We all have the capacity to strive and move towards a life of health and happiness. The secret is to believe in what inspires you, and in yourself.
BY: RACHEL HARVEST, MS, RD, CDN
Purpose.
Whoa, that’s heavy. Finding purpose can cause all sorts of upset and anxiety for some people. It leads individuals to dissociate, check out, and lose touch because they don’t want to face the fact they may not have something to strive for. In some, it may even lead them to depression, feelings of monotony, upset, restlessness, or destructive behavior.
But what exactly is purpose?
Purpose is really about understanding what you, in all your glory, want to express to the world.
Watch children. They get what it is to be free. They get what it is to be totally immersed in what they’re dreaming about. They get that excitement lies in experimenting and learning. They get the newness of every moment.
They get purpose.
Purpose is about finding what lights you up, inspires you to keep going, and allows you to feel involved and indispensable in your experience.
For any one of you that just read that out loud and turned on that internal dialogue that says “I don’t matter”: shut that voice off.
You matter. You’re actually essential. You have no idea what things you’ve shown up for, done, or said that has influenced others. You make change and make things happen just by being in the experience. There’s no person on this planet who is an exception to that.
You are that important, just stop thinking you aren’t. It’s a waste of headspace.
Your importance is easier to see when you’re more aware and in the present with who you are. Your desires, dreams, learning, and growing are what keeps the world moving. It’s when you get stuck following things that you’re not connected to, and doing things that you don’t want to do that gets you stuck in a negative mindset. And those thoughts are what deceive you into believing that you can’t take better care of your mind, body, and soul.
Purpose is right there in your playing. Connect to the child version of you who’s waiting to be invited to play all day, every day, and ignite your dreams, passions, and value.
You absolutely have the capacity to be that person.
First, shut out the noise from all the influencers that tell you what to do. That’s media, ads, education protocols, news…all of it. They are simply opinions, and if you don’t connect to it or it doesn’t feel authentic to you, shut it out.
Second, you have to tune in to the little you. Reminisce, pick up a hobby, or take an online course in something that interests you. You’re never too old, too busy, or too broken to grow. It’s never too late to learn. Learning connects you back to YOU.
It’s not about bettering yourself, because who you are is already awesome and acceptable.
It’s about growing, and discovering. It’s about having fun.
Third, when you find what inspires you, run with it. Keep learning, and find a community who shares in your interests. Remove those that don’t, and keep expanding.
And last but not least, honor yourself. Acknowledge how much you’ve learned and how equipped you are to do that.
Once you’ve found it, your purpose will drive you forward in taking better care of your wellbeing. You will realize your self-worth when you’re in this purposeful place…
And life, again, is exciting.
Adapted from the original article.
Rachel Harvest, MS, RD, CDN is a NYC-based Registered Dietitian, behavioral health nutritionist, and wellness coach. With her philosophy centered around the love we need to give ourselves before finding our health and happiness, Rachel is on a mission to help you dig deep within to create the life you want for yourself. To work on you with somebody who loves you no matter what, visit Rachel at The Harvest Method. And try 21 days of the Harvest Method by signing up for the Be Nourished Lifestyle Program.