Purpose: It’s Staring You in the Face - episode 308
Let’s start with the statement: The worst day of your life is only 24 hours.
This came out of the mouth of a 20 year-old and it stopped me in my tracks. Yes, that is so true when you think about it, and a great way to endure hard times. I marveled at the wisdom of Lawrence C. Harris. How could he arrive at the kinds of thoughts he shared during our conversation?
Lawrence had emailed me and asked if he could be a guest on the podcast. I liked that it wasn’t a formulaic request and I could feel his authenticity from afar.
He describes himself as a public speaker, author and advocate for teens and young adults to believe in themselves, think differently about their future, and make better choices. How empowering is that?
Here is the chat we had. It’s well worth the listen, and then tell me what you think.
You can find Lawrence at lawrencecharris.com.
Diverse. Multi-faceted. Authentic.
— Lawrence C. Harris
It’s Enough Just to Want It
Thoughts from Purpose: It’s Staring You in the Face
Is your purpose staring you in the face as Lawrence suggests? I wonder. I think mine is. Actually I know it is so let me tell you a little story.
This young, sensitive girl grew up and learned to accept her anxiety, and how to navigate it. She stopped shaming herself for the things she did that were ‘wrong,’ for not being perfect, because there’s really no such thing. Building on small successes (not as defined by the world but as defined by her), she took some risks. Baby steps.
If someone had told her that she would grow up to do hard things, she may have been a little surprised and maybe even a slight smile would come to her face in knowing it would be true.
It’s not just ‘doing it scared’ and having adventures into the unknown (podcast, writing, coaching), it was the process of doing, of becoming, that was so fulfilling. It wasn’t the destination, it was the journey that fed her soul.
Things were overflowing, brimming over and she had the desire to serve others to see, and know, the same. When she turned sixty with two-thirds of her life behind her, she decided to kick things into ‘go time.’ What was ahead? What was left? It was imperative to explore as leaving regrets behind, leaving blessings on the table, was not something she could choose.
So a podcast began. A blog was started. And now coaching is her passion - an offshoot of it all, what she has learned, who she has become. She believes others can benefit from the discovery process, from looking at their thoughts, at mapping what’s possible. The ever present message to be who you are full-stop, to be all God created you to be, without apology. Ever.
Now the burden (ne the delight) to offer this message, these experiences for others who want them, is her joy.
Because it’s enough just to want something. And she does. She wonders, what do you want?
To achieve all that is possible, we must attempt the impossible. To be all that we can be, we must dream of being more.
— John C. Maxwell
This quote was shared with me many years ago when I was living with crippling anxiety. I have never forgotten it.
