The Powerful Purpose of Losing Your Way
Dear friends,
We can all lose our way. With all the distractions and pressures of life, it is only human to forget our purpose, our why, our voice, or even ourselves from time to time. It can feel incredibly frustrating, draining, and confusing, but we must remember that losing our way also serves a powerful purpose.
I came to this realization because I lost my way for quite some time.
I started my journey with a clear vision and deep passion to help women heal from this system that has been designed by men for men in a different era. I saw my mission as helping women remember and embody their own power, and redesigning our world to better meet women’s needs.
In the service of this mission, I started writing a book, creating a podcast featuring my conversations with world-renowned women pioneers, and advising women leaders who shared my passion for improving women’s lives. I was rolling, flowing, and feeling energized by everything I was doing, and I couldn’t believe how it was coming together.
But then, the external voices, pressures, and forces slowly started to creep in. Before I knew it, I had lost my larger mission and everything I did became about catering exclusively to the advising work.
I felt stuck and struggled to create. I kept experimenting but was met with wall after wall. I felt boxed in. At one point, I even decided to give it all up because I was feeling so limited and couldn’t see a way forward that was aligned with who I am.
I’ll leave the story of how I found my way through for another time, though I have been sharing some of the key lessons I’ve learned in my recent letters to you. But now that I’m mostly on the other side of this (I’m still taking it one day at a time), I see why this “detour” was an essential part of my journey.
I originally had the vision and passion, but I didn’t have the necessary capacity to carry it forward in a sustainable way. However, in all those times when I felt confused, lost, and frustrated, I had to meet myself and my challenges at a much deeper level than ever before. I was identifying and shedding blocks that I didn’t even know were there but were holding me back. In doing so, I was also expanding and sharpening my toolkit.
As I look back on this time, I now see that I wasn’t lost. I was being prepared.
In fact, I found that “getting lost” serves a powerful purpose. During the process of searching and trying to find our way, we gain perspectives, strengths, and tools that we need to solidify our foundation and increase our capacity to build. And through ongoing trials and tribulations, we are honed, refined, and prepared to step into a more authentic expression of how we are meant to serve.
Unfortunately, this is not a smooth and comfortable process - growth never is. That is why it is super important to practice self-compassion and lean on the right people for support.
If you are ever feeling lost, I hope you’ll remember to be gentle with yourself, connect with your inner being, allow yourself to be nourished by your support team, and get super curious about what you could be clearing out and learning. This can be a time for immense growth and transformation if you choose to be fully present for it.
Trust your journey, trust where you are right now, stay curious, and know that you are not really lost.
You are leveling up! You are becoming better equipped and more prepared to receive what your soul has been calling for.
As for me… Thankfully, I’ve never felt more connected to my “why” as I do now. I am focused on my vision, taking inspired aligned action, flowing, and creating again.
And one of the greatest gifts I received during this “detour” is the realization that I’m not doing any of this alone. So many of you have been here for me and your messages and support have kept me going. I am so grateful for your presence and hope that we continue to lift each other up while helping more women shine, thrive, and change our world for the better.
Onwards and upwards we go!
With love and gratitude,
Maliheh