! Sheesh!

I started to laugh. I was being truly ridiculous.

Rob captured it all on film without me knowing:

It's even more embarrassing when you see how low the river is – hardly a raging torrent!

It's so easy to succumb to that inner gremlin.

It's so easy to forget how remarkable, powerful, and resilient we really are.

And why we came here in the first place.

For me, my purpose is about inspiring people to be more, try more, and live a truly wild and exhilarating life. I remembered that when I asked myself, “what would you do if you were leading group right now?”

I'd show enthusiasm even if I felt afraid.

I'd step out in faith, with determination and commitment.

I'd make light of it and have a bit of a laugh – crossing a creek is hardly the most nerve-wracking or serious of activities.

I'm a leader. And you are too – you just may not have remembered that you are.

So let's look at how you can remember YOUR life purpose...

Step 1. When have you felt most challenged? How did you get through it? What did you discover about yourself?

Step 2. When have you felt most alive, most excited, most 'in the moment'? What were you thinking, doing, focusing on?

Step 3. What do you care about most in the world – beyond your family? If you had one wish for your friends and colleagues, what would that be?

Now look back at your answers and see if there any patterns there. Often we feel most passionate about the challenges that have taught us the biggest lessons, and are eager to share these with others.

Your life purpose comes down to this:
Be more of who you are when you are called on in times of challenge;
Be more of who you are when you are most joyful, and
Be the person that helps others' wishes comes true.

Once you are being who you are meant to be, the doing takes care of itself.