Don’t misunderstand — I have real friends, too, but since I was very young (8 or 9 years old), I’ve had a team of imaginary friends with whom I conversed with routinely. Some you probably wouldn’t know. But others, I’m fairly confident you would know.
My imaginary pals include Albert Einstein, Carl Jung, Teilhard de Chardin, Aldous Huxley, and Buckminster Fuller. I was drawn to them before I knew the level of their illustrious achievements. Something about their individualistic work or language called to me and I followed the thread of fascination. It held on to me permanently. It wasn’t until I was older — maybe a teenager? — that I realized I’d found some of our world’s greatest thought leaders. Who better to answer all the unsolvable questions swirling in my brain?
At the time what I had no awareness of was that they were shaping my future. They formed my views of life purpose decades before I consciously devoted my work to it.
That’s how the progression of our work, values, and purpose flows. We naturally follow what fascinates us. We’re drawn to people, activities, places, and things as a result of our values, talents, strengths, passions, and needs. These evolve through life but follow a common thread. It’s only when looking back that we recognize the common thread. Hence the insightful phrase “hindsight is 20/20”.
This year – 2017 – I’m profiling individuals who lived or are living a “life of purpose”. Those words sound so grand, but in fact they are what people do every day. And that’s why I want to do this series. I’ll show that these individuals — just by doing whatever they do — work, living their life, enjoying their loved ones, etc. — demonstrate through their actions their commitment to their values and purpose.
The profiles will include a combination of individuals both dead and alive, famous and not-so-much, and all — making a difference in this world by doing what they do every day. Just like you.
That’s how life purpose works. As we move through life knowing our values and what is important to us, we are able to gain a sense of confidence and peace of mind, as well as clarity in life. The essential parts of us remain true while we evolve to the parts that need to change.
To launch the series, I’m honoring my personal mentor, Albert Einstein, with a few comments below. Mr. Einstein and I have what I consider a personal relationship even though he isn’t aware of it. He’s answered many dilemmas for me, none of them mathematical.
From all accounts, Einstein didn’t foretell his own greatness, he was just aware of his own relentless imagination. The theme that began and ended his life was the thread of creativity and humanity. Details shifted while those values remained constant.
I’m not interpreting his genius; anything we need to know about Albert Einstein can be found within his own words: “I want to know God’s thoughts… the rest are details.” His views on faith and religion changed as treatment of the Jews and World War II became political issues, but his faith remained constant: “My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.”
To Master Einstein, Faith, God, Science, Magic and Reality were all of equal footing. He had the gift of understanding them all and explaining the concepts and layers to us. Generations following him are still translating the wisdom of his explanations.
Look for Einstein to continue to show up through out this month through examples in my articles and posts, quotes and references. Next month, interviews will begin on my YouTube channel with articles continuing on my site here and posts on my social media channels.
Next month’s profile will be of Charla Miller. Her business is “Beauty Heals You“. She’s also written a memoir “Wonder and Beauty“. The rest of the details will wait until next month but I’m as excited to profile her as I am Einstein!
I hope you’ll enjoy the series. I’d love to hear your comments. Please share with others who might have interest — and let me know who you see as an example in your life! And please don’t be reluctant to admit that it is you as you look in the mirror.