Life on Purpose returns with Episode #89, the fourth chat in a series I’m calling Seeing The Light In Uncertain Times.

My guest for this episode is creative alchemist Diana Rowan, the founder of the Bright Way Guild, a virtual learning environment dedicated to transforming and inspiring a global community of creatives. 

For Life on Purpose Episode #41, my guest is artist, photographer, life coach, and mentor Andrea Scher, the creator of Superhero Life — "where we all learn together to use our voices, share our superpowers and live life in full color."

Andrea joins me for a great conversation about her work as a creative, coach, and healer; her Mondo Beyondo talk at WDS 2011 that helped inspire my first podcast (Radio Enso); her creative practices and classes, and much, much more!

About: I’m Andrea Scher, creator of Superhero Life — where we all learn together to use our voices, share our superpowers and live life in full color. As an artist, photographer, life coach + mentor, I’m redefining what it means to be a SUPERHERO — ‘cause in my world, it’s got nothing to do with capes, spandex or sidekicks and everything to do with tenderness, intuition & baby steps of bravery.

Back in 1995 when I was living in New Orleans, a tarot card reader told me that I was an artist. At the time, I held an oh-so practical degree in Economics, and rarely shared my passion for painting + photography with anyone. (But then, you can’t fool a good psychic.)

She also said that my real work was as a healer — that I would heal people through my art. All of the hairs on my arms pricked up. All I could think was: Yes! Yes! But how? I never forgot that wise woman (she is still my spiritual advisor to this day) or that quiet promise I made to myself — to fulfill my true calling, and be a healing force in the world.

But first, I had to start with myself. I began painting every day.

I began painting . . . to find freedom + flexibility. To find the joy in the mess. To keep myself feeling engaged and alive and curious — not necessarily to save the world, but simply to fully experience it.

But that’s the beauty of doing what we love — we delight ourselves first, and we can’t help but serve others in the process.

To me, a Superhero is someone who invites her wisest, bravest, most alive self to come out and play, every day.

This doesn’t mean having all the answers, being unshakably strong, or performing dramatic feats of heroism.It means being someone like you – and someone like me.

Someone who is anxious and uncertain, oh, say, 50 – 80% of the time. Someone who wants to live a juicy, full, courageous life — but doesn’t always know how. Someone who understands that vulnerability just might be the greatest superpower of all.

“To me, a Superhero is someone who invites her wisest, bravest, most alive self to come out and play, every day."

Superhero Life is a love letter + resourceful playground for all my fellow creative superheroes. Moms who want to paint. Painters who want to write. Writers who want to travel. And travelers who want to come home.

I’ve been writing + teaching online for nearly 10 years — back when the web was a much quieter place. My intention is to make Superhero Life feel like a virtual oasis — a space for unhurried healing, beauty, and joy to unfold.

To learn more about Andrea and her work: http://superherolife.com/.

For Life on Purpose Episode #38, my guest is artist, coach, author, and creative dynamo Cynthia Morris of Original Impulse.

Cynthia joins me for a powerful and timely conversation in the wake of the recent Paris tragedy and other acts of violence around the world.

In "Creative Expression as a Force for Good," we discuss her recent piece "Paris, Oh Paris", which strongly resonated with me and many other creatives, as well as learning to co-exist with uncomfortable circumstances, the need for creativity during tumultuous times, her work helping people getting creatively unstuck, travel as a vehicle for greater understanding in the world, and more!

About Cynthia: A coach since 1999, I've helped thousands of creative people get their ideas out of their heads and into the world. Whether it's a book to be written, an idea brought to market or a quest to find authentic voice and expression, I help people get out of their own way so they can make things that matter.

I lead creativity workshop in Colorado and Europe that facilitate not just insights but life-changing actions. I am available to lead one-five day tours for corporate groups that need to get out of the box and refresh their creativity.

I'm a coach and trainer for Jonathan Fields' Good Life Project Immersion program.

To learn more about Cynthia and her work: http://www.originalimpulse.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #25, my guest is artist, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and coach Emilie Wapnick. Emilie joins me to discuss what those she calls multipotentialites, people who have many different interests and creative pursuits in life. We also discuss her recent TEDxBend talk entitled Why Some of Us Don’t Have ONE True Calling, overcoming fear and confidence challenges, and how she lives a life on purpose.

About: Emilie Wapnick is an artist, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and coach. She says she was blessed with so many interests that she was unable to pick just one. She studied music, visual arts, film production and law, and graduated from the Law Faculty at McGill University. After years of feeling anxious about her zigzagging career path and hyphenated credentials, she finally decided to embrace her plural nature and start a movement for others who lean toward being what she calls “multipotentialites.”

Since launching her website, Puttylike, in 2010, Emilie has inspired thousands of multipotentialites to stop trying to fit themselves into boxes, and embrace their plurality. She has been featured in Lifehacker, The Financial Times, and The Huffington Post. Currently, she is working on her forthcoming book, “Multipotentialite.”

This past April, Emilie stood in front of 1,400 people at TEDxBend and gave a talk entitled Why Some of Us Don’t Have ONE True Calling, which encapsulates her findings on multipotentiality in 12 minutes! 

To learn more about Emilie and her work, visit: http://puttylike.com.

For Life on Purpose Episode #17, I'm joined by writer, speaker, and entrepreneur Jeff Goins for a great conversation about purpose, legacy, creativity, finding your true calling, and his new book Art of Work- a Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do.

About: Jeff Goins is a full-time writer who has authored four books, including: The In-Between, Wrecked, and You Are a Writer plus he's written and guest-blogged for more than 100 magazines, publications, and blogs including Copyblogger, Problogger, and Michael Hyatt's Blog. He's also a speaker, online writing teacher, and consultant. His website, Goinswriter.com, has been visited by more than four million people from all over the world. He lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, son, and border collie. and he humbly considers himself the world's foremost expert on guacamole.

His brand new book is the Art of Work- a Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do. Steven Pressfield, the best-selling author of the War of Wart says, "It will make you think differently about what you do and how you do it. The author is a fresh young voice in a field full of copycats. He challenges us to approach our work the way we would a canvas—both delicately and with furious discipline."

About the Art of Work: "Abandon the status quo and live a life that matters." The path to your life's work is both difficult and mysterious, which is why few finish the journey. The Art of Work is about discovering your true calling—that thing you were born to do. As Jeff Goins explains, the search begins with passion but does not end there. Only when our interests connect with the needs of the world do we begin living for a larger purpose.

Those who experience this intersection experience something exceptional and enviable. Though it is rare, such a life is attainable by anyone brave enough to try. Through personal experience, compelling stories, and current research on the mysteries of motivation and talent, Jeff shows readers how to find their vocation and what to expect along the way.

To learn more about Jeff and his work, visit: http://goinswriter.com.

Founded and led by Jeffrey Davis – author, in-demand consultant and speaker, story-shaper and “Book Whisperer,” and world-traveling teacher – Tracking Wonder is a boutique creative company that helps quiet creatives and collaborative teams face challenges with acumen, shape captivating books & brands, and improve their patch of the planet.

For over 25 years, Jeffrey and his work have been featured and highlighted at world-class centers, conferences, and universities. He has helped first-time authors become New York Times best-sellers, earn handsome advances, and publish break-through books with the Big 5, independent presses, and their own publishing experiments.

Jeffrey is author of The Journey from the Center to the Page and writes online columns for Psychology Today and The Creativity Post.

He spends his days guiding private clients, speaking to small teams & organizations, developing new learning expedition programs & trainings, writing his next book, homesteading his farmhouse in the Hudson Valley of New York, and dancing with his daughter and wife.

Secret weapons: wonder, 88% artisanal chocolate, white tea, creative juice tea, imagination, mindfulness & yoga, Mind Rooms, amazing people.

We talk all about that, along with his life journey, and how he lives his own life "on purpose."

For more information on Jeffrey and Tracking Wonder, visit http://trackingwonder.com.