Over 30 or 40? You've still got time to find your calling.

3 May

One of my favourite quotes in the world is,

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living"

It's wisdom from Nelson Mandela.

There is so much inspiration I take from Nelson Mandela. His commitment to a cause greater than himself. His passion for unity. The compassion and respect he showed to all. His immense optimism and hope that endured through his 26 year prison sentence.

You know what else inspires me?

He became president at 76 years old.

He was jailed at 44 years old.

He would have been forgiven for thinking his life was over. But he never gave up on working for what he believed in even behind bars, and wound up making a global impact in the later years of his life.

I speak to a lot of people who are anxious that they have left it too late in life - that they should know and be living their higher calling by now.

Does your frustration over your lack of clarity on your Soul work and your comparison to others your age, fill you with fear for the future?

You now sense there is something else you are meant to be doing, which is your soul telling you there is!

Here are my top tips for overcoming fear that you’re running out of time:

1. Stop comparing yourself to others

Everyone is on their own journey and there is no right or wrong way to do life.

It's only societal conditioning that makes us think we can be 'behind'. You know the socially constructed timeline - finish school, go to uni, get a job, get married, buy a house, have babies, have a successful career, retire and die.

Boring!

I tried conforming to this 'timeline of happiness' and I still wasn't fulfilled. I got as far as completing my business degree, getting a competitive business graduate job, getting married, buying two houses and having a dog all by 23 years old. But I gave that away to follow my Soul and carve out my own way in life as I knew that path wasn't the answer for me.

There are 7.4 billion people on the planet; we each have our own path to live.

Your path is as valid as anyone else's, regardless of what age you are discovering your passions and purpose.

Stay in your lane and ignore what anyone else is doing.

2. Know that possibilities exist for you at any age

Be inspired by those like Nelson Mandela who achieve their dreams later in life. Because you know what, if they can, you can too!

At the university where I lectured, we had the world's oldest graduate, who graduated with his fourth degree at 97 years old. He was quoted as saying, "It is never too late to expand your mind, make new friends and challenge yourself to achieve something worthwhile."

Think about this - if you are in your thirties or forties, then you may have another 50 years to be actively creating the life of your dreams and contributing to the greater good in the world. How much could you achieve in that time?

3. Accept yourself fully in order to create change

It's a curious paradox I have observed in my own life - the more I drop my resistance to what it is I don't like about myself or my life and accept what is, then change occurs.

"What we resist, persists". So if you spend the majority of your energy on your perceived deficiencies, then nothing much is going to change.

But if you drop that resistance, accept this is where you are at and embrace what is with an open heart (no matter how uncomfortable that may sound), then energy begins to flow. You'll feel more relaxed, ideas will flow more readily, you will naturally be inspired to take different actions or will connect with others in a different way.

Start a daily gratitude practice for all that you appreciate now, flip a switch when thoughts of comparison and fear arise and instead celebrate what you have accomplished and experienced so far, and practice mindfulness by breathing and focusing on the present moment.

So keep the faith - all you desire is absolutely possible, no matter what your age!