And no, a dharma is not a cloak used by the Nepalese, to keep them warm in winter as they hike through the majesty of the Himalayan Mountains. It is actually something that each one of us carries within us, and is as unique as our finger print. And like our finger print it is not given to us by our parents, but was there in us when we came into this world. Your dharma is your very unique and special talent that you have to give to the world. It is your true purpose in life and the thing that will make you feel the most inspired. The type of inspiration that will have you jumping out of bed on a cold and wet winter’s morning – as opposed to dragging your sorry butt out of bed!

Emerson says: “Nature arms each man with some faculty which enables him to do easily some feat impossible to any other, and thus makes him necessary to society.”

Let me provide you with a specific example from a recent client of mine, which shows you the result of following your life’s purpose or following someone else’s best intentions. This person was given a belief system many many moons ago from someone close to her, which said that if she made enough money she would be happy. If she owned her own house outright, then she could finally relax and enjoy the rest of her life. (Pause for a random thought. Is there a financial limit that will make you happy and secure, if you are not already happy and secure? Food for thought.) So this person had linked money with happiness and consequently gained employment in an industry which is all about the money - the gold mining industry!! (He says, followed by a sinister and evil laugh)

But for her to be in this industry, and to make great money, she had to go against her inner nature. She had to work 12(+)hr days, she had to live in remote communities, she had to be ruthless and she had to suppress her femininity to fit in with her testosterone-rich male colleagues. Health and fitness weren’t priorities, yet drinking beers after work definitely was. The industry was about making money and it was a male dominated, ego rich environment (And yes I am generalising. I am sure that some of the guys in the remote mining sites like to drink chilled watermelon juice with their colleagues). Although she was making great money, it was actually suffocating her. It was not who she was at her core, and she eventually had to become someone else to make it work. We can all adapt to adversity, or go against our inner nature for a period of time, but eventually the wheels will fall off. In the greater scheme of things, the universe / God / Allah really does want us to do what will make us most happy, because that makes everyone else happy around us.

So when we put her previous work to the side (and the beliefs that went with it), her real inspiration started to flow. She started to tap into the realm of ‘anything is possible’. Her eyes lit up as she explored what she really wanted to do - work within the wellness industry. There was personal training, yoga courses, hikes through Nepal as a weight loss program (this was one of my favourites!), wellness retreats, supporting different small industry in developing countries, and a list that just flowed and flowed. I was getting goose bumps as she talked, because she was talking from the depths of her true self. A place where her purpose has been suppressed for a number of years. A place of inspiration. This was the place where her life had meaning.

So her dharma is not about working 12 hour days doing something she doesn’t love, and something that does not allow her to express her true self. If you are not able to express your true self in your current profession, then it might be time to take a step back and work out what it really is that you would like to be doing.

“ARE YOU ON YOUR RIGHT PATH?”

I will leave you with that thought. Know that you have a very special and unique gift to offer those around you. And when you do, your life will have new (and real) meaning. You will feel inspired and not just…tired.

Find your purpose and you will be keeping it real 100%.

Take care,

Carl

PS: If you need a shove, boot, alternatives, assistance or a listening ear – you know where to find me. Exercising my happiness muscles in Bali ;-). I also recommend ‘The Alchemist’ by Paolo Coelho. I read it at least twice a year.

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