This week take all that you have learned regarding instinct, intuition, and insight and hone in on how you live these attributes through an archetypal expression. Knowing which archetype you are choosing to activate in different settings can give you guidelines to which ethics and values will be at the forefront of your words and actions. No matter what archetype you identify with, listening well will always be one of the most effective ways to be present to the truth in the present moment. Listening to your surroundings and the messages from within doesn’t just help you make strong decisions in sticky situations; it helps you find your purpose. It’s a key component to developing and living an uncommon life.
When you look at a particular culture, you’ll see that certain people fulfill specific roles within their society or community. When you pay attention to how these signals affect your actions and story, you’ll get insight into how to move away from, or into, fulfilling specific roles to follow your calling, or path. Two archetypes found in every culture are the warrior or monk. Whether you’re a warrior, a joker, healer, or monk, ask yourself: have you been forced into this role or is it instinctual?
A clear example of an archetype that is forced on some of us is the role the first-born child plays in the family dynamic. Now, many first-born children are natural leaders with innate nurturing instincts. At the loss of one or both parents, these people are born leaders and natural caregivers and it could well be their calling to take over the helm. However, not every first-born child is destined for this role. I bet many of you are either nodding or shaking your heads, thinking about yourselves or a sibling that has had to take over the role of a parent. And I bet you just got a hit in your gut—notifying you if it’s the right course for you or them or going against all the laws of nature.
We see this with teachers. Some are natural-born educators. Others are wildly intelligent but can’t teach a puppy to heel with a piece of bacon in their pocket, and we wonder why they’re in the profession when they’d make more effective scientists or engineers or authors.
Although you feel lucky when you trust your gut by accident, it’s not just luck or chance. You’re listening. Keep it up!
We must learn to trust our guts!
If you haven’t read the past few weeks blogs on transactional and inferential intuition, I encourage you to go back and take a look. Understanding transactional and inferential intuition is key to learning about your authentic nature. As you gain a physiological understanding of the brain-gut connection and how our reflexive decision-making comes from a signal that originated in the body and traveled to the brain, if wise, you immediately start to make better decisions regarding your diet, sleep, and social surroundings. Inner and outer awareness is vital to train both skills to achieve holistic awareness. Your life will have a sense of purpose and peace that keeps you inspired and taking action from love of self and others once holistic awareness is developed. I enjoy continuing to reap the fruits of all the practices that I have mentioned in the past few weeks. Walking an uncommon life takes effort, discipline, and the willingness to change. Hooyah!