The pathway to purpose is an intentional process of self-discovery, reconnection, and alignment with your values.

In the Rust Out workshop earlier this month, we explored values, mind-body connection, and a practical pathway to living in alignment as you reshape your core purpose.

I led participants in a somatic exercise of Curling and Unfurling, symbolizing both metaphorically and symbolically contraction and expansion. As participants noticed changes in their breath, emotions, and body’s felt sensations, I invited them to assess their willingness to open up to a new purpose. Living your values involves being open to change and embracing new possibilities.

The slow and deliberate movements symbolize the unfolding of your potential and openness to transformation. In contracting inward for self-discovery and learning to be with the big emotions, you can then expand out bigger and more freely than before. The inward contraction also symbolizes a reassessment of your true core values, not the ones you’ve been living that belong to others or to work.

As you redefine your identity and expand out into a bigger purpose that aligns with your values, you start to shift out of other people’s shoulds. That redefining is so empowering, leading a life with more meaning, purpose, and impact. A life where you are shining out your gifts and strengths. Remember: your past and current careers are just how you’ve delivered your gifts and strengths up to this point. The job was never your gift.It was your vehicle.

Try this:

Imagine a fiddlehead fern opening up to the sunlight from the dark, dense forest floor.

As you go through this practice, pay attention to your breath, body sensations, and overall emotions during both the curling and unfurling phases.

Then guide your own body to slowly curl in, savoring the intentional movement of bringing your head/chin towards your chest. Feel the flavor and texture of your breath in this position.

Now start to open slowly vertebrae by vertebrae, lifting your head up at the last. As you do, open your arms and chest out and feel yourself opening up to a newer, brighter purpose.

What do you notice about how your body responded to these states— closed, constricted posture and an open, expanded posture?

Are you ready to curl inward within a supportive container and curriculum designed for you to reclaim your values and expanded purpose in a way that is nourishing and a shift out of overing? If so, I invite you to set up a connection call with me to learn more about Reclaim You.

This will be the fourth Reclaim You cohort. The last 3 cohorts collectively emphasized they experienced greater self-care, work-life balance, personal growth, authenticity, listening to their inner self, and intentionally getting to know themselves again and what they truly want.

Learn more here.