"Uncovering the Path to Your Purpose: The Power of Following Breadcrumbs"

It's been a minute since I've written a blog. Glad to be back! To jump right in, this topic has been on my mind for the last few days, reminding me that it's important enough to devote an entire blog to the topic--breadcrumbs. No, I am not referring to the breadcrumbs that make-up holiday stuffing; I am referring to the breadcrumbs that are left as hints that you are on the right path. But what is the "right path?" It's the direction you need to travel to fulfill your purpose and dream.

This world is tough. It's not easy to navigate toward and find purpose in life. Typically, there are a lot of side roads and detours along the way. How do you not get stuck traveling down a path that doesn't serve your purpose? Not sure what it is? Or maybe you are sure but there has been discouragement and disappointment along the way. This is where breadcrumbs come in. These are small hints, suggestions if you will, that validate you are following a path is leading you closer to your calling.

Let me give you a real life example. I recently attended a concert. In that concert, the artist had a live "request section" where the audience could yell out a song and the artist would sing a portion of it on the spot. During this time, there was a song the singer started to sing and she forgot the lyrics midway through the song (disclaimer: the artist is phenomenal, and this section was impromptu, so forgetting a lyric now and again is bound to happen), so she did what any seasoned performer would do, and turned the microphone to the audience to start singing it. Most of the audience was singing along already! I was in the audience too, and while I didn't know the lyrics (words to the song), I did pick-up some of the words from the audience and started to sing what I could pick out as the melody with the lyrics. At the end of the song, the lady sitting in front of me turned around and complimented my voice. At the end of the concert, she came up to me and said "You should be up there performing next." I was stunned as this was a big venue! The woman who had been sitting beside me turned to me as and asked if I was a professional singer and if I had any local gigs coming up. Again, stunned--also, breadcrumbs. I have been going through a bit of a "dry spell" performing as I had not booked any performances from the recent auditions I had. While I could look at the lack of booked gigs as breadcrumbs to "quit," I instead decided to focus on the positive breadcrumbs from the fellow audience members (and my own internal momentum to keep going). I really appreciated these hints, random compliments from fellow audience members, that "yes" keep going Renee.

Now, I will say, I'm a huge proponent of self-validation and not requiring external validation from others as a substitute for self-approval or finding self-worth (that is another blog). However, it is nice when these breadcrumb compliments show-up at the times that they are most appreciated. Now that I have said that, back to breadcrumbs....

This is the power of a breadcrumb. Small, or sometimes not so small, hints that you are walking in the right direction. These little kernels of motivation are sometimes the catalyst that can help you really dig deep and find more motivation to practice when you don't feel like it, audition for another gig after getting rejected from others, and showing back up to dance class after having an embarrassing dance audition. Think back. When did you receive a breadcrumb of encouragement out of seemingly nowhere, when you least expected it? Maybe someone paid you a compliment, perhaps the opportunities lined up so that you got the gig or job you wanted with the pay you had negotiated; maybe you didn't get cast in the show you auditioned for, but they liked your audition enough that they called you in for a role in another show. These are all breadcrumbs. It's alignment. It's the world aligning to get you closer to your purpose and your dreams.

If you are reading this, I would consider this a breadcrumb as well. Maybe you are having a tough day and found your way here. Maybe you had a great day but appreciate the extra encouragement anyway. Regardless, if you are reading this, then it probably for a good reason. Allow this to move you closer to what you want to do, who you want to be, and how you want to help others--your purpose. Remember, look for those breadcrumbs of encouragement around you.