Today I am grateful for purpose.  I’ve spent a lifetime trying to find my purpose and what I really want to do when I “grow up” so to speak.  I’ve struggled to maintain what I am “supposed” to do with what I want to do.  As I’ve worked through my journey toward self-love and acceptance, I’ve written over and over again about the importance of following joy and taking risks.  Sometimes life gives us nudges in the right direction and other times it shoves us directly on our path.  This past week has demonstrated with complete clarity that my purpose is not just something I’ve suspected, it’s real.  Always trust your intuition and follow your own rhythm.  Know that the pieces always come together when you follow your own course.  I’ve had the gift of being able to share my purpose with others just over the last two days and it has been the most natural thing in my life.  I think that was the final click: nothing about it was forced.  Do what feels right, what feels good, and what brings joy.  They say find your gift and how to share it and that is your purpose.  100% fact.

Today I am grateful for support.  It’s a vulnerable thing to share new sides of ourselves with people at times. When we show who we are and people respond and show up, that is an incredible feeling.  Not to sound cliché or trite, but not only does it feel amazing to be able to support people through who you are, but it feels amazing to see them reciprocate and respond to it.  Forming that connection is a gift.  Support doesn’t just go one way.  As a people pleaser, stepping out into who I am it sometimes feels like I’m getting my sea legs when I’m sharing this information with others because I’m not used to standing on my ground, I’m used to figuring out what people want and contorting to give it to them.  But the more practice I get the easier it becomes.  You never know what people need and how your gift may help them.  People show up when you least expect it.

Today I am grateful for preparation.  I used to get mad at myself for how much time I spent preparing for things instead of just doing them.  I could talk myself out of anything just by overthinking and over-preparing.  I do think all of that trained me to be a more detailed person in general which made me sensitive to the details in others, the things people don’t share. I know it isn’t always necessary and it can definitely cause delays to prepare like that, but it has helped me be more sensitive to the potential needs of others and to learn how to cover a broad spectrum with a topic.  What used to hold me back has answered a lot of questions and it has helped me move forward into my purpose.

Today I am grateful for love.  I love my family and I love my friends and I love being able to live this life.  Things change in the blink of an eye for the good or the bad.  You never know what the next moment will bring so spending as much time in gratitude and love as possible is key.  I hate how I feel when I’m stressed, anxious, or hurt.  I hate setting unrealistic expectations of others and being disappointed.  It isn’t always easy to accept people as they are especially when you do expect a certain level of reciprocity and understanding from them.  But practice allowing people to be themselves is infinitely more freeing for all people involved than forcing them to be something they are not.  That is what love is.  It’s not quite that blind acceptance because we encourage those closest to us to do their best, but it isn’t dragging someone into something that isn’t for them.  Love is an opening an acceptance of self, of others, of time, of where we are, and of what we are able to do. 

Today I am grateful for power.  I mentioned above that in finding my purpose, things around me have become clearer.  In the last week things have happened professionally that have absolutely altered my mindset about what I’m willing to tolerate in my life.  Not to be dramatic but I’ve literally uncovered tons of things happening behind my back, specifically from people who are supposed to support and lead me in that environment.  I got angry at first because I honestly can’t believe people still do crap like this to each other.  But then I got grateful.  I’ve known for a long time that there were parts of this job that didn’t fit me and that would never align with who I am.  The fact that it was confirmed is a good thing.  I can trust my intuition.  I’m also grateful because it has not given me the opportunity and the drive, and yes, even the push I needed to focus even more intently on the things I need to be doing and to step more firmly into my power.  Not every will see our value, and if they can’t see the value, then take away the opportunity for them to put a price on you in the first place.  I’m not a commodity—I am a talented, powerful, purposeful being and I am not here to live your agenda.  I am here to own my power.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.