I think I might be addicted to change . . .

(But, is it an addiction when it’s something that you’re meant to do?)

As human beings, we’re meant to change:

 

• • Physically we’re always changing

• • Mentally, we change our minds every day

• • The experience of changing emotions is no stranger, and

• • My changing spirit has offered a pretty wild ride

You’d think that being in a constant state of change would feel natural for me; however, most of the time I feel like I’m just out here “doing my best”.
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Recently I’ve been working on changing my business (again).

Since inception, I feel like I’ve been trying to design a business that encapsulates all of what I (Kelsey) can “bring to the table”. In pursuit of this lofty goal (when I come to the table I bring A LOT), over the years the business has naturally changed – I’ve changed clients, service offerings, marketing strategies, networking approaches, even operating cities! Despite/In spite of this evolution (especially in hindsight) I can see that every change has been toward seeking alignment with what I would (now) define as my purpose.

→ I’ve recently embraced the acceptance that I am on a bit of a “purpose work” journey – the journey to discovering my “why”.

Through these past 5 years, I’ve built Inked and Organized into a business that has, by all intents and purposes, been a success. I’ve helped numerous businesses over the years and made impactful changes where I had the opportunity to. I’ve taken risks, owned up to mistakes, celebrated wins, and worked through tough losses. I’ve found incredible ways to show up in support of others, while navigating the lingering doubt of “am I doing this right?”

When I reflect back on the business over the years, I can see threads of authenticity in terms of what I “really want to be doing”, but overall I feel like my business offerings are still missing the mark (the mark = fulfillment). Through my purpose journey, I’ve been doing a lot of work to try and find and uncover what exactly is still missing.

I’m a really capable human. I’ve got a plethora of skills, an abundance of talents, and a big backpack of tools that I’m pretty good at using. My efforts towards building a business around those skills have been…pretty good. I’ve navigated the storms of solo entrepreneurship and I even made some profit along the way (yay!). In all honesty, I’ve done better than “pretty good”.

I shouldn’t downplay what I’ve accomplished. A lot of people don’t have the opportunity or privilege to get to do what I do and stand where I stand. For that opportunity and privilege, I am truly, very grateful…

…but, It still feels like something is missing. It’s not that I don’t have “the things”. It’s not that I’m not making money. It’s not that I don’t have a supportive partner. It’s not that I don’t have opportunity and consistency and time freedom. I have so many “things” – within the business and beyond the business. (Again, I’m truly grateful.)

Yet here I am, still not feeling fulfilled and I really want to be. (Don’t we all?)

Lack of purpose is like that I think. It’s that missing ingredient in an otherwise exceptionally cooked dish. In recognition that I was missing a key ingredient, I’ve spent the last couple of years intentionally searching. Turning over every stone that I’ve stumbled across on this “seeking ikigai” search.

What I’ve learned (amongst the plethora of lessons along the way), is that finding your purpose is actually not as complicated as we seem to make it. It’s actually not that difficult to find. But you do have to try. And listen. You do have to be curious and willing to do the things (even if you have to do them scared/tired/slow/etc.). And you definitely have to open up to being vulnerable.

Though it may not be as complicated or as difficult as you suspect, I think it’s very important to make it clear that there will be times when it is hard. There will be stops along the way that feel incredibly difficult to move through. There will be things that are hard to accept, hard to unlearn, hard to feel. There will be times when your purpose smacks you so hard across the face with how hard it has tried to tell you throughout your whole life that it’s literally been right in front of you the whole time (at least that was my experience). And even when this happens – you still might not listen.

Your pathway to purpose might hurt at times, and though your journey will not look like mine, I can vouch for the experience that one the other side of that hurt is some pretty damn beautiful (and joyful) clarity.

Clarity is a pretty|powerful force.

Through my own dutifully sought out clarity, I was able to discover that I’m actually right on track with what I’ve [un/dis]covered to be my purpose. I just needed a little course adjustment to ensure my coordinates were exactly lined up.

Turns out, in reality, I’m not that far off the “what I’m meant to be doing” destination. What I’m already doing – it’s pretty darn close to what I’m meant for (way to go self!). Which is a beautiful reality because I don’t actually need to change that much. I just need to “click into place” the last remaining puzzle piece (or at least that’s what it feels like).

And I’m really excited.

In the spirit of “leaning in”, I am embracing the fact that I’m changing (again).

We are meant to change.

How dreadful it would be to always be the same.

And thus, in celebration of this season of change, we’re doing Inked and Organized 2.0.

It’s going to be kind of the same, and a little bit different. There will be some new opportunities blooming (hint – something very Cre8tive) and some offerings that look a bit different.

What a delightfully thrilling and exciting change to embrace.

(I know that’s not really saying much…but stick around and you’ll see what I mean).

In the meantime here’s my logo – slightly changed (and even cuter).