Passion and Purpose
When I first began to explore the world of coaching, I embarked on a coaching journey of my own. Part research, part what am I even doing with my life (which itself was part research, part midlife crisis). Anyway.
One of the main things I brought to that work was the struggle I had with ambition. Namely, I wanted to let go of ambition, find better work/life balance, and have more joy in my life. It was great, until I realized that launching a coaching practice of my own could reasonably be slotted into the very category I wanted to shun.
I was busy wringing my hands over this incongruence when my coach (the lovely and brilliant Natalie Miller-Snell) gently suggested the words passion and purpose. Capital P Passion. Capital P Purpose.
If you’re thinking I had an aha moment, I’m sorry to say you’re completely wrong. I cringed. I squirmed. The very words made me uncomfortable. (Not great for a person who wants to build a business around helping others find/embrace/pursue those exact things.)
What I later realized—aided by the infinite wisdom of Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert—was that I suffer from a paradox afflicting a lot of people, especially women. It’s the “I couldn’t possibly” and “Who do you think you are?” continuum. Only it’s not really a continuum at all.
Case in point: I finally gave myself permission to have big dreams and immediately felt like I’d gotten, as my mama would say, too big for my britches. Who was I to think I could do this? The mere fact of having dreams (or wants or needs or desires—take your pick) made me feel too presumptuous, to self-important, too…much.
Well, that’s not the way to get anywhere. It sure as hell isn’t the way to help, motivate, or inspire others. So here goes nothing… I am in active pursuit of my Passion and Purpose, including but not limited to fully embracing the confidence that I deserve to find, have, and utterly delight in them.
