If This is My Purpose, Why Isn’t It Easy?

Several months ago, I started a project that I know I needed to do. 

When I am working on it, time stands still – I become “in the flow”.  Next steps unfold, and I am able to do them with clarity.  I am getting an extreme amount accomplished.  I am doing things I am afraid to do, but know I just need to do.   Because of the way I am driven to accomplish it, I know it is part of my life’s purpose.

But here’s the kicker – it is not easy.  I want it to be!  I mean, if this is part of my life’s purpose, something I know I need to do and is internally satisfying to work on, then why am I not hitting the benchmarks that I have set? Why are there some pieces of it moving slower than I would like?  Why are there some unforeseen setbacks that I need to maneuver around?

This injects doubt in my mind as to whether this is my purpose after all. Here are some things I employ to help myself regain confidence and keep moving forward.

  • Live in the future moment of success. Visualization is a powerful thing.  I ask this question: If we are 3 months from today and I have accomplished what I have set out, what does it look like? I really describe what has happened and write it down.  Then – what does it feel like?

 

  • Tap into my purpose. Tasks and daily occurrences can get in the way.  These things swirl around in my head, when my main purpose for the project is deeper. I take a few breaths and visualize the reason for my project.  When I do this, I am reminded of my deeper reasons for the project, and that I “know” it will be successful in the end.

  • Reevaluate goals. I have a habit of setting really big goals because I love the challenge.  The downside to this is quite obvious – when they aren’t reached, I am disappointed.  I remind myself that having two types of goals is important: realistic and reaching.  Are my goals in line with this or do I need to reevaluate?

 

  • Journey, not the conclusion.  This is a hard one for me.  Reminding myself that it is about the journey, not the end.  I ask – What am I learning about myself in this process?

 

  • Have fun.  When I am too focused on goals, I sometimes forget to have fun.  What about this project is fun?  What would it look like to have more fun with it?

 

  • Celebrate what has been accomplished so far. Looking back and listing what has been completed and the impact of that is important.  I keep a calendar of successes, and when I take time to look back at them, I am usually surprised and pleased with the work I have done. 

 

As the saying goes – “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it”, and yet I still want it to be easy!  When it isn’t, I take this as a cue to remind myself of the deeper purpose and reflect on what I am learning about myself in the process.  I celebrate the fact that I am alive and showing up to work on something bigger than myself.  It’s not easy, but in the end – that is what’s most meaningful.

Do you have a problem or topic you would like to learn more about? Please let me know and I would be happy to answer it anonymously in a future blog.

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