I’m just getting back to LA after a long weekend in Berkeley where the hubs and I participated in a days-long upper-limit couples camp with the good folks of The Hendricks Institute.

You may have seen me first talking about Gay Hendricks’ book The Big Leap in my columns as far back as 2011 or so; I first started using Gay’s books in the early ’90s — The Second Centering Book was one I used in mentoring young gang members to try playwriting as an alternative form of self-expression. And I’ve totally already scored my copy of Gay’s next book — The Joy of Genius — a follow-up to The Big Leap, due out in September.

Anyway… travel, exhausted, #mindbody work, and loads of deep-diving on so many juicy things I cannot WAIT to share with y’all from this amazing experience we’ve just had!

Here’s today’s nugget — and it’s a couple o’ questions for you.

Do you believe you have a gift you were put on this planet to share?
Is there some God-given talent you possess or a story you were meant to tell or a community you’re here to serve?

If the answer is YES to any of this — even a teeny bit — then it’s your duty to the world to treat your instrument as though it can change lives and make a difference (because it can).

That means that your every choice, your every encounter, your every bite, your every sip, your every step, your every interaction is a means of fueling the system that is on the mission to create that art, tell that story, share those gifts.

So, with that I’ll ask you to ask yourself — especially when you’re feeling reactive about ANYTHING (and yes, we can all agree, there’s a LOT about which to feel reactive out there right now) — “What does this experience have to do with what I am HERE TO DO in this world?”

If the answer is NOTHING, disengage. Stop wasting energy on it. It’s a distraction. It’s Steven Pressfield resistance or Gay Hendricks upper-limit problem territory. It’s noise.

If the answer is *not* NOTHING, then be sure you’re making the highest-quality choices for highest-tier YOU so that you can tap into the gifts you were given to express here in your time on the planet in order to make a difference in the world.

Best you.
Next-tier you.
What does THAT version of you — sitting fully in the highest expression of those gifts you were born to share — look like?
What is her/his/their environment?
And how much of that vision exists right around you, right now?

Let’s get to crafting this next-tier basecamp so we can make a fucking difference and heal the world when it needs it most.

Our art is important.
Which means WE are important.

Don’t forget that.

Share with me in the comments below what it is you can do TODAY to disengage with what has nothing to do with the gifts you were born to share with the world… and how it is you can stay on track for reaching the most, doing the most, healing the most with your art.

You’ve GOT this!

All my love,


Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!

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23 Comments

  1. Dora Balog June 26, 2018 at 12:33 am

    I just love you, Bonnie, and the work you do in the world. <3 This sentence was in my mind all the time while I was reading this blogpost. I already read The Big Leap for your recommendation and I found it amazing- it‘s one of the most important books on my „New Life School -Booklist“. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    1. Bonnie Gillespie June 26, 2018 at 12:46 am

      Aw, thank you, Dora. I’m so glad this is resonating with you. Keep inspiring the world with your art! XO

      Reply
  2. Cait Mathis June 26, 2018 at 2:10 am

    Kinda can’t breathe – because I AM Inhaling – dear god gillespie. This is magic. Fucking yes. #selfworthforthewin #SMFANinjas #wow

    Reply
  3. NTZ June 26, 2018 at 6:22 am

    OMG, Yaaaas!!!! Yes!
    I want all of that goodness you wrote to marinate because it’s really hitting me. And I want to be more aware of all of those moments I’m pulled/tugged & the guilt I feel because I’m not taking an action (because, I suppose, either it’s not my zone of genius or I cannot fix the problem. And btw, I’m compelled to solve problems/puzzles.)
    I need my NC reading at the end of August—will Endeavor to get my hands on The Joy of Genius. Thank you so very much for sharing, Bonnie!!! 💋💋💋

    Reply
    1. Ninja Erin June 26, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      Free yourself of that guilt, lady! Taking care of yourself is SO important. <3

      Reply
      1. Constance Zaytoun June 30, 2018 at 12:30 pm

        Thank you, darlin’!
        Amen, to that!

        Reply
  4. Laura Michler June 26, 2018 at 7:57 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this. This comes at the exact time I needed it. I was getting distracted with the daily whirlwind and started to lose myself and slowly was losing the connection to what i was put on this earth to do. You are a blessing.

    Reply
  5. Jill Maglione June 26, 2018 at 8:23 am

    Bonnie! As always, I feel like you’re in my head – this couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. Yesterday I got a response from one of my top rep choices that she was just “not responding to my look right now.” At first I was crushed, but then I remembered it’s just a distraction and it’s not about me. I’ll just keep moving forward. xoxox

    Reply
    1. Ninja Erin June 26, 2018 at 2:55 pm

      That’s right! Onward and upward!! <3

      Reply
  6. Pam June 26, 2018 at 8:25 am

    Bonnie, such good questions and perfect timing. I’m spending the summer at my sisters in Connecticut on a beautiful lake to gain some clarity, to listen, creativity explore and find the next steps in sharing my gifts and callings in the world. What I liked about your questions is that I want to keep exploring them with an open heart…..thank you!!!!!

    Reply
  7. Jennifer Caldwell June 26, 2018 at 8:42 am

    As always, so inspired by your leadership. I’ve long felt that my acting was meant for another purpose and it’s been a process in and of itself to discover what that is. I know that each and every moment, as a life unfolds on stage or on film or in interaction with those we are passing our knowledge on to, the potential exists to transform lives. To me, this is so powerful and fascinating!

    The GIG course is such a rich and powerful tool to help me to do just what your asking in this blog – daily. What can I do “TODAY to disengage with what has nothing to do with the gifts I was born to share with the world… and how it is it I can stay on track for reaching the most, doing the most, healing the most with your art?”

    For this, I am pinning that question you posed everywhere!

    “What does this experience have to do with what I am HERE TO DO in this world?”

    Because, dang it, I believe I”m here to transform lives, if even for a moment – to reveal some glimmer of truth. So, this one sentence really helps to focus and let go of the drudge from the bottom of the river and move on up to the top, making way for the mighty current.

    I’m so excited this morning to continue on my GIG journey and also to do the retreat in August! I’ll be co-leading an acting workshop in my home state of New Mexico also in August with a healing artist and can’t wait to share that too!

    Lots of love and gratitude to you.

    Reply
    1. Ninja Erin June 26, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      Love this!

      Reply
  8. Julie Millett June 26, 2018 at 10:22 am

    I love this SO MUCH. Yes. EXACTLY right and EXACTLY what I needed/wanted to hear today. Many thanks!

    Reply
  9. Mariann Aalda June 26, 2018 at 4:26 pm

    The Universe is always direct even though sometimes seemingly round-about. I was only in Chicago for a brief visit…but obviously the Universe brought me there to meet you, Bonnie, to help expedite my journey to the next tier which will give me a larger platform to tell stories of self love, self acceptance, and greater compassion and acceptance of others in order to bring greater healing to the world. It’s been a long journey — and frequently arduous — but I feel my most important contributions are ahead of me.

    I’ve always known what my purpose was, but for most of my life it felt like a burden….which conversely, often blocked my ability to contribute. Then, three years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and set aside working on my career to work on myself. And my big “Aha!” was that I’d been trying to do God’s job as well as my own. I didn’t trust God to deliver the career that I saw for myself, even though I firmly believed that God was the one who had instilled that vision in me!

    Cancer taught me to be kinder to myself and to trust God more. And to know that I am enough and worthy. And to know that I don’t need to do any more work other than the work that brings me joy. I have learned to say “No” without feeling guilty and “Yes” to myself. Always…and in ALL ways. 👍

    Reply
    1. Ninja Erin June 27, 2018 at 12:48 pm

      You are so inspiring. <3

      Reply
  10. Kerry Snyder June 26, 2018 at 5:05 pm

    Interesting timing. As i stated on a post of yours from yesterday about how are we being creative.
    I have been painting my house for the past 5 years. Crazy I know but it has taken me on an incredible journey into myself. I don’t have kids so i don’t really have a reflective way of seeing how i am changing and growing other than to see myself thru my walls…(hmmm interesting words that just came up there) anyway, the walls in my house have changed, each room is very different but in painting the floor in my bedrokm the other day had a couple of epiphanies. One was that each room is very different, they each make me feel as though i am someplace else. I take people elsewhere as a creative. Message number 1.

    The second being that the bedroom is at present the room where i will have the most healing work done to myself. It’s moving in a tropical direction, i’m just taking the ride here right now but man is it cool.
    There is every color of every chakra represented. Blue is one of the prominent colors, water, healing. I have the beginnings of a waterfall happening in one area and right next to it will be a fountain.
    Although the room is dark, many windows and difficult for me sleep with so much exterior lighting shining in, the darkness of the walls make it very soothing, like the night sky. Because i am using paints other than matte there is reflection happening back at me while i am sleeping.
    I’ve used a high gloss navy blue on the floor over black which has given it great depth and warmth. But there is also a reflected blue hue that i noticed the other day which indicated that there will be much healing happening. Rejuvinating in fact.

    Having worked in the healjng field for many years i am very good at not taking on what others are going thru and drawing boundaries very easily with my clients. Am also very good at taking much time out for myself, am up in Malibu as i right this having coffee after a riding lesson.

    But what happening for me in my house at present has taken me to a completely new level. Have been making trips to the Goodwill (3 so far) and have had a 1 bulk pick up done. Lots of new furniture coming in as well as many things have been changing/shifting in my life. My 100 Days thus far is one that i cannot really explain very well.

    I am a healer and Yes there is much healing to be given and i am just along for the ride at present. I am well aware that it will be something different than what i have been doing, on a greater scale and on more of a cellular level.

    Think about this for just a second. Television can send signals. I watch very little as there seems to be so much it’s kind of difficult to keep up, much is manipulative of ideas but then there’s something else, deeper, that cam be captured and sent out affecting the cells of people.
    This is very woowoo but talked about very little if at all. The camera picks up everything. Higher vibrational frequencies included.

    Just my take on things. I think i may have taken the long way to get to the direct message. Oh well. Time for another latte…

    Reply
  11. Judy Kerr June 26, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    Thanks Bonnie, I got THE BIG LEAP after last week’s blog. I love it and have just a few pages left. Everything is so sweet in my life and I’m having very high blood pressure – what is that about? I think it’s this upper limit problem. I keep thinking something bad is going to mess everything up and high blood pressure gets me scared.

    As others say – your messages seem to come at the appropriate time, I love your guidance. I’m eager to hear more about your experienced. Thanks for shining the light

    Reply
  12. Jaye June 26, 2018 at 10:05 pm

    Hi, Bonnie,
    Thanks for the reminder!
    When I did chaplain training in NYC, we had to come up with a mission statement for a class. Mine is:
    I help keep the world healthy through comedy.

    I lost focus for a bit. I was focused to much on financial crap and health challenges.

    Welll. Sunday I got up at the Inner Sanctum at UCB – We did stand-up from suggestions from the audience! And yesterday I took a CAP casting director workshop with Allen Hooper. He casts co-stars for Modern Family! I got a home run!

    So. Yes I still have stuff going on. I don’t have to focus on it as what you focus on expands!!❤

    Reply
    1. Ninja Erin June 27, 2018 at 12:55 pm

      Way to re-center your focus, Jaye. I love that you are healing the world through comedy. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Rhianna Basore June 27, 2018 at 6:15 am

    Bonnie, I love these focusing questions. They remind me of a Brene Brown interview on SuperSoul Sunday. At one point she mentioned to oprah that she keeps a list of the people whose opinion matters to her and she carries it with her in her wallet. That’s way when she’s triggered by someone’s opinion about her, she can pull out her list. No name? She lets it go. Oprah even asked to see if the list was really in her wallet (Spoiler Alert: it was).
    I have been thinking about making one of these lists lately. I can get caught up in the stew of feelings and opinions that so many people carry around. So I thought I would be a lovely touchstone to return my focus to when I felt like I was spinning.
    Yet, these questions take that even further because it’s not just opinions that I can limit my reaction to, it’s experiences, thoughts, beliefs, you name it.
    Maybe I’ll make a list of Things That Support The Mission. I like the ‘call to action’ of that. It’s either on the list or it’s not. Boom.

    Reply
    1. Ninja Erin June 27, 2018 at 12:58 pm

      Love that list. SO powerful.

      Reply
  14. Jojo January 31, 2020 at 4:28 pm

    YES! Love this. Also, new books to check out. Thank you!

    Reply

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