patriciaswisdom.com

Quite often during 2011, I received requests in my inbox with offers for guest posts and links to other sites and writer’s material.   I usually go and check out their requested site and try to understand the topic and style to assess whether or not it will fit with what Patricias Wisdom is trying to do.   I like to give a hand up whenever I can and call attention to some new efforts and endeavors.

Kirstin Offiler is one of those folks who sent me an email.   I went to her site and found some very good writing and interesting material that was pertinent to the goals here at PW.  It took us some juggling of dates but here we go – I would like to share Kirstin’s guest post with you now.  Hope you will enjoy her offerings:

What is your purpose?

Your purpose is not necessarily what you do for a living, but it’s just as important. We all have a calling in this life, but we don’t always acknowledge it, honor it, and pursue it. Why? Because for some, it feels frivolous to follow a dream when there’s much more practical work to be done, like laundry, work, walking the dog, running errands, spending time with family.

Your calling is your way of serving the greater good of the world. It’s how each of us gets to our core and satisfies our pull towards that which inspires us. And like I said—your job may not be your calling. That’s ok. But here are some ways you can incorporate your purpose into your life.

1. Define your calling. Doesn’t it seem like some people are born with a pen or paintbrush in their hand? They understand their calling from the get-go and never waver. For others, their calling may be a tiny kernel inside that is acknowledged every so often, but never given the chance to grow. To build your life around what feels most natural and right to you, you first need to define what your calling is. Are you a writer? An advocate for the homeless? A photographer? A knitter? A fantastic listener? Ask yourself what makes you feel most like yourself. When are you the happiest? That’s your calling. That’s what you should aim for in your life.
2. Take small steps to incorporate it into your life. Your calling is how you leave a mark on the world, no matter how large or small. But begin by doing small-scale things to make your calling more present in your life. If you feel that writing is your path, write for 10 minutes a day until it becomes habit. If you believe you’ll be of best service teaching yoga, tutoring students, photographing weddings, building websites, or whatever—start small and let your purpose organically weave its way into your life. Trying to make drastic changes all at once can lead to burn out or just plain boredom.
3.  Share your purpose. Tell friends and family what you hope to do with your life. Set goals for where you hope to be with your calling in a year, five years, and ten years and share it. Accountability makes it easier to stay on a path that’s true to our calling. Blog about it. Tell your coworkers. Share it—your purpose is what makes you unique, and it should be shared with the world.

Here are some affirmations you can repeat when it becomes hard to believe in your purpose or calling or when you doubt your own abilities:

• I feel most like myself when I am doing __________. This is my calling and I honor it.
• The easy path is ignoring my purpose. The hard path is focusing on my purpose. But the hard path yields happiness, peace, and fulfillment, so I choose that path.
• My calling in life is how I am most useful to the world. I am of service when I focus on what makes me happiest.
• It’s not frivolous to focus on my passion. By focusing on what lights me up, I bring more light into the world and will help others do the same.
• My calling is what comes easiest and most naturally to me. I trust my gut instinct about my purpose in this world.
• My job or career may be different from my calling, but both are important parts of who I am as a complete person and both deserve my passion and attention.

In short, your calling is that thing you’ve always felt you wanted to do or try. When you’re in your element and you feel like you’re doing exactly what you were made for—that’s your purpose. Tap into it. Live in that space. Share it with others because the world needs what you have to give. Your purpose is your wisdom.

Author bio: Kristin Offiler is a freelance writer in Rhode Island who writes for a site that helps students find the right psychology degree.

Related Reading:
Pain Relief the Zip Method
Stress Reduction with Yoga
For Such Beauty is Mine
Willpower 

Once upon a time 40 years ago, a young woman got a full scholarship to a small college in North Carolina.  The school did not have a full music department, but it had a wonderful music Professor who was very encouraging to the young woman and her dreams of becoming a vocal music performer.  This professor got her many solo spots at local churches, folk music sites, and concerts and helped her prepare a senior concert that would provide a demo tape for the next pursuits.  Meanwhile the young woman majored in psychology and practiced and practiced and practiced her singing.  In her spare time, the young woman worked on voter registration, environmental justice, and anti-war efforts while developing a quilt project in Appalachia with buyers in New York.

A concert hall was rented, musicians hired and reception orchestrated.  Several lovely dresses were purchased for the various sections of the recital.   Advertising was designed and a sound team was engaged for recording.  The concert was slated for May Day.   But that concert was never to happen, because on Easter Sunday in early April the young woman found herself in the hospital undergoing massive surgery for kidney tumors and stones.

It was a slow and steady recovery process which cost a great deal of money.  There was no running or jogging and weight lifting to keep in shape and the muscles toned – breath supported.

The Professor felt very badly and quietly cancelled all the preparations and when the young woman was released found tutoring to help her graduate on time and go on to graduate school of a different kind.  He also arranged for a chapel in the woods, a comfortable stool and a reel to reel tape recorder to be set up for a small recital to be recorded.  One duet partner, the Philosophy Professor, even made time to join the small group and complete the duet section.  Over the last 3 weeks of school the arduous first part of the concert was recorded reel to reel as the young woman sat on the stool and the professor accompanied the vocals.  The Irish and local folks songs, musical numbers and contemporary pieces were not completed.

The young woman went other directions, but when she was discouraged, she would find a way to listen to her tape and found courage again.  The reel to reel tape was translated on to a small cassette.  Over the next years that tape was played so many times it stretched and distorted, but it still brought comfort.

Then the cassette player gave up and there was no way to hear the music.

Last year 2011, the young woman – now much matured wished to hear her music once again.  She could not find anyone to copy the cassette in its sad shape onto a CD.   Then she thought of Jannie Funster the amazing poet, songwriter and recorder of Funsterland in Austin, Texas  – who said yes she could figure it out….Jannie arranged, for a small fee, for her sound guru – GEORGE to take the tape and transfer it onto a CD.  George not only took out some of the distortion noise but also removed some background interference – it is still in an empty church and some of the words are unclear, but it is now on CD and the woman’s MP3 and on her computer.

I listened to it on my cellphone during my last morning walk….and all the energy and feelings of accomplishment returned.   All the joy of practicing, and people caring, and every effort being made to attain a goal is right there and fills my whole being.   It is the best concert ever.

I am left with only the humblest of thank you’s to say aloud.  It means so much to me I do not know how to thank each one of you.

Thank you!

Mr. Robinson, Jannie Funster, the Postal Service and George the Sound man.

Enclosed with this Thank you note, Please find a small piece of the concert I wish to share with you….

This is an excerpt from an arduous 4 part HYMN by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

Patricia’s Recital Track 3

Did someone do something special for you that you would like to share the story of such gift?

If you purchase anything from Amazon or Powell’s from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket.

Related Reading you might also enjoy
Happy Thanks Birthday
A Divine Listener
A Quiet and Necessary Thank You Note
An Apple of Appreciation for the Teacher 

Reading Situations Matter was pure pleasure.  I savored every section and idea and wondered who would ever think a book about the mundane moments of living, those that we take for granted, would have such a profound effect on our lives and outcomes of our actions?  It was similar to taking a camera outside on a sunny winter’s day and finding the most common item, snapping the picture only to discover that the tiniest details emerged and were revealed to your delight. This image stimulated the mind to make a change in perception that would forever be imprinted.  One would certainly know themselves better.

This is a psychology book or self-help book that was written by an award- winning professor at Tufts University – Sam Sommers.   As much as I enjoyed reading Situations Matter, I am sure I would have enjoyed being in the lecture hall and participating in the seminars even more.   I like reading about studies done and how an author interprets them for us to understand, but when it is entertaining as well that corners my enthusiasm.    I completed the exercises shared in the book, guessed at what the process was going to present to me and  was pleased when I added the author’s interpretation and analysis. I always like to feel like I learned something which would assist me in becoming a better person.  I found myself wanting to tell others about what I was reading and enjoying.

“Research shows that context impacts even the most intimate aspects of our lives, and this conclusion offers to those who embrace it insight as well as competitive advantage.”

The author’s style of writing, conveying information, and storytelling was indeed a part of my attraction for this book. Sommers was definitely asking one to be responsible to what they gained by the experience and to pay attention.  I am sure his humor and entertaining style is a boon to contemporary college students who seem to crave the easy hook.  The author was able to cajole the reader and I am certain the student into making a deeper connection and stimulating some more follow through.  He included lessons gleaned from newborns and 4 year olds that truly puts perspective plainly on the table and opens the eyes to the greater context.   The analysis of some Seinfeld episodes  were as noteworthy as the revelations about why in large urban centers people do not come to the aid of others in crisis and why that is an important survival technique.  City planners need to design this information into their  concepts and expectations processes.   Situations do Matter.

The chapters on Love and Hate I had to read several times.

“When you assume that there’s a true core self waiting to be discovered, that’s when your potential seems limited and the world around you is full of threats to be rationalized away….”

“…you should train yourself to view intellect as a muscle that grows with effort and atrophies with neglect.”

“The self is flexible”

I can highly recommend this book to each one of you and give Situations Matter a 5 ladybug rating.

I want to thank TLC book tours for asking me to review this book and Riverhead Books  part of Penguin for sending me a draft copy early on so I could enjoy the book over several months.

The most amazing fact I learned from this book is that our minds develop US and THEM situational thinking in less time that it takes to sneeze!     Did you read a book recently that helped you change your mind?  Please share it with us in the comments or how about a new fact that made a difference to you?

Looking forward to what you would like to say:

Want to talk about your fact, book or this book review?  Join me at Wise Ears  and we will set up an opportunity.

If you purchase anything from Amazon or Powell’s from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket.

Related Reading:
Shiny Objects
You Are Not Your Brain
The Social Animal
Sam Sommers Website

Nothing brings me more joy than singing these days and all though I missed this performance I thought I would share these Peaceful and Joyful pieces of music with you which were performed by the Olympia Peace Choir, December 2011

I wanted to wish you and yours a peaceful and joyful Holiday

Find the group on FaceBook

And Best Wishes for a Joyful and Peaceful New Year!

Other Holiday Wishes:
Peaceful Service Peaceful Practice
Lighting the Candles With Music
To Serve This Season