Thoughtful Articles

At 19, I was stuck in a lecture hall in Canada, buried in advanced calculus equations that felt never ending. I had been grinding at school for well over a decade at that point in my life.

I was good at math, physics and chemistry, but my heart wasn't in it anymore. I made a decision that I'm sure definitely concerned my parents and family, I dropped out.

Being a straight-A student my entire my life and moving on from what would have been a promising career as a mechanical enginner. I couldn't imagine sitting in an office for the foreseeable future.

To me, dropping out of university wasn't giving up. It was a leap toward something more real and in alignment with what made my heart sing.

By 20, I was an apprentice electrician, finding joy in solving problems, developing grit and using my mind in a different way.

Your spark might be different. Maybe it's crafting, teaching, or connecting people. It's there, waiting for you to notice. The rat race wants you to ignore it, to grind through a life that doesn't fit. Listening to that inner pull, no matter how small it seems, is the first step to living your truth.

One thing I've realized as I've gotten older, is that my talents and gifts aren't random. Yours aren't either.

They're your unique blueprint, coded into who you are. For me, it's been building. Whether it's a tiny home, welding projects or digital businesses. Anything that allows me to get creative and utilize my gifts.

Every project I've undertaken has been a step away from the grind and toward a life of meaning.

Whether you're drawn to painting, problem-solving, or making others smile, those gifts are your compass. They're not just skills. They're your way out of a life that feels like a trap.

The world needs what only you can offer. Maybe you've been told your talents are ordinary, but that's not true. Your way of seeing, creating, or connecting is unique. Lean into it, and you'll find the path to a life that is yours alone.

Finding your blueprint doesn't require a big leap. It takes small, intentional steps.

Start by reflecting. What are you naturally good at? What makes you lose track of time? Write it down, no matter how small it seems.

Then, experiment. Try a new skill that sparks your curiosity, like gardening, writing, or tinkering with a craft. Pay attention to what lights you up. That buzz is your purpose calling.

We can always find ourselves in the trap of doing the things that make the most sense or what will make the most money. Allow yourself to be more child like and curious. Tap back in to that feeling of what brings you joy.

At Slow Yourself Down, we're all about taking it slow and listening to yourself. Tapping back into your internal guidance system.

Your blueprint isn't hiding. It's in the moments when you feel most alive. Trust those moments, and let them guide you.

I've always liked to make connections between construction and life. I'm a firm believer that in order for anything to be built, it must be designed first.

If you're building a house, you start with a blueprint or a 3D model to see how the vision will come to fruition.

A life of meaning is not any different. It's starts by design and by finding the things you love to do the most and crafting the blueprint in your mind.

You can start by asking yourself, "if anything was possible, and money was not an issue, how would my life look?"

Start to imagine how that life would look. How would you be of service to others? How would you contribute?

In the same way that you and I would not design the same house to live in, we wouldn't design the same the life.

It follows the same process and our blueprints will most likely look a lot different.

Every time you follow your gifts, whether it's creating art, solving problems, or sharing your story, you're building a life that's yours.