From Pain to Passion & Purpose (1)
The purpose of life is that you give it a purpose.
As I got so many questions and responses on my post about “Finding your Why”, I wanted to share some more of my thoughts about this fundamental topic that we often hear about, but rarely get the answer to at school or university.
“I just don’t have a “purpose”!.. BULLSHIT!
I believe that there is a special gift in every human being (yes, including YOU!). I believe that there is a light within everyone that is just waiting to be turned on when the time comes. Imagine a lamp that is shining in the darkness. You are neither the lamp not the lightbulb. You are the energy that spreads through the materialistic surrounding. In the same way, you are not your body nor your thoughts, but the energy that gives it life, also known as “Prana” or “life force energy” in Sankrit (here comes the Yogi talking to you 🤸).
This light is not visible for the human eye. It simply sparkles within you like a small flame waiting for you to light it up to a burning fire.
I’ve been thinking a lot about my own “purpose” in life. The influence I want to have and difference I want to make. The person I want to be and be remembered for. Questions that I have been asking myself lately include:
“Who do I want to be? What do I want to achieve and accomplish? What do I want to share with the world – my personal Purpose for Existence?”
During the process of self-recovery, I’ve read more than 30 books on self-healing and personal development and here is what I’ve learned: The only thing that is stopping me from becoming who I truly want to be is no other than
(drumrolls..) myself!
I believe that within each and every one of us lies the capacity to manifest, attract and achieve all that we need and desire.
The two most important days in our lives are the day we are born and the day we find out WHY. In this post I want to tell you HOW.
Ask yourself these questions
Why do you get up every morning? Because your alarm clock is ringing? Because you have to go to work to earn money? Isn’t there something that drives you beyond that?
Remember when you were little and you were taught not to play with fire to keep you safe? As a result you forgot about the flame within your heart – the spark within your soul. Now you may think: “What would my parents/friends/significant other say when I simply follow my passion”?
What if I told you that you do not have to give up anything. On the contrary, I advise you to keep your life as it is, until you are ready to make a shift.
To be brave does not mean not to be afraid, but to do it nevertheless.
The truth is, it isn’t always easy being the person who follows their dreams
It isn’t always easy being the person who does things differently, who chooses their own journey. It isn’t easy feeling like you are falling behind or left out. But instead of seeing that as a disheartening thing – you have to embrace the different lane and follow the path untaken. You have to let it motivate you to follow something bigger than yourself!
When it comes to following your dreams, you have to understand that you don’t need to quit your day job. In fact, as I have just finished reading “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert, I have learned that you SHOULD NOT QUIT your day job as soon as you find your passion!
Did you know that some of the greatest creatives and innovators in the world had day jobs, before their art got famous. Success did not appear over night. Maya Angelou was a cable car conductor, Vonnegut was a taxi driver, and even bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert (“Eat Pray Love”, “Big Magic“) worked a day job before depending on their creative art work. All of them did what they had to do in order to support themselves, but they never stopped elbowing their way into the world. They never stopped believing in their vision.
They fought for it, no matter what life presented them with!
Because the thing is – life will happen to you. It will challenge you and hurt you. But it will never defeat you. Trust me, you just have to know your purpose, and believe in it no matter what anybody else says.
Hey, I am talking from first-hand experience here! 😇
YOU have to become your biggest fan, even when it is difficult, even when you feel like you’re close to giving up. You have to keep going.
Nothing beautiful ever asks for attention
You have to remind yourself that there will never be a perfect time to do things differently, or to pursue something that genuinely scares you. Do not chase for the attention of others. Instead follow your own curiosity. Strive for your passion – to work for something bigger than yourself. Following your passion doesn’t work like that. It is constant work & discipline, not just physically, but mentally. You will have to do the hard things. But you will also move forward. You will push towards the person you want to be, and the life you want to live, because while following your dreams is tough – you will always have a reason to stay strong.
The thought of becoming a Psychologist, a Yoga teacher and a nutritionist had never crossed my mind when I was deep in recovery. Actually, I flew to Bali 3 years ago not even sure if I would ever be able to heal – just trusting that there was something there waiting for me.
I got back 6 months later working at a full-time job. But I also started to CREATE and educate myself in my free time. I got up earlier in the morning and took in extra night-shifts, because I enjoy creating content and educating myself – and others about the big questions in life! And how we can find our own answers to these BIG questions and challenges in life..
One day it hit me: I can either settle with the ordinary, or, I can take the risk to be different and follow my passion to an extraordinary life.
I wisely chose the later.
I know that making big decisions in life – based not on logic but on your heart – are so freaking scary. But looking back, they have been some of the best and most transformational decisions in my life.
Don’t be afraid to grow
Growth isn’t always linear and doesn’t always involve better, greater, or more secure.
Sometimes in order to grow you need to let go of old limiting believes and habits. Growth always involves change. It involves learning new things as well as UNlearning old behavioural patterns. You cannot and will not stay the same person that you were before. You’ll have to let go of your past to become more. But if there is one thing that I’ve learned in recovery it’s this: don’t be afraid to grow. Step out of your comfort zone and never give up!
Always remember WHY you started. One day at the time. For me this meant to EAT, MOVE and HEAL myself to grow not only physically but also intellectually and make me to person I inspire to be one day. Proud to stay in my own truth and inspiring YOU to do the same!
Maybe no one ever installed in you the confidence that made you feel you could shape and shake the world with your unique superpower. Maybe no one will ever come to give you the confidence to stand in your own truth. Give that confidence to yourself. This is the beautiful path to constructing your own identity. You have to shape your identity by conscious will and align your thoughts, feelings and behaviours accordingly to support it.
This world worships logic. And even though logic has a place when it comes to problem solving, when it comes to questions on life direction, finding your purpose and a reason to be alive, I always consult my heart first. And it has never failed me.
What is stopping you right now from doing what your heart desires?
Did you know that the word passion comes from Latin word for pain ? This means that pain and passion are intimately interwind.
I firmly believe that every person has something within her that is greater than herself. You too. Something that has to do with yourself, with your personal history. Something for which you burn and which moves you. And with what you can move the world.
Fact is: We came to this planet to THRIVE!
Health is our birth right and we all deserve to be happy and healthy. Unfortunately with the typical western medicine “put a band aid on it”-approach, people are often robbed of their potential with a chemical cocktail or daily pills with harmful side effects. Especially when you get into a depressive state, because every one else but you seems “to have it together”. It seems like everyone has somehow figured out what they want and just “follow their purpose”. (I am not talking about life or death situations I am talking about when pills are used as a first line do defense in a non emergency situation). Many people are unaware of how much they can prevent and treat themselves with holistic approaches as they had for many years in the past (think about ancient philosophies like Yoga).
Now you might ask: “Yeah Nila you seem to have it all together and just ‘do you’. But I just don’t know my ‘purpose’!”
Believe me I know how you feel. I have been there myself. Here is a little personal insight into my recovery and purpose journey and what I have learned so far.
Your mind is a powerful tool
When you hear “use your mind to heal your body” your first thoughts might be…
That’s impossible!
That’s how I personally felt when I first began looking at the mind for healing. It just didn’t seem logical that I could change my physical health with my mind!
What if I told you that we have more influence over our health than we realize?
It’s a known fact that stress and emotions can affect our physical body, but to what extent? For years, one doctor after another told me I had to gain weight in order to be happy and healthy again. But my body seemed to reject the nutrients, because my thoughts about food weren’t positive. When I discovered the power of the mind and how I can successfully implement certain mindfulness practices into my daily life, things started to shift. That is when I became determined to get my life back, for real.
And what I then received was more than I had ever expected..
Want to know what I am talking about and how I got it?
Find out in part 2 that I will share with you next week 😉
My mission is to help others create the best version of themselves and turn their adversity into their greatest opportunity! 🧡
Remember that you are loved no matter what you decide to do or where your path will lead you to. Just know for yourself that your work will light up your flame, which will eventually inspire others to do the same.
Sending you so much love from my heart to yours – wherever you may be!
With a whole lot of love and confidence,
See you soon x
Nila
PS: In case you have trouble getting back on track after a fall back, feel free to check out this post on how to START (again)! 😉
