We all have unique gifts and if we could only figure out what these gifts are and find a space on this earth and put them to service we can indeed change the world. For some people it’s crystal clear what their gift or purpose is, for other people it requires embarking on a journey of soul searching to find their calling, while for others it requires having to go on a different path before finding the right path which leads to their purpose.
I believe that the key to finding our purpose is to take time on a journey of self-discovery, be true to yourself and remove the mask you have been wearing most of your life. Underneath all that lies our purpose. I think about when I was my younger self with no inhibitions or worry in the world, I was fantastic at being myself. I had to look back to try and find out what ever happened to that girl who was so vibrant, funny and laughed at her own jokes. I was always performing for all the visitors who came to our home as well as my parents and the world was my stage.
Then slowly but surely as I was growing and starting to understand the world around me, the socialisation process formed my new identity through those that surrounded me based on culture, religion as well as their personalities. I can safely say they succeeded in stripping me of my identity to the point at which I was going around with a massive inferiority complex, trying to think that I could please everyone I came into contact with, which we all know is not possible.
I had to consciously embark on the journey of finding myself again because the need to be liked was so debilitating and my confidence was paralysed. It took wisdom and courage to be able to set out on this journey of being honest with myself. While on this journey of self-discovery, I can safely say that the journey has been soul soothing and life changing. I am a lot happier and slowly learning to love and appreciate myself first. Only then can I truly extend the same love to others around me. I finally have inner peace, which those around me can experience, because for once I put me first and practice self-love daily. I now know that I had slowly turned into someone else over the years by trying to be what others expected me to be and was behaving in ways that would not disappoint those around me. What a way to live, I can safely say that I was not a very happy person as I lived a lie. When people live their life while pursuing goals that are not authentically aligned to their souls, their personalities die and they end up depressed, unhappy or resenting those around them that are living in alignment with their own purposes.
How does one know when or if they have found their path? Speaking from experience, I know it in my heart because it feels right, I can spend hours writing after work without even looking at the time. When I wake up in the morning I am ready to face the day and looking forward to doing that which I love, I flourish when I am doing what I love. When people find their purpose they excel, their greatness shows up and they produce remarkable results because they will be in their element. When we find our purpose, we can move mountains by transforming those dreams into realities.
Look at all those successful people around you, they have changed the world because they dared to dream. They turned their dreams into realities, to name but a few Mark Zuckerberg the founder of Facebook, Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft and Steve Jobs the founder of Apple. We only have to look around us to see their products we use daily in our lives. They all started as someone’s idea which has now changed or enhanced the world. We all have something in us and if we can channel our energy into finding what that unique gift is the world will be a better place.
Shelly Webb x
