At some point in life, many of us ask ourselves: What should I do with my life? And usually this question refers to the perfect job or career for us.

I recently read something by Caroline Myss, a medical intuitive and renowned author, who puts this ‘pursuit of happiness’ in the context of a spiritual path.

In Myss’s model of evolution, you begin by needing to work, as a matter of survival, then you develop a thirst for career and then a passion for a vocation.

And it works in this order. You want a career because it pays more than a job, and you want a vocation because it’s fulfilling. A career may bring financial wealth, but a vocation brings spiritual wealth.

“For those on the spiritual path, one of the reasons that people express such dissatisfaction with what they’re doing in life is because they don’t realize they’re asking for a vocation and not a career,” Myss says. “They’ve moved past the career stage, and they want a vocation and don’t realize it.”

A vocation is a calling, where you feel that you need to be of service. You are called to do something that will not only fill your wallet but also your soul…and often reaches others at a soul level as well.

So you go from thirst to passion.

And where your passion is starving, you’re in search of a vocation – not just a career.

Are you and your spirit happy at work?

To read more go to www.soundstrue.com/guide/lifepurpose/#!state_lesson_more_106

Sometimes life throws us opportunities that are way out of our comfort zone, but last week I realized that if you really want to take your business, relationships or life to the next level you’ve got to Step Up and Step In, or Step Out.

I hopped on a plane to Asheville, North Carolina to attend Uplevel Live, a three-day retreat led by the amazing Christine Kane, a mentor to women entrepreneurs. The event took place at The Grove Park Inn (a swanky resort where US presidents stay),  a perfect setting to gather of group of highly successful business owners.
I was surrounded by and introduced to women whose businesses are changing the world, and some of whom are earning six- or seven-figure incomes. Whether they are artists, life coaches, physicians or own a wide range of other businesses their commitment to transformation and success is huge… and that’s the pool I want to play in.

To move forward, in business or in life, you have to immerse yourself in the community – or “tribe” – you want to be in. For example, when I left a career in nursing to pursue a degree in journalism I started hanging out with writers – good ones – and taking classes with established, award-winning authors.

For me, the move from the science-based world of health care to the more artistic realm of writing and communications was a big leap of faith. But I made the decision to jump. That year there were more than 400 applicants to the MA in Journalism program at The University of Western Ontario; 44 were accepted. And I was one of them.

At this recent gathering of high-powered women entrepreneurs I was reminded of an important “law of the universe” that comes into play whenever you want to manifest wealth, success or great change in your life: You must learn to make decisions from Where You Want to Be, not from where you are.

Now, as I plan to take my freelance writing and editing business in a new direction, I’ve signed up for Christine Kane’s Platinum Mastermind group for a year of laser-focused business coaching, a flood of inspiration … and a whole lot of new ideas, strategies and implementation.

As I step up and step in to the new year, I look forward to stretching myself to new limits and possibilities.

Are you ready to step up and step in to something new?

What decision can help take you to Where You Want to Be?