At this time of year, do you feel the pull to reflect on your life’s purpose?

If so, may I remind you: 3 is not an incomplete 8...

I was flicking through two of my (many) self improvement books in the last few days and the words ‘purpose’ and ‘vision’ and ‘legacy’ danced before my eyes in ever increasing frequency and urgency.

Photo by Valentina Conde on Unsplash

Ah the pressure!

This reminds me of this interview with @katecbowler and @elizabethgilbert.

Perhaps you're clear about your purpose, or maybe you're not but don't particularly mind. Either way, don't get too comfortable – there's always the seductive pull of reaching your full potential!

As Abraham Maslow declared:

‘What you can become, you must become’

But wait…

What if I don’t want to be the best that I can be?

What if, on reflection, I prefer the mediocre me?

What if I decide to not be so reverential

To my hidden and undoubtedly untapped ‘true potential’?

What if I’m not so bothered about what’s my real life purpose?

What if I’d rather scroll and scroll than live a life of service?

What if the glow of resolutions has worn so very thin?

What if I don’t finish this ‘cos I no longer finish what I…

Listen, if you are fired up full of verve and vim to visualise victorious ventures and vibrant visions, be my guest. My only suggestion is that you add another 'P' to your purpose and potential pot:

Presence.

Because while purpose and potential can be powerful motivators, without presence they can become exhausting taskmasters.

In a world that constantly pushes us to become more, do more, achieve more, presence acts as a vital counterbalance - a permission slip to simply be.

When we're always stretching toward tomorrow's purpose or potential, we risk burning ourselves out, chasing an ever-moving horizon.

Presence grounds us in the now, letting us catch our breath and recognise that sometimes, just being here, as we are, is enough.

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I was inspired to write this missive today after spending a few days in the alps.

The majesty of the mountains is a humbling reminder of our fleeting presence against their unwavering permanence.

Unburdened by my weight:

Held strong.

I have carried creaking ice

Been smoothed by frenzied torrents

And still I am

Beckoned by breathless mists

As seasons pass like days

And still I am.

When we make a habit of becoming present, we can realise the beauty of our purpose as it is now, to be the manifestation of the divine; a cosmos of consciousness that is so utterly unique. What a glorious gift to the world!

And we can realise (understand clearly) our potential as it is right now, rather than striving to realise (cause to happen) our potential.

For, don’t forget:

Three is not an incomplete 8

Yet if it were to look with a lens of comparison it may have convinced itself so.

And if it had busied itself on trying to be more than it was ever meant to be,

We would have missed out on:

The holy trinity

And the BLT,

Neapolitan ice cream

The three act structure of set up, confrontation and resolution

The length width and height of spacial dimensions

Olympic medals of bronze silver and gold

And primary colours of blue yellow and red

What a poorer place the world would be

If three had not sat back and said:

I am three.

I am as complete as can be.

I am me.

I’d like to extend my invitation further.

Starting on 1^st January I will be providing prompts for presence to my paid subscribers for 21 days, with the invitation to come to a free ‘Presence’ writing workshop on Friday 24^th January at 12pm.

As an opportunity to start your presence journey, here is a mountain meditation that I have recorded. After all, I am a stickler for a theme!