The second path to purpose that I teach (after the body) is emotion.
This is ironic, since most of us are taught to make decisions (like a career path) logically.
We often dismiss or ignore our emotions when we’re making a critical decision, deeming them untrustworthy.
But did you know that people whose brain damage inhibits emotion have trouble making decisions? Even when the logical, rational parts of their brains are undamaged, they struggle, because everything feels neutral to them.
If every option was neutral – as good as every other option – how would you ever choose?
This is not to say that you should throw logic to the wind, quit your job and start a sheep farm just because you’ve always wanted to.
When you tune in deeper, you may be surprised at what you find. (That sheep farm may not actually have a deep emotional appeal.)
Emotionally “try on” your options
Think of a decision you’re trying to make. Mentally lay out your options, as if laying outfits on a bed.
Now, try one on.
Imagine that you’ve made the decision and you’ve chosen option #1. What is your body compass telling you? What’s your emotional state? Tune in to all your senses.
Do you feel any conflict? If so, press into that. Can you locate which element of the choice is the source of your resistance? In this scenario, you’ve already ruled out option #2, so don’t let the conflict come from there.
From a -10 to a +10, how does your body feel when you imagine choosing option #1? Can you sense or possibly name your emotion? It’s okay if you’re not sure what to call it. Try this: does it lean toward or away from the option? If there’s fear, is it scare-cited (scared plus excited, which generally means “Yes, please!”) or dread?
Now, come back into the present moment and shake it off. Then repeat with option #2.
Daily decisions are a great way to practice tuning in to your emotional guidance.
What if you’re searching for your purpose, but you don’t have a clear decision in front of you? If you want to find your calling, you can practice this path to purpose by tuning in to your feeling state at different times of day. Notice your body and your emotions.
It’s all guidance. You’ll (probably) notice that you don’t have to be on vacation to experience a really positive emotional state. Maybe you’ll discover that you thrive on a challenging work project, or that you absolutely love relaxing at home after work (instead of going out).
That’s your emotion guiding you.
Calling you.
The more you learn to listen, the more you’ll hear.
Tuning in to the body and emotions can be subtle, nuanced. I’d love to invite you to schedule a free 20-minute Discovery Coaching Call with me! We can explore your calling and whether we’re a good fit to work together to tap into your internal guidance to create your meaningful, authentic best life.