4 years ago today, I had a party to celebrate the launch of my 2nd book Successful Business Minds and like any anniversary it got me reflecting on the last few years and, similar to most people just now, considering what the future holds.
In the book, I discuss how it’s important we run our business not just with money in mind, and not just with our hearts either – I did that and it got a bit messy when it came to paying my bills (and I see it frequently with therapists and some coaches as well) – but with our heart and head aligned.
I also suggest we take into account our physical capabilities after seeing so many people burn-out (myself included!) and I recommend we listen to our intuition for direction too.
In the midst of so much uncertainty for many businesses, I feel a greater sense to really listen to our soul for direction than never before.
Some people believe we have a calling, otherwise known as a purpose, and if you’re one of those people; great! I strongly recommend you connected in with that and turn it into a business that provides for you and your family, whilst giving to others too.
Personally, believing I had to have a calling or a purpose, got me a little lost. I looked for it everywhere and I couldn’t find it. I trained as a reiki master and NLP practitioner. I did further training in meditation, hypnotherapy, and mindfulness, in addition to a degree in psychology, all after qualifying as a chartered management accountant.
I found they are all effective practices for either understanding the brain, quietening the mind, or listening to our soul, but I didn’t find my purpose.
This got me frustrated for a while, but after applying the principles I describe in Successful Business Minds, my life, whilst it still has no definite direction, has more meaning and each day I am surprised at how the day unfolds, despite my best-laid plans in the morning…
That’s when it all clicked into place for me.
I don’t have a defined purpose because what is required of me changes frequently. However, I can show up and be the best I can (at least in that moment…) and allow my soul to guide me through the day.
Please don’t get my wrong. I still make mistakes, I still get angry at things not going to plan, and like most people just now, I still find myself frustrated as I stumble about in the dark, but the difference is I now accept that’s what life is all about.
I accept that each day is a day that can, and will, surprise me. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, but other times not so much, however, every time it gives me the opportunity to listen to my soul, be guided by my heart, apply the logic of my mind, and the ability of my body to the task before me.
Dr Viktor Frankl, discusses this in his book The Doctor and the Soul in the chapter titled ‘On the meaning of work’. He describes how the work itself is not what gives our life meaning, but how we apply ourselves to the situation in front of us. A great friend summed this up perfectly last week with:
Show up for what’s showing up.
If you need guidance on how to do this, I recommend Successful Business Minds; a book that will help you to make the best decisions that are aligned holistically with your very being in every moment.
It’s also worth checking out The Doctor and the Soul by Viktor Frankl too, but be warned it’s a book on psychotherapy so you might find it a little heavy. However, his other famous book, which is incredibly inspiring, Man’s Search for Meaning, is highly recommended also. He describes his experience as a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camps. Reading it is an experience like no other. It will put all of your own suffering into context and leave you with nothing short of gratitude for everything in your life.
As always, take care x
Helen Monaghan
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helen Monaghan is a Psychology graduate, Chartered Management Accountant, accredited NLP Practitioner & Hypnotherapist and Finance Coach. She is the author of three business books, and the founder of HM Finance Coaching Ltd, a company that provides financial education and business mindset coaching to small businesses across the UK, in addition to accountancy services for limited companies in Scotland.
Helen has been described as inspiring, authentic, compassionate, intuitive and practical, who beautifully brings together psychology, finance, and tax to empower the reader about money and setting them on course to financial freedom.
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