Give Yourself the Gift of Fulfillment: Get Unstuck and Identify Your Purpose
According to Gallup, there are 900 million people in 142 countries who are unfulfilled with what they do in life. In the U.S. alone, 70 percent of people working are unhappy and don’t care for what they do. I too recall being in that unfortunate place of discontentment. I remember waking up early on a Friday, walking outside and realizing my Jaguar had been repossessed. I was unemployed and had only $0.32 cents to my name. The only way I even had health care was thanks to the Affordable Care Act.
At that time, I was attending a government-funded business planning and development class offered through unemployment. The program was created to help people with potential create a business strategy. One day, my classmate — who had just started an online magazine — ran into class and said, “Crystal, I need you to go and interview some of the Baltimore Ravens for me…TONIGHT!”. It was in that moment of me saying YES to my dream I possessed since I was 15 years old…that my life changed forever!
My very first interview, ever, was with Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis. An interview that got over 80,000 views on YouTube and opened up the door to many other high-profile interviews, hosted by yours truly! Before I knew it, I was living my childhood dream of being like “the girls on BET” and not the video vixens. I always knew I had it in my heart, but it wasn’t until I got unstuck that I began to live my own American Dream.
Today, I am an inspirational lifestyle news contributor and producer in the #1 media market in the nation, at the #1 Cable News Network in the world. I host a national podcast that is distributed to over 1,300 stations nationwide; on top of being a self-published author and national speaker.
Living a life of purpose, passion and prosperity through media is something grander than I could have ever imagined when I was in that back room, on Irving Street, lying in a pool of tears. Here are just a few quick tips on how to get unstuck and begin your journey to fulfillment in life.
1. Get Rid of Excess Baggage
It’s time to let go of the past. Turn the page on the story that keeps replaying over and over again in your head. Stop blaming yourself and others for what has already happened. You can’t undo the past, but you can choose to find peace. Forgiving yourself or others is a way to let go and move on. The most important thing is to continually concentrate on the positive aspects of your life which will help you gain strength and allow you to become a stronger version of you.
2. Embrace Your Imperfections
One of my favorite poems by Tupac Shakur is the “The Rose that Grew from Concrete”. The poem is about a rose that grows from a crack in the concrete. The ‘concrete’ symbolizes the ghetto in which he belonged and in the poem, the rose is a metaphor of the poet himself; who was able to create something purposeful and powerful, despite an imperfect ghetto in which he came. We live in a world of non-stop comparison that continually reminds us of how we’ve fallen short. But press the reset button in your life and shine light on the beautiful things about you and your life.
3. Start Small
You can start small by changing your daily routines, moving things in your house, or making new friends. Every choice matters. You might be tempted to skip the little things because they don’t always seem important in the moment. But after a while, an accumulation of small changes will help you accomplish your goals, and you will start feeling unstuck.
4. Explore Your Why
Take a moment to access your gifts, talents, skills and abilities and see what really lights you up from the inside. Your life purpose is not just your job, your responsibilities, or even your material accomplishments — it’s what makes you feel alive! You may need to change your life purpose if it no longer inspires you. Or, if you feel like you haven’t had a purpose, this is a great time to define it.
Ask yourself a few quick question to see where you are on your purpose journey:
- What makes me happy?
- What were my favorite things to do when I was younger?
- What are my favorite things to do now?
- When do I enjoy myself so much?
- What things am I so committed to that I lose track of time?
- Who inspires me the most, and why?
- What makes me feel good about myself?
- What am I good at?
Once you find the common thread from your responses above, knit yourself a new blanket that warms your heart and the souls of others.
5. Believe in Yourself
Trust that you can reach your expectations and get out of your comfort zone. Make a list of your strengths and positive traits, and remember that you are very capable. Don’t sabotage your own progress — consciously or unconsciously — with limiting thoughts and actions. Write down past successes and read them every day as a reminder that you are possible and that your life’s purpose is limitless. Be good to yourself by giving yourself the gift of fulfillment this holiday and beyond.
Crystal I. Berger, Author, Lifestyle Contributor & Host
Portfolio: www.crystalberger.com
Inspiration: www.cbinspires.com
Purchase Book: www.amazon.com/Be-Extraordinary-Claiming-Purpose-Prosperity/dp/0578165171
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