Written by: Craig Stanland, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We're living in an exhilarating time, which I'm referring to as,
"The Great Reinvention."
It's a fascinating period and an incredible opportunity to connect with what matters to you and take intentional action to make it a reality.
You've climbed your corporate mountain, and as you enter the next chapter of your life, you're ready to climb a new mountain.
You're done chasing materialism, status, and power. You're ready to step off the golden treadmill and connect something much deeper than that.
You're ready to pursue joy, purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.
As a Reinvention Architect, I love it. My mission is in exact alignment with the time we're living in.
Reinvention is empowerment.
However, as with all of life, there are heads and tails, yin and yang, darkness and light.
There's an idea emerging that's counter to the empowerment of reinvention:
The crushing pressure to find your purpose and live your purpose, especially in the second half of your life.
Which I've seen firsthand evolve into the belief that you're doing life "wrong" if you don't know your purpose and are not living your purpose.
This false notion that you're doing life wrong produces emotions such as frustration, lack of self-worth, inadequacy, guilt, shame, and depression.
5 key points:
Your purpose will never produce those emotions.
Your purpose isn't something you chase.
Your purpose isn't handed to you on a silver platter.
Your purpose isn't something you create out of thin air.
Your purpose isn't something you can think your way to.
Connecting with your purpose isn't an overnight trip; it's a journey of self-discovery and meaningful action.
And it's because of this journey that I propose a different model.
A model that is most likely counterintuitive to everything you believe about purpose.
This is why I believe it works.
Let go of finding your purpose; it's not the goal.
Cultivating meaning and fulfillment is your goal.
Imagine you have a seed, only you don't know what kind of seed it is.
It could be a tree, a rose, a tomato plant, or a squash. It doesn't matter. Your desire to bring whatever's inside the seed to life matters.
How would you care for this seed?
You'd want to create optimal conditions for the seed to germinate.
Clearing the land, removing obstructions from the soil so its roots have room to spread.
You'll want nutrient-dense soil that's rich and ripe for planting.
You'll want to ensure it receives enough water and sunlight.
You'll want to feed it.
You'll pull all the weeds that also love the rich conditions you've created.
As your seed blossoms, its growth informs your next steps.
Is it a vine? Does it produce fruit? Does it have flowers?
From here, you shape and mold how you interact with what's blossoming.
You'll learn more about the seed, and more importantly, you'll learn about yourself.
Now imagine the seed is your unfulfilled dreams and untapped potential.
You'll care for it like you would the mystery seed.
And it's through this process you'll cultivate a life of joy, meaning, and fulfillment.
Your purpose may or may not come to light, and that won't matter.
Because you're living life on purpose, and you've grown something beautiful.
That's what matters.
If you're ready to get serious and invest in 1:1 support so you can reinvent the second half of your life with joy, meaning, and fulfillment, let's talk.
Join me for your Free Reinvention Clarity Call.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Craig!
Craig Stanland, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Craig Stanland is a Reinvention Architect & Mindset Coach, TEDx & Keynote Speaker, and Best-Selling Author.
In 2012, Craig Stanland made a choice that would cost him everything. After exploiting the warranty policy of one of the largest tech companies in the world for almost a year, the FBI finally knocked on his door.
He was arrested and sentenced to 2 years of Federal Prison, followed by 3 years of Supervised Release, and ordered to pay $834,307 in restitution. He lost his wife, his homes, his cars, his career, and even his identity. He wanted nothing more than to die.
A well-timed prison visit from his best friend of over thirty years turned his life around.
Craig rebuilt and reinvented his life from rock bottom to a life of meaning and fulfillment.
As a Reinvention Architect, Craig leverages his experiences and personal reinvention to work 1:1 with clients so they can re-architect their lives with freedom, passion, purpose, fulfillment, and meaning.
Craig's mission is to help people cultivate the courage to pursue their calling so they can live meaningful lives.
His book, "Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison" is available on Amazon.
