On finding your creative purpose

The world is built on a set of established systems and beliefs. People like these systems because it makes their life predictable, and to a degree, secure.

Many people dream of the day that they will have the freedom to do what they really want to do. They make certain assumptions about life that deter them from finding that freedom. They believe that life consists of school, work, marriage, and death. They make sacrifices for the future, believing that once they retire, they will have the time and resources to finally do what they really want to do.

If this is you, you may be unwittingly resisting the lifestyle that you truly desire.

Don't get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with the 9 to 5 lifestyle. I admire those who drive to their cubicle every day, work hard, save up for the future, and support their family.

However, if you are critical towards those who are "living the dream" you are hindering your own progress towards the freedom you desire. You attract what you are in life, and as long as you are judging those who dare to live differently, you are resisting your own path to freedom.

I can personally tell you that creative types work really hard at what they do (at least the ones that I know). Their lives are not half as glamorous as you may assume them to be. They may enjoy certain freedoms like scheduling their own work hours or working from home, but if they have attained any level of success, they probably put in a lot of hours to get to where they are. It didn't just land in their lap.

Most of us would like to follow our passions, and think that would be the easiest thing in the world to do. I personally think that it is the harder thing to do, because you meet with more resistance. That's why there's so much fear attached to pursuing your true purpose in life.

I am reminded of Brin and Page, the creators of Google, who were so excited about their search technology that they hardly spent any time thinking about how to capitalize on it. They were more interested in working on their search engine than getting their hands on money.

The lesson here is that money is a reward, a bonus, a byproduct of pursuing your passion. Money is poor motivation for following your dreams. Money isn't enough to keep you going. If you want to get paid, you can go and work at a supermarket. If you want to follow your creative purpose in life, there has to be a larger vision and a higher purpose attached to it.

Embrace those around you who dare to go against the grain. You will begin to see your own world expand. You will start to embrace your own path to freedom.