Recognizing Multiple Soul Purposes

Healing as a Path to Soul Purpose

Once again, my writing dug something out of my psyche I’d managed to stuff down unintentionally from the years of practice I gained as part of my family. This time, it wasn’t another toxic package of unfelt emotions, but the realization that elusive soul purpose I’ve been seeking has been right here all along…in multiple iterations. It might have been easy to miss the small ones which gave me the tools to take on the larger ones, but missing out on the fact I’ve been actively pursuing, and progressing on a major one has me shaking my head in disbelief. In fact, the idea we’re limited to a single sole purpose is now nothing more or less than my own naivete.

In the midst of all my healing work on both personal and familial traumas, I missed seeing I’ve been working on something which is, in my opinion, even more important. I’ve been chipping away at one of the worst beliefs ever passed down through the generations. The idea feelings need to be stuffed down and ignored rather than expressed and released had far outlived its usefulness even before I was born. In fact, it’s done infinitely more harm than good, and needed to be removed from our repertoire.

Though I haven’t eradicated it by any means, I’ve at least begun the process of chipping away at it, and giving future generations a starting point, if nothing else. However, the greater discovery is soul purpose isn’t a single moment in time when all the lights come on and point to one, single, momentous accomplishment. Instead, it’s like links in a chain where one connects to the next, and depends on the ones on each side to form a structure composed of many small, but significant accomplishments throughout your life.

Life is a Series of Completions

In short, soul purpose isn’t one, or a handful of accomplishments at all. It’s recognizing the breadcrumbs which lead from one improvement to another throughout your lifetime. Though some are here to accomplish monumental deeds, most of us are tasked with simpler, less world-shaking (but no less important) fragments of a larger puzzle. Regardless of size and perceived impact, no fragment is any more or less critical to the whole than any other. Like bricks in a skyscraper, leave even one brick out, or incomplete and the whole structure is compromised.

There might have been a time I wished I had the strength and tenacity to accomplish things which would be noticed by many, even if it was simply publishing my as yet unfinished memoir. I’m learning a quote from my short stint as a performer, “there are no small parts, just small actors” is just as applicable to life. The part we play as we pursue our own soul journey has more impact than we’ll ever know. We need to play those parts so someone else has what they need to play theirs.

Sometimes, we simply need to be an ear; neither sympathetic nor judgemental, for someone to work things out for themselves. It’s not our experiences, per se, which helped someone move on to the next leg of their own soul journey. Sure, our experiences are certainly what teach us to be that listening ear, but “listening” means just that. We’re not offering advice, or lessons we’ve learned ourselves. We’re holding space for someone to put the pieces together themselves.

Sometimes You Just Hold the Lantern

We may shine a light on a particular part of their story, but other than that, it’s not our solution to find. Think of it this way. I often write about working through a problem on the pages of this blog. I start in one spot with an issue that’s perplexing me, and by the end of my 1000-1500 words, I’ve come around to, if not a complete solution, at least a new direction I can take. The computer screen is, in essence, my sounding board.

Many of you go down the same sorts of rabbit holes I do, but find it more difficult to find your way out. By being an ear; by holding space, it’s essentially holding a flashlight so you can find your way by yourself. The flashlight simply illuminates what you weren’t able to see. It doesn’t tell you how to interpret what you see, much less how to use it. Only you can make that determination. Sometimes, it helps to be able to vocalize what you’re feeling and talk through where you’re feeling stuck with someone who both understands a bit about where you are, but who also understands you need to figure out a way around or through it on your own. Else, how are you going to learn from it, or be able to face weightier challenges in the future.

Here’s another quote for you:

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.

If we listen to someone with the expectation of solving their problems for them, we’re not giving them the opportunity to learn and grow, and cultivate their own problem solving skills. I’m not even considering the fact people don’t usually want you to fix them. They want you to hear them.

Each Life Purpose is Valuable

The point I’m trying to make in my usual, convoluted fashion is, there are those whose life experiences teach them how to move mountains, or lead teams that move mountains. There are others whose life experiences teach them to be the sounding boards when someone gets stuck and needs to talk through things before getting up, putting their virtual rucksack on their back, and moving forward after a setback or two.

Though it might seem like this a one-sided affair, it’s probably one of the most synergistic you’ll find. One gets their satisfaction from finding their own solution. The other, from being in the right place at the right time with a lantern. Most of all, we revisit these roles over and over throughout our catalog of soul journeys, playing one role, then the other, as we, ourselves, learn, grow, and leave our marks on the world. Whether those marks are buried within the structures we help build, or stand out like a beacon isn’t important. Continuing to take the next step, and play each role is what matters…if you ask me.

Grateful for Many “ah ha” Moments

My gratitudes today are:

1. I’m grateful for realizing my soul purpose, and as a result, my soul journey never was singular.
2. I’m grateful for the words which continue to flow, even when my mind can’t quite grab the word I think is right.
3. I’m grateful for a quiet birthday of self-care, and a little self-indulgence.
4. I’m grateful for being able to write my way through my problems most of the time, and for having a listening ear when I’m struggling.
5. I’m grateful for learning to recognize the friendships which contain qualities I need, and allow me to give back in kind.

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful. In her spare time, she’s also an accountant with extensive experience in Government Contracting.

Breaking the Procrastination Cycle

Taking Charge of the Procrastination Mindset

For the last few weeks, I’ve been struggling just to keep up, and even when I do have time to fill my blog queue, take care of administrative tasks, or even declutter.

I’ve put them off for tomorrow, which never comes. It got to the point where I gave up trying, and even missed not one, but two regular blog posts entirely before drop-kicking my butt back into the saddle.

What got me turned around and pointed back in the right direction, you might ask? The answer to my lack of motivation was a little decluttering, and a bit of rearranging.

Small Changes Lead to Large Improvements

I decided I wanted to put my UPS on the shelf underneath my computer, but because I move the desk back and forth for Zoom ballet classes, I needed to make sure the printer wouldn’t be dragged across the table, or unplugged every time I moved the desk.

After assessing my current setup, I decided the best approach would be to move the printer to a section of the dining room table adjacent to the computer desk, thereby ensuring the power cord would be long enough when the desk was moved.

To enact my plan, I had to go through the piles of paper which had accumulated on my dining room table/desk, weeding out things which either needed to be dealt with, trashed, or filed. Once done, it was a simple matter to move the printer and UPS to their new positions.

As an added bonus, I was left with a decent-sized piece of table on which to spread out paperwork while paying bills, or doing client work. It also helps that I finally got the changes I wanted to make to my health insurance implemented last week, after a month of struggling to figure out what I wanted, and where best to get it.

Seeing the Rewards in Change

In hindsight, I realize I’d simply grown bored with the relative sameness of my life, and frustrated with a few things fighting my attempts to wrap my arms around them, and gain a modicum of control over bureaucracy-ridden areas of my life.

Once I’d tamed a few bears, I could see I didn’t need a major change; just something that not only increased the functionality of my makeshift workspace, but made me feel like I’d changed things up, if only a little.

Unlike many who thrive on consistency, I thrive on change. When I experience too much sameness in my life, I tend to shut down, in a sort of minor rebellion over the rut I, alone have allowed myself to fall into. Thankfully, the intentions I’ve been setting, resetting, revising, and setting again have started to bear fruit, and the sameness I’d fallen into is already being shaken from its foundation, with more interesting and exciting changes to come.

I’m also easily frustrated when my ducks refuse to line up, even though experience has taught me the little suckers are more likely to run in different directions than respond to requests for order. The more something I’m working on depends on efforts from other people, the more likely it is to take longer than I’d like, and more often than not, piss me off in the process.

New Week, New Mindset

In a way, I think both frustration, and feeling stuck are what shook me out of the fog I’d settled none-too-comfortably into. Knowing I’d no longer have that nebulous place called “tomorrow” to push tasks into meant looking at how I’d been spending my days, and enacting changes which would lead to more efficiency and productivity.

It also helped to make some of the changes as a new week began. The physical decluttering led to clearing of less tangible tasks including making necessary phone calls I’d been putting off, writing blog posts that were due, not in a few weeks, but a few days, scheduling appointments, and overall, planning for the weeks ahead.

Other than doctor’s appointments and blog posts, I’ve learned through experience to refrain from booking myself too far ahead, but that doesn’t mean I can’t rough out a schedule to ensure tasks I’ve been neglecting of late will get done before I’m mired in holiday-driven responsibilities, complicated by on-boarding new clients, and giving them the necessary space in my schedule.

Buried by Boredom

Photo – Bev Sykes via Flikr

I’m reminded of the adage: “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” When my schedule lacked enough structure, and I wasn’t busy enough to keep my brain and heart happy, I fell into slovenly habits, promising myself I’d get to tasks which are purely for my own benefit soon.

Not enough to do is a real motivation killer for me. It doesn’t matter that I’ve made commitments to myself I’ve once again failed to honor. Nor does knowing life is getting crazier and more complicated help get me over the hump between sitting on the couch watching Hallmark movies, and picking up one of the many neglected tasks.

I can only be grateful my business has started gaining traction, and my intentions are starting to manifest. Knowing I’ll have less time to honor my personal commitments is the medicine I needed to awaken the child within and get her moving on the creative endeavors I’ve neglected.

Self-Inflicted Motivation

Photo-Yang Liu via Flikr

The tough part will still be motivating the adult who needs to do some deep cleaning, and take care of some minor repairs before the end of the month. I can procrastinate for awhile when it comes to writing, but I can procrastinate forever where household chores are concerned. The only saving grace these days are the habits I’ve formed around cleaning up the day’s messes; dishes, sandboxes, floors, and personal hygiene.

All in all, I’ve learned I’m always going to struggle with remaining motivated when the only person who suffers for failure to complete tasks is myself. Adding the needs of others to my mix means I’ll definitely get things done. The question is, will I be able to keep the momentum going so all my opportunities to procrastinate no longer tempt me to give up on myself yet again? Only time will tell.

Lighting a Fire with Gratitude

My gratitudes today are:

1. I’m grateful for things that kick me out of my ennui.
2. I’m grateful for motivation to get caught up on tasks whether for myself or others.
3. I’m grateful for a reasonably easy space to keep organized, assuming I don’t succumb to the excuse “I can do this tomorrow”, too often.
4. I’m grateful for the increased productivity I’ve enjoyed the last few days.
5. I’m grateful for abundance; motivation, inspiration, productivity, determination, attraction, clients, opportunities, peace, harmony, health, balance, philanthropy, and prosperity.

Namaste

 

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income.

If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook as Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author

Learning to Pirouette

Evolution of a Pirouette

Photo –陈文 via Flikr

Every storm yields something good, even if, while you’re riding it out, it seems devastating. Your world might be turned upside down for awhile, but eventually it rights itself, even if the landscape is unrecognizable for a bit.

Frankly, you often need your world upended so you’ll get off your duff and move. Storms happen, and the devastation is more widespread when you become too complacent and fail to continue evolving. Let’s face it. You can’t sit on that mushroom reading fairy tales forever.

COVID created a storm neither I, nor anyone else was prepared for. It shook the world’s of everyone on Earth. I doubt anyone escaped unscathed as the virus raged, traveling from country to country unchecked until vaccines started hitting the market. As the world slowly emerges from lock downs, many things have changed, and what was considered normal 16 months ago is dramatically different today.

A Journey Begins With A Single Plie

One of the changes I made near the beginning of the lock down was to replace

Photo – Shari via Flikr

my thrice-weekly gym visits with Zoom ballet classes. Admittedly, I waited about a month before recognizing I’d better find something else; I had to literally move it or lose it. I started off slowly, taking two classes a week in the evenings. Ultimately, I added the Friday afternoon class as well.

It’s been a long journey during which I’ve gained strength, flexibility, and balance, but I still have a long way to go. When I started out, balancing on one leg, even flat-footed wasn’t happening. Slowly, but surely, I grew stronger, and became more aware of what my body was doing, until I’m successful more often than not these days. Balancing on my toes, even on both feet was another challenge I faced, and though it, too is not perfect, I’m learning where and what to adjust to keep me lifted and balanced.

My biggest hurdle so far is the pirouette. The first step (I soon learned) was being able to hold a passe while on my toes long enough for the turn to happen. There are so many things that go into preparing to do a turn. I was completely clueless when I began. It isn’t just balancing on the toes of one foot while turning; a monumental task, especially given my less-than-svelte physique. You have to put a number of things together including momentum, balance, and holding all your body parts in the proper position. There are days it’s a tossup whether my brain or my body is more fried at the end of a 90-minute class.

Improvements in Every Area

I’ve noticed changes in my body, my life, and in everything I do since undertaking the thrice-weekly ballet classes. My balance is better, and despite a nasty bout of arthritis in one knee which has taken up permanent residence in both these days, I’m both more flexible and more resilient.

I admit, there are days I hurt all over after one of the tougher classes (I’m the only rank beginner in the group, so although I modify like crazy, the classes are tough and challenging), but within a day or two, the aches are gone. Sounds crazy, I know, but my body recovers more quickly whether it’s overwork, or my arthritic knees.

Knowing I’ll be moving and pushing my body to its limits at least three days a week is a powerful motivator if something keeps hurting. I am more likely to get on the floor and stretch, or use my Miracle Balls to work out the kinks in my shoulders and neck than I used to be, if for no other reason than I’ll be working those muscles again, and am more successful when I’m not in pain.

All Dancing Benefits from Ballet

Even my line dancing has benefited from the changes. I was dancing on a tennis court in sneakers a few weeks ago, and as long as I kept the mantra “Turns go up!” in my brain, I didn’t have to modify the dances to save my knees. I’m learning by taking my turns up instead of trying to torque my body around, the turns are smoother, and my knees less stressed no matter how rough the surface under my feet.

Though I hadn’t done a two-step in over a year, I was more relaxed, and up on the balls of my feet thanks to the added strength I’d acquired from 16 months of ballet. Where I used to struggle to stay off my heels while dancing, it’s becoming second nature, and makes me move more smoothly while two-stepping or line dancing. Even my West Coast Swing seemed more effortless than it used to.

I think the biggest change of all has been an absence of back pain which used to be my constant companion. Between the improved posture, flexibility in my knees and calves which allows me to squat instead of bend, and regular stretching, my back is happier than it’s been in years. Best of all, I’m more in touch with my body, and have a better idea of how to give it what it needs when something is tight or painful.

Proof is in the Small Improvements

Though I may not master the pirouette before Zoom ballet classes end, I’ve gained so much from the experience, and, the weight gods willing, my body image will improve enough to allow me to put on a leotard and continue the classes in person. Meanwhile, I’m finally able to add gym workouts and strength training back into my schedule.

Though I may have to start with lighter weights, I know the ballet has helped prevent muscles from going slack from lack of use. Truth be told, I’ve never done anything that used every, single muscle in my body in ways I didn’t even know they could be used.

COVID caused many changes in my life and lifestyle, but adding ballet has been one of the biggest blessings to come out of the long months of lock down.

 

Grateful for the Changes

My gratitudes today are:

1. I’m grateful for circumstances which allowed me to re-discover ballet as an adult.
2. I’m grateful for my tendency to resist stagnation far more than my brain wants to resist change.
3. I’m grateful for changes in my life; both the ones I chose, and the ones that were forced on me.
4. I’m grateful for new opportunities to keep myself healthy, resilient, and strong.
5. I’m grateful for abundance; independence, health, balance, flexibility, strength, well-being, inspiration, motivation, dedication, self-love, friendship, love, joy, happiness, harmony, peace, philanthropy, and prosperity.

Namaste

 

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income.

If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook as Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author