Until about 6 years ago, my main focus in life was skiing as many days as humanly possible and making money. I was a highly motivated ski bum.

However, my motivation only had one goal: serving my temporary needs. There was no vision attached to it and it wasn't part of any bigger plan. I had a vague idea in the back of my head that I should be part of something bigger, a higher purpose, but having a really good time and feeling great in my life kept all that pretty quiet.

As I was approaching 40, that small idea of a higher purpose idea got bigger and more nagging. There are many names for that time in life, midlife crises, second act, awakening, several planets get blamed for creating that feeling, but reality is, many of us start questioning our life choices just around that time.

Maybe you've always known you wanted to be an astronaut but but settled for staying on the ground
Maybe your family business expected you to be part of it
Maybe you had children and never got to explore what you really want
Maybe you are extremely successful, good at what you do, but have long lost your passion for it
Maybe you "did the right thing" and it seems to work out but you know that it is time for the thing that you are actually passionate about, but what?
And maybe life is pretty great but deep down you know that there is more
Just maybe you know that there is a bigger plan for you...

If anything in that list leaves you nervous and uncomfortable, most likely you have an immediate "reason" (though Dr Wayne Dyer calls them all excuses:) for why you can't chase after your compelling future. Maybe you don't even know what it would be.

Think about what makes you uncomfortable about the idea of YOUR compelling future. Think about the comfort zone you are lulling in right now. And ask yourself what the cost is to you, to be comfortable.

THE USES OF NOT

Thirty spokes

meet in the hub.

Where the wheel isn’t

is where it’s useful.

Hollowed out,

clay makes a pot.

Where the pot’s not

Is where it’s useful.

Cut doors and windows

to make a room.

Where the room isn’t,

there is room for you.

So the profit in what is

is the use of what isn’t.

lao tzu: tao te ching translated by Ursula K. Le Guin