One of the tenets in the True Purpose ® work, is that once a person has found their purpose, it is important to create a lifelong partnership with one’s Trusted Source (Inner Wisdom) and egoic parts. The more that one grasps and executes in this manner, the easier it becomes to embody and live one’s life purpose. The promise of living life with more ease, more joy, and greater fulfillment can act as a great carrot on a stick.
Tim Kelley, a founder of the True Purpose Institute, has talked about the Four Paths: The Path of Power (high ego, low trusted source); the Path of Presence (low ego, low trusted source); the Path of Piety (low ego, high trusted source) and the Path of Partnership (high ego and high trusted source.) No path is better than another, however, there is a path that more naturally aligns with you, or calls to you. One is encouraged to choose and live it. (And, yes, you may change your mind as you evolve.)
The Path of Partnership was the one that called to me, and then it became a practice to determine what that would look like to/for me. I have found that moving into partnership with both parts and Trusted Source to be somewhat tenuous. The journey, so far, has been intriguing to say the least. One of the first things for me to do, was learn to break the pattern of working independently. I grew up to be self-reliant. I have spent the majority of my life as a single person; I frequently worked as an independent contributor, and have had few occasions where I had to sit down and discuss personal decisions with someone else. I may have secretly yearned for someone to share my life with, yet I know I am considered “rough around the edges” when it comes to sharing innermost thoughts, seeking counsel, and bouncing ideas off someone else, unless I am asked. In short, it was not in my consciousness to involve someone else, especially before I was struggling, and even when I was struggling. Self-sufficiency did not lend itself to considering that if I was going to take on “partners” that I had to start involving my partners. Step 1: Involve my partners in decision making and my life.
Next thing to learn: I had to show up in a partnership; listen to my partners; choose what is good for me, seek their counsel, share thoughts and actions; all qualities that are part of being in partnership. One of the bigger challenges was truly overcoming those thoughts that God might punish me if I didn’t do this right; or withdraw his/her love for me; or kick me out of the kingdom. I have been a new-ager for a long time. I’ve talked about co-creating, working with Spirit, and yet, underneath all of that was the wound that feared getting kicked out of the kingdom. To avoid that is the primary thing in that particular wound-pattern. So, the advice and counsel that I would seek was related to the ability I had to stand toe to toe with God or a God-like essence, as opposed to fearing punishment for my action/inaction. If the underlying thread was fear of expulsion, fully showing up wasn’t in the cards. As a friend of mine said, “I have to show up at the same level I expect my Trusted Source to show up.” Step 2: Show up.
Trusting in others to have my back, to care for me, had also not been my strong suit. Yes, I was aware that my trust in others was in direct proportion to my trust in self. I had many doubts about my ability to clearly hear my internal guidance. So, is what I heard really guidance or a part of me that would like it to be that way? Am I making all of this up? What if I didn’t hear it correctly? What if my gut instinct fails me? How will I be able to correct the issue if all I can think of is “I got it all wrong.” What if, what if… I have found that one of the single largest things to increase my trust level has been to recognize that a) once I make a decision, it is not permanent; I can change my mind – so, making a choice is ok; b) that the adage of a pilot is constantly course correcting from point A to point B is a godsend: I have the freedom to experiment and see what is working; to approach things with an attitude of “well, that wasn’t exactly what I was shooting towards, what else could I do?” In essence, giving myself more permission to do things that are less than perfect. I frequently repeat to myself “the world will not end if ….” to support me along the way. As I have matured, I have found that I am moving into a greater degree of trust. Trust that I can have a dialogue with my unseen partners. Trust that I can receive meaningful guidance. Trust that I can take action and I won’t die. Trust that I will not be expelled from the garden. I also find that the level of questions that I am willing to bring to the table have a deeper quality of curiosity which helps to both deepen and expand the conversation. Step 3: Trust myself and that ALL is well.
Doing the parts work has been a challenge. Throughout the True Purpose® work, there is an emphasis on several things related to parts. First, they all serve a noble purpose. They are doing their best to make certain that I am safe and that my needs are met. Doing things to provide safety for them helps to establish a rapport. I have had to move from the notion that all my parts will do is complain about the fact that I never pay enough attention to them; I do things that they don’t approve of; that I’m either not doing enough or doing too much; I’m such a scardy-cat, how can they work for me; I’m a hopeless case etc. I have fairly well avoided confrontation throughout my life. My initial approach to working with parts was to avoid confrontation. The concept of embracing them, interacting with them, listening to them, and in some cases, transforming them was strange to be certain. Learning to actually embody and live that has been an even greater challenge. I can honestly say that working with parts has been rewarding. Finding out their perspective on things has been enlightening. Hearing myself say something and saying to myself, “I wonder which part said that?” can also be a fun thing. I may actually entice myself to go find out more. Step 4: Work with my parts.
A few months ago, I was given the advice from my Inner Wisdom to “just surrender into partnership.” It was at that time that I had the judgement that I made a lousy partner because I was making unilateral decisions. That started the deeper journey in earnest. I had to recognize that this was an invitation to open to the subtle realms even more. An invitation to let go and find that there is “something” out there that really has my back. There is “something” that would like to work with me to make me a better me. There is “something” that fulfills the mantra that I have had for many years “you don’t have to do it alone, you just have to do it.” Each time I said that, I knew that I really meant the non-corporeal much more than the corporeal. Learning that Spirit walks on and at my side. That I can work to forge an even stronger relationship with the Divine Wisdom, my parts and myself. To allow myself to be molded by the Unseen Hands into the better version of me.
Surrender into partnership.
Share the burden, the joy, the wisdom, the curiosity
Let go and allow.