Follow the Bread Crumbs
Discover Your Life Passion
Several years ago, I was flying across country to see family. My seatmate was a young woman who was studying a musical score. We struck up a conversation and she told me that she was flying to New York City to accept a position as a harpist in the symphony. I asked her how long she had been playing. She told me, “Oh forever”, and laughed. “Actually” she said, “for the last 10 years, but I loved the harp from the moment I first heard it when I was four.”
I begged my parents to get me a harp so I could learn to play. Of course, harps don’t come child size. They got me a piano instead. I got pretty good at the piano, but every time I heard someone play the harp, I said that’s what I’m going to do when I grow up.
At college, I studied music. It was my first time actually been able to play the harp. To everyone’s surprise I played it as if I’d been practicing for years. I knew that I had come home to my instrument at last.
For many of us our journey of finding our work and place in the world has not been so clear cut. In fact, we can feel like we have lost our way or followed a map that someone else drew for us. We long to find our true instrument. But How?
First, you might need to clear some patterns of thinking that you have developed. Sometimes you can do this alone, sometimes you need help and encouragement. You can then practice a mindset of possibility.
A good friend of mine has named this the “bed crumb method.” Pay attention and follow the clues that show up in your life both in your external world and internal longings and intuitions.
I love the way Stephen Spielberg talks about this
“A dream comes from behind and sneaks up on you. It doesn’t shout, it whispers, and if it tickles your heart you need to listen to it.”
– Steven Spielberg
You can listen to Stephen talk about this further here.