Chapter 6: What really underlies your interests?

As I sat in my cabin after dinner, I couldn't shake the urge to explore my own values and beliefs in a deeper way. I decided to start with the next introspective exercise within the Inner Compass Handbook: "Digging into Peer Advice." As I wrote down the advice I'd received from friends and colleagues over the years, I realized that they often encouraged me to focus on success, to keep climbing the ladder, and to push myself harder. But as I dug deeper, I saw that their values and beliefs revolved around external validation, and I suddenly understood that my own self-worth had become inextricably linked to my accomplishments. It made sense why I had been feeling so empty.

Then, I moved on to the second exercise: "Digging into Role Models." I made a list of artists, designers, and visionaries who had inspired me throughout my life. As I analyzed the values and beliefs that I admired in them, I found that they all shared a deep connection to their inner selves, and that their work was driven by passion and a sense of purpose. And it hit me like a ton of bricks - I had been so focused on external validation that I'd lost touch with my own inner drive. From that point, I vowed to reconnect with my passions and to find my true purpose, not just in my career, but in my life as a whole.