(Linked from my podcast conversation with Tega Diegbe : The Digital Fixer)

At the time of broadcasting the podcast with Tega, I discovered something that I have found so useful I feel compelled to tell everyone about it. I am not being sponsored to give you this information, it is just too good to keep to myself.

What is it that keeps people moving forward in a chosen direction?

If you’re a long-term listener to this podcast, you know that I am exploring this question regularly. I want to know why we are driven to do the things that we do and I ask my guests those very question ongoing.

The Importance of Alignment

Alignment is the compass or diviner, the thing that is guiding us to explore our life purpose. If our daily activity or our life journey runs contrary to that compass in some way, then there’s going to be a discomfort. My sense is that it is there to push us back on track.

The discomfort will be different for everyone. For some it will be stress or depression, for others it will be a physical illness, or an accident. It may just emerge as anger towards a situation or person. In my case, it was low-grade depression. I would call it an absence of joy.

So how do you get back on track?

The good news is I have discovered a tool that will change that. I listen to a lot of podcasts, they are part of my exercise routine. When I am running or at the gym, I will have the earphones on and there are a few programmes that particularly inspire me.

The Good Life Project

This is a podcast with Jonathon Fields, a yoga teacher who runs retreats and so much more. He also has a fabulous New York accent, a soothing voice that I could listen to all day.

Jonathan has been looking at the question of critical drivers for years. He has been involved in positive psychology and various kinds of practices and has been able to identify ten driving ideas which he calls Spark-e-Types.

He has a website The Good Life Project where you can take the Sparketype test and reveal what your key critical drivers are.

How This Has Helped Me

I came up as ‘Advisor’ and ‘Sage’. My role and purpose is to coach, advise or mentor. That is so true; I do it everywhere I go. I am always looking to support people in their chosen direction. The Sage is my ability to remember and capture the information that I use to help myself and others on their journey.

So far, everyone I know that has done this test has come up with results that fitted their patterns. For me, it has settled a lot of questions, and has taken the struggle out of identifying my niche in the world.

Highly Recommended

As I said at the beginning, I am not being sponsored to give you this information, in fact I haven’t even mentioned to Jonathan that I am sharing it. I have just been so inspired by the Sparketype test that it would be selfish to keep this gem to myself.

Please do the test and find that positive affirmation in your life.