Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired:

Earlier this week, a woman called me out of the blue. She had purchased my Living Your Purpose  book over a year ago, worked through exercises and completed her first purpose vision board, but things had stalled. Even after all of that, she was still trying to figure out what was next for her, gain clarity on her purpose and make some hard choices about exactly what to pursue and how to go about it. Though we had not met personally, it was a “God ordained moment” for us both. I agreed to meet with her later that day. Though she had tried to talk herself out of reaching for the phone, both of us were very glad she had taken that step.

It’s a repeating pattern for me. I am always drawn to empower women in similar situations. It could be in the airport, on my job, or through a mutual friend’s introduction that our paths cross. They are trying to figure out how to get “unstuck”, how to get out of the recognized rut that they are in with their career. Sometimes it’s a woman about to retire, who is trying to reinvent herself for her latter years, maintain or even improve her standard of living and remain a vital contributor to society and her family. She could be returning to work after a long hiatus, or raising children but, looking for a part-time work-from-home job. The women are often unsure of their monetizable skills. They are at a point in life where they constantly ask themselves, “Isn’t there more to life that I should seeing, doing, experiencing that fulfills me?”

Often, I connect with women in corporate America, like myself. Their situations were similar to mine several years ago. I was desperately searching, grabbing at different opportunities trying to rediscover what I was truly designed for, trying to reconnect with what made me smile. I wanted to know what was different out there that I could connect to that would make use of my true gifting.

 

Discontent: A Defining Moment

I have now discovered that discontent is the impetus for change. Who would have thought that discontent was a good thing? Merriam Webster defines discontent as the lack of satisfaction with one’s status or situation. Another word to describe that unsettled feeling was dissatisfaction, or the general feeling of unhappiness or disapproval. Did you know that it takes a disruption in your normal thought patterns along with strong desire to actually achieve change in your life? I needed to discover what that discontent could mean for me that was good. And, I  wasn’t going to get there doing the same old thing I always had.

In my journey, I reached out to take an entrepreneurship class where we were to choose a profitable business idea, and bring that idea to fruition. As a result of the class, I realized that I needed to do the real work of self-discovery to find a monetizable idea. It’s like peeling an onion. There are layers of discovery. I had to remember the skills for which I had always been complimented. I wanted to identify the activities that gave me that feeling of being locked onto a target that I was destined to hit.

The self-discovery process reminded me that I really love to teach. Integrated with that love of sharing what I have learned with others are two unique gifts: public speaking and writing.

Proverbs 18:16 says that your gifts will bring you before great men, and I have no doubt that as you too begin walking in your God-ordained purpose you will begin to rise like never before, even if external circumstances seem not to immediately align with vision.

 

Purpose Activation

Real progress in purpose requires activation. The Lord uses “process” for that activation. “Process” refers to the happenings in our lives that cause us to grow and mature. Though these events may be both positive and negative, He orchestrates all of it so that it works together for our good (Romand 8:28). Ultimately, the whole earth waits in eager expectation for you and I to walk in our God-ordained purpose. (Romans 8:19)

Additionally, you don’t walk in purpose without the help of others. The Lord has packed so much within you, that help is necessary to unpack your gifts. According to II Timothy 1:6-7, your gifts must be “stirred”. How does this occur? You must be in the right place with the right people at the right time. Iron sharpens iron, according to Proverbs 27:17. That sharpening is part of the activation process as well. God connects you with that one or two people that get you motivated and equipped to bring those visions into reality. Your idea, your voice will be the solution to some problem in the world.

 

Not All At Once

Finally! I feel like I am walking in my purpose. I don’t have a question now about whether I am or not. I now have an assignment that I am fulfilling. My understanding of my gifting and purpose is progressive. I have an accountability partner and mid wives for the dreams that the Lord has given me. There’s no mistaking it now. I have experienced confirmation after confirmation. That is a very good feeling. With that feeling comes a responsibility. It means I need to share what I have learned because every woman has not gotten there yet. We are all on a pathway toward continual purpose discovery. Some are farther along and thus have the responsibility to share what they have learned.

One point of clarification. The decades of corporate work are not without great value. The experience has helped to hone skills that could not have happened otherwise. I am smarter and better at dealing with difficulty, chaos, and stress. I can read people and situations a lot better. When things don’t go well, which can be often, I don’t fall apart. I can hunker down, dig in and carry the load with God’s help. My relationship with the Lord has grown by leaps and bounds. This progress has come because I am more tightly connected with the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” He is leading me to that destiny for which I was designed from the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)

 

What’s Next

My first book, The Ultimate Guide to Living Your Purpose: 7 Steps to Creating the LifeYou Crave was published in December 2013. Four years later LYPurpose was born with the objective of meeting the needs of women in career transition. Its curriculum has been designed to create an atmosphere where women can begin to see themselves walking in their purpose. We use vision board parties to present the ideas and concepts the Lord has shared with me. These gatherings provide a vehicle for application of the women’s ideas about what’s next for them. The parties become a strategy session which allows the women to review their ideas with other women in a similar place in life, who have had their own journeys and have gathered experiences that are valuable for other women. These parties are being offered throughout the year. Check out our Itinerary . Next, we are targeting designing on-demand online LYPurpose courses and workshops.

What is next for you? Please share your thoughts about your discovery of your purpose and how you plan to bring these visions to fruition.