It took a long time but I finally figured out my life purpose. If you haven’t heard it yet, here it is:
My mission is to love what I love, share that love, and inspire others to love what they love.
Simple! Love really is all there is.
So for YEARS I’ve wanted to make a dance video and show it. Because I LOVE to dance. But my inner critic and business manager teamed up with these questions:
Why? So you can show off?
How is that part of your business?
Is this your ego or is this something that will serve your audience?
Why? So you can show off?
And on and on until the dancing was just a private love affair I was having with myself.
How often does this happen to you? You have an original impulse: a sweet, innocent desire arises. And then your critical mind comes in with a bunch of logic and shuts the joy down.
Well, thank goodness we have friends who encourage us. My pal Kristoffer Carter posted in Facebook last month something about full-on self expression. So I put some music on and danced. And then the video came on and more dancing.
Then KC and I spontaneously challenged each other to a dance-off and the next thing you know my dance video is up on Facebook. And guess what happened?
My friends loved it. They felt the surge of courage and boldness that was required to post it. They felt the joy that I feel when I move my body to music. Best yet, people were encouraged to do their own bold things.
So it worked – my love and courage inspired others’ love and courage. And I remembered: Don’t hide the love. Don’t postpone joy. Show and share my love.
And you know what? I am showing off. I love being onstage. I love being in front of others and speaking, sharing, dancing…whatever. I love showing up and showing off. To deny that is to deny an essential part of me.
What does this have to do with art? I live and coach according to this:
“All the arts we practice are apprenticeship. The big art is our life.” – M.C. Richards
Here’s the video in case you want to feel the love and see my moves.
What about you? How can you ‘un-stifle’ yourself? How can you love more of what you love and share that love?
I LOVE your message today Cynthia.
I am learning to act as the wave is building 🙂 There is nothing worse for me than blowing off my impulse until later – I never have the same juice. And, do you take dancing requests? I’d love to see you dancing to You Sexy Thing (I believe in Miracles) by Hot Chocolate!
You rocked it!
Robin
That is SO true, Robin – capture the wave of the original impulse as it arises. Doing so honors the creative source or whatever it is that generates those wild and energetic ideas. Fresh from the creative source!
Thanks for your love and support! I love the idea of dance requests. Maybe I’ll start dancing in front of the camera more. I have some favorite songs I want to play with.
Oh silly joy and exuberance, may it be ours every day.
I am going to watch your dance video later, as I already know your joy is infectious, but may I say your flower watercolor is lovely!
Thanks, Indira! I felt the post needed something visual so I slotted that in. I love that one too!
This is so awesome! WHY haven’t we gone dancing together before?! Next time we’re in the same town (or maybe we should Skype it, lol) we are going to dance up a storm!
xxx
Thanks, Heather! Yes, we should go dancing! Just saw this video this morning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ5rR0WlEkQ&feature=share
Plus you’ll like the doggie in the ad preceding it!
YES!!!!!
This made my day. I just love your life purpose. And the video, of course!
process question (because, you know, I love process…)
Was there anything you did specifically to arrive at your succinct life purpose statement?
Or did it evolve over time?
When did you finally know what it was – and how to state it?
Turn up the volume, and keep on dancin’!
Lisa
Lisa,
Thanks! I love making others’ days!
The whole ‘find your purpose’ notion began bothering me back in 2003. I saw how what seemed like a good idea really just effed people up.
Because we conflated purpose with work and thought our purpose on the planet had to be something related to making money.
I jettisoned the whole exercise and went about my life. Then one day I realized how much love was my guiding principle: how much love I feel for so many things and people. How much I want more love. How much I want my clients and students to love their creative talents and their lives.
And believing the Beatles lyrics ‘Love is all there is’.
So it became really simple: My mission/purpose is just to love.
Perhaps this is true for others – that our ‘purpose’ is so much more simple and close than we think. That it could be boiled down to one word. That it wasn’t ‘out there’ but instead deep inside.
Thanks for asking! And thanks for your support; it means a lot to me.
Really great dance moves, Cynthia! You seem very comfortable in front of the camera.
Thanks, Renee! I just love to dance. And I do love being onstage or on camera – I am a ham. And that’s what I am and I’m not going to be ashamed about it any longer.
#lovewhoyouare
You go girl!! I love your enthusiasm, your courage and your boldness. I am still too self-conscious to just let myself go like that in public–for now anyway! You rock.
Thanks, Sue! You’re so kind.
This represents a lot of dancing at home with no one watching. Just for the pleasure of it. Maybe you can do that at home, too? It’s less about others and more about finding our own joy. 🙂
I adore this, Cynthia! Thank you for having the courage to dance for us. I have recently taken up hula hoop dancing again, for the express purpose of ‘un-stifling’ myself. As I told a friend not long ago when she was embarking on a new thing, ‘we can get old and rigid, or we can stay flexible by having adventures.’ Adventure is what it’s all about! I hope to live the rest of my life that way.
Thanks, Lisa! I LOVE that you’ve taken up hoola hooping! A ton of fun and great exercise. Not to mention playful. That seems the perfect way to stay flexible and adventurous.
Now, will you share a picture or video so we can share the joy? 😉
Beethoven & I thank you very much…
You are very welcome, Beth!
Thank you for sharing yourself so freely. Your joy and courage is always so inspiring. Plus this was HYSTERICAL!!!!
Girl, you are one weird chick, meant in the best possible way :>)
Bobbi,
You know what they say, takes one to know one! 😉
I had no idea this was hilarious. Was it my shirt tag sticking out the back?
I’m happy this made you laugh and perhaps inspired you. It’s what I live for.
You are so courageous, Cynthia. I admire you and love how free and at ease you look. BRAVO 🙂
Anyes,
Thank you! I think the freedom and ease is what we express when we’re in the joy zone. It feels great and it’s great to watch. I’m glad this video was of interest/inspiration and not just my ego!
Love it! so inspiring…
Yay Cynthia! I loved your post AND your video is Pure Joy and Love!
Once again your big hearted Sparkly Sparky Self shines big and bright…lighting the creative path for all to step on board and join the dance with our shiny authentic selves.
Thanks hon – sending Love and Yes from here!
xoxo
Frances
Thank you, Frances! It’s what I love – sharing my joy and enthusiasm. This child-like wonder is such a part of creating our art and a happy creative life.
I am so glad to know you and to experience our friendship unfold over the years. Here’s to more joy and abundance for all!
HI Cynthia, I love this post too, and also the flowers, including the Spring photo ones! We’re not caught up to you back here in CT, where it snowed 3 – 4 inches Monday!
But, that idea of just loving has resonated with me for years, hasn’t yet manifested as I want it too. Seem to be caught in a second guess circle about which of many ideas makes sense. Much of what I love to do doesn’t seem practical, like playing with cooking, food, when I don’t eat that much and don’t have people to cook for! But there are other ideas, like making the writing work.
Anyway, aside from loving, really want to just have fun, and get paid, still haven’t found that key, but sure I will.
Thanks for all your inspiration.
Sandra,
It seems things often don’t happen the way we expect. My sense is you could use some help with monetizing your passions, or even just one of them. It’s helped me enormously to have outside perspectives to look at what is financially viable and what’s best left as a hobby.
Here’s something that intrigues me; dinner groups. I’m not sure if it’s a super profitable thing, but it’s a cool way to meet new people and share a love of food:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/01/16/262776529/sometimes-a-perfect-stranger-is-the-best-dinner-host
I hope spring comes to CT soon and that you get to have more fun than ever!
Thanks for being in my world. 🙂