Man, let me tell you, for a long time I just felt like I was spinning my wheels. I got into a field, did the work, punched the clock. It was decent, paid the bills, but deep down, there was this hollow spot. You know the feeling? Like you’re playing a role that isn’t quite you. I was going through the motions, showing up, doing what was expected, but my soul wasn’t in it. I’d look around at others who seemed so driven, so purposeful, and just think, “What am I missing?”
I tried to shake it off. Told myself to be grateful, to just keep grinding. But that nagging feeling wouldn’t quit. It kept poking at me, whispering, “There’s got to be more.” So, I started looking. I dove into books, listened to podcasts, tried out different hobbies. I even switched jobs a couple of times, thinking a new environment would fix it. Nope. Same old feeling, just in a different office, with different people. I was chasing external fixes for an internal problem.
It was a proper struggle, feeling so adrift, not really knowing what my “thing” was. I saw friends climbing corporate ladders, starting businesses, raising families, all with this clear sense of direction. Me? I was just… reacting. Going where the wind blew me, trying to fit myself into molds that just never quite felt right. The frustration really started to build, making me cranky and just plain tired.
Then something shifted. It wasn’t a lightning bolt moment, more like a slow dawning. I started noticing a pattern in my life. People, complete strangers sometimes, would just… open up to me. They’d talk about their problems, their fears, their big decisions. I wasn’t giving them grand advice, just listening, asking a few gentle questions, sometimes offering a simple thought that seemed to help them untangle their own knots. I became the quiet confidante, the one who held space for their confusion. I began to realize that maybe my purpose wasn’t about being the loudest voice or the one in charge, but the one who saw things, who understood the deeper currents, and could offer a silent, steady hand.
I stumbled across this idea, or rather, started calling what I was doing, the “High Priestess Career.” Not in any mystical, woo-woo way, but in the sense of being an intuitive guide. Someone who draws on inner knowing, on quiet wisdom, to help others navigate their own paths. It wasn’t about having all the answers, but about helping people find their own answers, by listening deeply and trusting that subtle intuition. I wasn’t out there selling anything or pushing a strict dogma; I was just being present and offering a clear, calm space.
Embracing the Inner Guide
So, what did that look like in practice? First, I had to really learn to trust my gut. I mean, truly trust it. For years, I’d overridden those quiet internal nudges with logic, with what I thought I should do. I started by making small decisions based purely on intuition. Which coffee shop to go to? Which park to walk in? It sounds silly, but it was like exercising a muscle that had atrophied.
Next, I started paying serious attention to patterns. Not just in others, but in myself and in the world around me. I kept a simple journal, jotting down observations, feelings, things that just felt right or wrong. It wasn’t about detailed analysis, but about recognizing themes and undercurrents that weren’t always obvious on the surface. I wanted to see beyond the immediate, to understand the deeper workings.
I made a conscious effort to listen more than I spoke. When someone came to me with a problem, I stopped jumping in with solutions right away. Instead, I’d really sit with what they were saying, trying to feel what they were feeling, and waiting for that internal flicker of insight before I offered any kind of response. Most times, just being truly heard was half the battle for them.
- I carved out quiet time. Every day, even if it was just 15 minutes, I’d unplug. No phone, no TV, no distractions. Just me, maybe a cup of tea, and my thoughts. This was where clarity often emerged.
- I practiced non-judgment. This was a big one. It’s easy to judge others, or even yourself, for choices made. But for me to truly connect and guide, I had to let go of that. Everyone’s journey is messy, and my role was to understand, not to critique.
- I sought experiences that nourished my intuition. For me, that meant spending more time in nature, trying simple meditation, and engaging in creative activities that weren’t goal-oriented. It wasn’t about becoming an expert, but about fostering my inner world.
This whole shift wasn’t a smooth road, mind you. There were days I felt like an imposter, days I doubted everything. But the more I leaned into it, the more I saw its profound impact, both on me and on the people I connected with. My work started to feel less like a chore and more like a calling. I wasn’t necessarily chasing big titles or huge paychecks anymore. My purpose became about being a steady, quiet presence, a source of gentle wisdom for those seeking clarity in their own lives. It’s about finding that deep, inner knowing and letting it guide your interactions, your decisions, your entire existence. And it’s something I truly believe everyone has within them, just waiting to be tapped into.
