What kind of world would we live in if we all pursued our dream and achieved it? Some may call this our purpose, our legend or our calling, but isn’t that what we base living a dream life off of? If we lived according to our calling, would we each live in peace knowing that we were true to our souls—the deepest parts of us that make us who we are? Would there be no anger, hate and resentment?
Why do so many people give up when things get tough and pursue, instead, an easier yet incomparably less satisfying life? Who are we really pleasing when we bottle up our calling as some silly childhood fantasy that ironically, or not so ironically, never really leaves us?
On Super Soul Sunday, Oprah had Paulo Coelho, author of “The Alchemist,” as her guest on a two-part episode. In the first episode, Coelho explains why people achieve their personal legends (i.e., your calling, your life purpose, etc.) and others do not. He states that the universe tests you with numerous challenges just before you reach your personal legend. You will go through exceptionally difficult times as the universe’s way of ensuring that you have really learned the lessons you need to learn in order to reach your dream. And this is, sadly, where most people give up. Just before they reach their calling.
This spoke to me as loud as ever after having an exceptionally difficult year in my career. I do not know if this is my series of challenges before realizing my dream as an acclaimed author and spiritual leader. For all I know, it’s just the beginning. What I do know is that I will not quit. I refuse to conform. I will not beat myself up. I will face the unsuccessful ventures as eagerly as I will face successful ventures. Each experience is leading me down the path to my purpose, which I choose to follow day in and day out no matter how challenging it gets. I will figure a way around the challenges and I will drive forward towards my dream. Even if it’s baby steps, I refuse to give up.
They told me I wasn’t a good writer in school. I refused to listen. I turned my passion—my soul—into a career. And now I will take it to the next level in my ultimate calling as an author and spiritual teacher. I will let my hardships guide me, but not deter me. For instance, my first book was recently rejected, but that will not stop me from publishing it. I accept my path, and my role in my path, as the universe provides it for me. These are my decisions. This is my life. This is my soul’s place in this universe.
It all seems so simple, so why do we make it so difficult? Fate tempts us with fear begging us to lower our vibrations. Even the most advanced souls may be accompanied by minds that beg to give in under emotional distress. Which piece do we listen to? Mind, body or soul? My mind has played many tricks on me. My soul’s intuition has never let me down. When my body is weary and my mind is spinning, my soul has the heart of warrior to move forward in what becomes not a war of the mind, body, soul, but rather a voyage of peace and love.
The body and the mind carry the soul through the human world, yet the soul is our eternal lifeblood. It has seen things that the physical human mind and body will never encounter. It knows of no time and no limits. Our mind, that is our ego, sets those limitations. That mortal brain then dictates to the immortal soul which way to go. Seems backwards, doesn’t it? How can something with such limited knowledge have such power of something with infinite knowledge? By facing human limitations, challenges and emotions, the soul learns and grows to a higher evolution in its quest to become more Godlike or to advance in spiritual planes, if you will. When we fail, it’s because the ego wins and we fail to learn the lesson.
Therefore, we must live our lives fully awake and conscious of the connection between our human experiences and our soul’s learning process. It will get ugly and painful, but so long as you do no harm to others and you grow, the pain will be fleeting. Whatever your calling is, that thought in the back of your mind that has not escaped you for years, go towards it with courage and patience. Be willing to learn and be hell-bent on not giving up. Take tiny steps each day. When you make a mistake or the very thing you thought would work out doesn’t work out, get up one more time. The universe will not abandon you, if you do not abandon yourself.