Seeds of Purpose

Welcome

Hello friends and family,

Welcome back to another Oversoul Letter. 

These last few weeks we explored trauma and its impact on our health–how our nervous systems respond when under intense and persistent stress.

Healing from trauma involves deep somatic work to reconnect with our emotions and instincts. Through healing trauma we learn to escape the fight-flight-freeze-fawn response. We work through anxiety, depression, disassociation and the negative ways we respond to stress. 

We learn that our unhealthy habits often stem from trauma and the way we cope with pain, such as substance abuse, self harm, or thrill seeking. 

Recognizing the impact of trauma in our lives frees us from guilt and self-loathing. 

However, trauma is simply something that happened to us; it does not define us.

Trauma impacts our nervous systems, and we often equate our nervous system with our sense of self. 

This is natural, because our sensory perceptions–sight, taste, touch–often feel like ourselves. 

But truly, the Self, our authentic core, is something beyond our nervous system–it’s our soul. 

Working through trauma is like a snake shedding its skin. When we release the burden of trauma, we shed the weight all at once and are reborn into our true selves.

We remember, rediscover, and uncover the gifts that make us unique individuals. 

Trauma often robs us of our sense of self. When we feel trapped in constant fight-or-flight, little opportunity exists for self-actualization.

We are all born with specific gifts that we are meant to cultivate to serve others, for the benefit of all. 

This letter is about reconnecting with your gifts.

Let’s dive in.

The Theory of Forms

To recognize our authentic gifts, I want to start by describing an ancient philosophical framework proposed by Plato, called “The Theory of Forms.”

In ancient Greece, Plato proposed a thought provoking question to his fellow philosophers, along these lines:

“If an oak tree is the greatest that an acorn may be;

What is the greatest that a man may be?”

Plato theorized that the acorn contains a unique essence that drives its growth. 

The theory of forms suggests the existence of a higher realm containing the blueprint, code, or essence for all living beings, things, and ideas.

Our world, then, represents the physical manifestation of the divine, higher essences–what many of us call the soul.

Like the acorn, we as individuals feel compelled to grow into our best selves by expressing our true souls.

Expressing our true souls brings peace, fulfillment, happiness, and freedom from comparison. 

So how do we come to know and express our true selves?

We must look within.

Know Thyself

Plato’s teacher, Socrates, held a maxim throughout his life that served as the cornerstone of his philosophy:

“γνῶθι σεαυτόν (gnōthi seauton)”

Translated to English as: 

“Know thyself.”

To “know” oneself holds specific meaning in the Greek language that provides greater depth than our English understanding. 

The Greeks used different words to describe various types (in our case, forms) of knowledge. 

A few of these forms of knowledge include:

Episteme–theoretical or scientific knowledge, such as knowledge in geometry or the law.

Techne–practical, craft based knowledge, such as the skills of a carpenter or musician. 

Phronesis–wisdom or prudence, like how to be a wise, ethical leader.

For our purposes, let’s explore the type of knowledge Socrates used when he encouraged us to “know ourselves,” called: gnosis.

Gnosis refers to direct, intuitive, experiential, and spiritual knowledge. Gnosis means “knowing the divine within.”

This form of knowledge is inherently subjective, pushing inward toward our deepest thoughts, feelings, and instincts. 

Gnostic knowledge is rarely taught in today’s world, which more often encourages epistemic and technical knowledge. 

In school, we learn essential skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic, but our curricula often fail to teach us how to look within ourselves for spiritual, philosophical, and emotional knowledge. 

Without this deep, gnostic understanding of ourselves, we can feel lost. We may wander through life ending up in relationships, environments, and careers that feel inauthentic. 

Those feelings of inauthenticity, over time, turn to feelings of resentment, depression, or even despair. 

Without this gnostic understanding of ourselves, we may find ourselves asking, “What happened to me?” or, “Where did I go wrong?”

Or perhaps more confusingly, we may in resignation say, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I just don’t feel like myself.”

Thus, we can see why this form of self-knowledge is so important, while also lacking in our world today. 

Gnosis connects us to our inner wisdom–the guiding force that encourages us to be our best selves, like the acorn growing into the oak tree. 

Gnosis helps us recognize our divine gits and the ways we can best serve others. 

Recognizing Your Gifts–The Seeds of Purpose

We are all born with unique gifts that we can use to serve others. Our interests, passions, and ambitions in early life often provide clues for recognizing our gifts and finding our purpose. 

Ask any parent and they’ll tell you that kids come with their own unique personalities, and you can’t really change them. 

Every kid is completely different, and that’s a beautiful thing. 

Kids naturally know what they want, what they like, and how they feel. They’re in touch with their gnosis. 

If lovingly nurtured and allowed to express themselves in healthy ways, kids easily find what lights them up.

To draw again on Plato’s seed metaphor, we can look to our childhood interests to remember who we truly are.

In Robert Green’s book, “Mastery,” he highlights some of history’s greatest achievers–people who grew into mighty oak trees, so to speak. When interviewed about their live’s works, each achiever pointed to a specific object or experience as a kid that ignited their passions. 

For Albert Einstein, his passion for physics ignited as a young boy when he received a pocket compass. 

Einstein was amazed by the significance of the compass arrow pointing north, which sparked his curiosity in magnetism, gravity, light, and ultimately led him to pioneer the theory of relativity. 

Some of history’s other great leaders and thinkers point to what inspired them–

Jane Goodall–A toy monkey named Jubilee, and the “Tarzan” novel      inspired her love for working with chimpanzees.

Pharrell Williams–The record player in his family's living room inspired his love for music. 

Steve Jobs–Taking apart radios with his dad in the garage inspired his love for electronics and computers. 

Each of these leaders recognized their passion and put their gifts to work, making huge impacts on the world and those around them. 

You can reflect back on your own early experiences in life to remember what inspired you. These “seeds” of interest and passion contain clues for finding your authentic self. 

In my own life, I’ve especially enjoyed watching these seeds in my two daughters, a 4-year old and a 3-month old. 

Estelle, A Case Study for Authenticity

As I watch my girls grow, I’m amazed every day by their natural gifts and personalities. 

My oldest daughter, Estelle, embodies the idea of gnosis by living true to herself. When you see someone living authentically, even someone young, you can’t help but feel inspired. 

She’s outgoing, energetic, curious, and friendly. 

As a toddler, after opening Christmas presents, she wanted to fashion dresses for herself out of wrapping paper and ribbons. 

She invented her own game called “fashion girl” where she asks me to introduce her, turns the corner, and walks down the hall showing off her designs and dance moves.

She sings to herself in her room for hours at a time, and at the movie theater she sneaks away to the front of the audience to dance by herself in front of the screen.

Sometimes she asks me to play music from “The Nutcracker” soundtrack so she can express herself lyrically, and dance out the sad feelings she feels for losing her Papa Paul and her friend Parker. 

She connects deeply with her feelings.

It’s beautiful. I cry every time I see her express her true self, and I know that most parents feel the same way about their kids. We want them to grow in confidence, hope, courage, and purpose. 

We want to cultivate and nurture the seeds of purpose within our children. We want to see them bloom and grow into the best that they can be. That love from a parent to a child is what makes the world go around. 

I don’t know what Estelle will ultimately choose to do with her life, but I believe she’s developing the skills to recognize her interests, passions, and worth, which is the best I can hope for. As she grows up, I hope that she remains true to herself and finds ways to use her gifts to serve others.

While many children grow up in safe environments with families, teachers, and friends that nurture their authentic selves, many do not, and that isn’t fair. 

The Parable of the Sower

In the Bible, in Mathew 13, Jesus teaches the parable of the sower. I liken this parable to gnosis, self-actualization, and purpose.

In this parable, Jesus teaches how a sower goes out to plant seeds in his fields. 

The sower throws the seeds all over the ground, and the seeds fall in different environments. 

Some seeds fall by the wayside and are devoured by birds before they can ever grow. 

Other seeds fall on stones, and because they “...had not much earth…” they did not develop deep roots and they withered in the scorching sun. 

Some seeds fell “...among thorns…” that choked them out when they began to grow. 

And some fortunate seeds fell into “good ground, and brought forth fruit…an hundredfold.”

This parable means a lot to me, because it speaks to the worth of souls, and how everyone experiences different challenges in life. 

We all contain the divine essence that Plato spoke of. We all contain the essence within ourselves to grow into the best that we can be, the same way an acorn can grow into an oak tree. 

But like the seeds that fell along the wayside, on stones, and among thorns, not everyone grows in safe, healthy environments. 

Consider how many people around the world are born into war, famine, neglect, poverty, abuse, and instability. In these environments, we are in constant fight-or-flight mode, and the seeds of purpose cannot develop fully and safely. 

To reference our previous letters, trauma stunts the growth of the seed. 

Like the seeds that fall by the wayside, some kids are born into environments where people have to fight for basic survival. Full purpose, fulfillment, and actualization are much harder without shelter and safety. 

Others are born into circumstances like the seeds on the stones, where there’s hope for the seed to develop safely, but due to difficult circumstances, the roots cannot take depth. The world is always changing, and trauma can strike at any time, disturbing the seeds' growth. 

Or maybe, as someone goes through life, their seed is choked out by thorns representing jealous, angry, or bitter people. These thorny people mock or degrade others for the talents, gifts, and purpose they express. Sometimes the seed is choked out by insecure parents, teachers, community members, or peers. The seed’s growth can be stunted by shame or ridicule. 

And finally, the seeds that fall into good soil and are safely nurtured, grow to maturity and bring forth fruit “...an hundredfold.” For those who do grow into strong, healthy oaks, a great responsibility is placed to serve others on their life paths, knowing that the playing field is not at all equal. 

Every soul is infinitely precious. 

We owe it to ourselves, and those we love, to help others find good soil, no matter the stage of growth they’re in–whether a seed, a sapling, or a mighty oak. 

This is sacred work, and we are all sowers in the field. 

Is It Too Late for Me?

As we age, we start to wonder if we’ve missed the deadline for finding our true gifts and purpose. 

The short answer… of course not. 

We are all on our own timelines, growing in our own way, following our own essence. 

No two essences–no two souls–are the same. We are born into different circumstances, with different resources, different challenges, different teachers, different anatomies, different psychologies, and different passions. 

Some of us sprout early, but quickly face harsh winters or blazing sun. 

Some of us may feel like late bloomers, but while slow to rise, we sink deep roots into the ground, waiting for the right time to blossom.

Others of us are hardened as we age by harsh winds that strengthen our cores. 

Others flower and blossom, but have branches lost to storms and bear permanent scars. 

Perhaps some of us sprout only in the most intense conditions, when fires ravage the forest, and new growth is needed from the ashes.

Life affects us all differently, but as we learn to know ourselves, we sink deeper roots. As our trust and confidence in our own knowledge grows, we reach higher and higher toward the light–

An Invitation to Grow

Wherever you are in your growth cycle, know that you are  a beautiful, valuable, divine soul. 

Take a quiet moment to breathe deeply. 

Imagine yourself as a seed, a young sprout, or a mighty tree. 

Consider the depths of your roots. Consider the storms you’ve endured. 

Allow yourself grace for growing in your own time, at your own pace. 

Imagine yourself fully grown. What are the shapes of your branches and leaves? What do your roots feel like underground? How strong is your trunk?

Are there others plants, trees, and grasses springing up near you? How can you help shade and share nutrients with others in your life?

What help do you need to continue to grow? What changes do you feel called to make to live as your most authentic self?

Transformational Guidance

If you would like help healing from trauma or exploring your gifts and purpose, please feel free to reach out by email: [email protected]

Sometimes, we need someone to help us see ourselves for who we really are. 

I’d love to be that person for you.

Starting in April, I am opening both 1-on-1 coaching sessions, as well as group coaching sessions. 

I’d love to have you join the community. 

Much love, 

Tate