Childhood Games
Oct 21, 2024What did you used to play at as a child? When people ask me how to find their purpose, that is the first question I ask them.
Purpose Is Something You Remember
The reason why is that your purpose is not a destination. It is the adventure of you evolving the word for the better by being uniquely yourself. That means remembering who you were meant to be, before the world told you who you should be.
It takes you going back to those childhood games you loved the most, when you were just focused on following your natural flow. Before you encountered all the different ways the world taught you not to be you.
Because that is what happens. We are connected to our purpose and who we are here to be when we are younger. And then over time, we choose to redefine ourselves based on the environment around us. Our own inner knowing becomes working things out in our head, our innate confidence shifts to seeking external validation and our natural leadership gets lost in the avoidance of conflict at all costs.
But back to those games and what they can tell you.
Your Child's Play
Since I was a little girl, I knew that there was something I was here to do. That I was here to change the world in some way. I thought I was the only one. But I hear all the time from my clients that it was the same for them. I could glimpse this person I was meant to be when I was playing the games I loved.
There was the visionary princess from another planet who was here to lead humanity to a better place. In my mind, I was making sure that a trail of people would reach this window of light. Being there for anyone who was struggling. So that no-one would be left behind.
There was the loving wisdom keeper who wanted to show how we could live life differently. She was willing to go first - so others didn’t have to. Living my own heroin’s journey and returning to tell the tale. I would then spend hours in front of the mirror in my room speaking to imaginary people about what I had discovered. In my mind, I was on TV and Radio sharing new perspectives, educating on new ways and inspiring to new possibilities.
There was the deeply compassionate medicine woman mixing healing potions for my unconventional dolls and teddies. I would line up this band of misfits in this beautiful place in the garden and take care of them. In this imaginary sanctuary, I would give them what they needed in their heart and soul to heal, flourish and then go back out into the world to do what they were here to do.
Retrieving The Keys
You may think that everyone loved to play the same thing - but that is not the case.
At Christmas one year, my sister-in law bought my niece a play shop stand. It had places where she could put what she was selling and even a toy till to pay. My niece looked at it and then just returned to playing with her animals. The number of soft toy bunnies on her bed is legendary. Her dog sleeps on her bed. And she has a whole menagerie of all kinds of animals in her play kit. She talks about wanting to be a vet a lot. So a shop is not really her thing. But in contrast my sister in law is a born entrepreneur. And that shop she bought her would have been perfect for her as a little girl.
What about people who like to play standard games - football for example?
I have asked them. And what is interesting is that they loved them for different reasons. For some it was the physicality of being in their body. For others it was the camaraderie of being together and supporting each other. For others again, it was the collaborative spirit of succeeding as a team.
So what did you used to play at? Why did you love it so much? And what can that tell you about what you are here to do now?
For me, the creating of a sanctuary for a crew of misfits and brewing them magic potions so that they can heal, flourish and go out in the world to make it better - that is basically what I do today in The Purpose-Led School.
The sanctuary has become the transformational container leaders need to remember what they are here for and what they are here to do. And the magic potions have become the self-coaching formulas leaders can use to actually deliver on their purpose in the real world. Whilst literally by writing this letter to you, I am sharing the wisdom I have gained on the way. It is just that you are now real and not imaginary.
Until Next Time,
Louise
WE ARE ALL BEING CALLED TO ADVENTURE.
We truly believe that we can do this. That, if enough of us commit to being purpose-led changemakers and to evolving the world by being uniquely ourselves, we can create a new world - where we all flourish together deeply valuing prosperity, people and planet.
What it takes is for us to remember who we are really here to be, do what we are here to do and make that difference only we can make. By igniting our potential, actualising our purpose and up-levelling our impact through our lives, work and leadership.
So join us by signing up below to Our Broadcasts From The New to receive weekly inspiration through our shorts, letters, messages and information about our programmes and whatever else we feel called to create to support you. Look forward to being on this adventure together!
Louise Le Gat, Founder Of The Purpose-Led Company
