You know that wall of confusion and muck everyone seems to get stuck behind between the ripe age of 16--expiration? You know, that big freaking wall that blocks your vision of where you should be going and what you should be doing. It's the wall with the big, red, stenciled letters that scream,
"WHAT'S MY PURPOSE... WHAT DO I DO WITH MY LIFE?"
There are the lucky ones that seem to know upon conception what they were born to do...
then there are the simpletons that harbor purpose in their pores...
then there's everyone else...the ones who think way too much...especially about their own life.
People in the last category usually admit to a lot of angst or mental tossing and turning while growing up. Some find a religion which seems to save and carry them, some find a career, some find fame, some find love...whatever they find it can be good and bad but I think what it really boils down to is people needing something to believe in...and oddly enough, they don't think to believe in the most important thing...themselves.
We seem to go through life trying to find answers, find lovers, find friends, find purpose, find success and then regurgitate all the cliches other people are saying...all the people that are doing the same freaking thing. I'm not saying that seeking answers and love and all those things is wrong, I just think people go at it at the wrong angle.
About a year and half ago, my aunt gave me one of the greatest gifts I've ever received in a time that I needed it the very most.
Her heart, her ears, her love, and her generous understanding.
Like the last category of people, I over think a lot...especially about my life...and my very overactive imagination (when negative) makes life very sore when I get stuck in my head. Anyhow, at the "ripe" age of 20 I was going through a mental crisis which ensued in my loss of identity. So, I'm talking with my aunt...more like vomiting up my guts and heartstrings, while dancing around the words of "finding out who I was" and she quoted this great saying,
"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."-unknown
I'm pretty sure I went silent after those words left her lips but she carried on and told me about a treasure map she put together about herself when she was in a similar situation...that's when my whole body went BING.
A treasure map about you.
All the things in life you adore and value.
Things that interest you and all things you want to do.
Ready? This is an exercise that will be about you. You creating and through your creating finding something out about yourself. Whether it be your psyche, your career path, your religion, or all of the above. The supplies you use are entirely up to you.
You can write it, make a video, family pictures, collage, paint it, draw it, sculpt it, wood, collect magazine pictures, the sky is the limit. The only guideline is you want something you can see all the time. Something you can put in your home or office. While you create, don't think cliches...for example, don't think you need turtles and dying sea life because the oil spill is a big deal right now. If the oil spill doesn't really mean anything to you then don't feel like it needs to be apart of this. Only take pictures and write things that really touch you. That stir up something in your body...that ignite you. If family is everything to you, put your family on it. If you can't wait to be a parent, spell out your future baby's name. If you want to see the world mount everything on a map or a globe!!
When you're done putting it all together, step back and take a look at the inside you. This is what makes you tick...now all you have to do it believe in and trust yourself because you just created your purpose.
I finally created my treasure map after a year and half of meaning to do it.
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