Here’s a truth almost no one will tell you: It’s not hard to know your purpose. All it takes is getting still and quiet, then listening for what’s most deeply true for you. When you tune in, your purpose shows up.

Knowing your purpose is the easy part. The hard part is subtracting the beliefs, commitments, chores, expectations, and obligations that are not on purpose for you.

As a seasoned purpose coach of seven years, I know this much: you don’t get the life you yearn for through addition. You don’t get there by adding “one more thing” to your overflowing plate.

Rather, you get the life you yearn for through subtraction. You get it by freeing yourself from the weight of expectations, by getting rid of all the stuff that’s distracting you and draining your energy away.

Deep down, you already know what’s most important to you. You don’t need me, or anyone else, to tell you that. But if you’re like most of us, you could use a hand with what Oliver Burkeman calls “neglecting the right things.”

Most of us were taught not to neglect anything, and frankly it’s making us crazy.

In Subtract to Succeed, we’re going straight for the heart of the matter with my powerful Sacred Circle exercise. You’ll clarify what’s most important to you in this season, and discover what needs to go.

From there, you’ll figure out how to get things off your plate. You’ll start bringing your life into alignment with your deepest values, and it will feel like such a relief.

The real question isn’t, “How much do I have on my plate?” It’s, “How much of what I plan to do actually feels aligned?”

When we’re aligned, we know we’re exactly where we’re meant to be. We’re more likely to be the flow and enjoy our days. Even when we’re facing difficult challenges, there’s a sense of clarity and congruence.

Before I had two children in two years, I went through three years of infertility. Turns out, I had a rare congenital condition that required surgery. I said yes to surgery because I knew that my first child was on the other side.

She was real to me long before she came into being. So much so that I didn’t second-guess driving long-distance to see specialists, or paying five figures when insurance didn’t cover the surgery.

Why? Because I was determined to hold her in my arms. In that effort, I was a force to be reckoned with. (Just like her.)

That’s the power of alignment … but I haven’t always lived that way. I’ve also lived divided against myself. I’ve spent years denying what I really thought and how I really felt. I’ve made myself sick by living a life that wasn’t right for me.

When we’re divided against ourselves, a whole host of problems ensue.

How much has living out of alignment cost you over the course of your lifetime? How much time, money, and energy have you spent because you felt too guilty to stand your ground?

If it’s a lot, I’m with you. I’ve spent many thousands of hours (and many thousands of dollars) doing what I thought I was supposed to do. I’ve been drained, depleted, and severely burnt out.

So if your schedule just isn’t working for you, but the thought of stepping back or saying no makes you feel guilty – I get it. The good news is, you don’t have to stay stuck there.

You can free up time for yourself, to start your business, write your book, or make your art. That’s what I did, and over the past seven years, I’ve coached hundreds of clients to do the same.

Reclaiming your most precious resource starts right now. If you’re ready to make a real shift and you just need great support and strategy, join me on Wednesday, June 11th starting at 12pm CDT.

Class runs for one hour, and it is interactive; come prepared to engage, complete exercises, and ask questions. To ask a question in advance, email me at caroline[AT]carolinegarnetmcgraw[DOT]com.

If you can’t attend live, rest assured that registration gets you replay access as well.

This group session is a powerful starting point — and if you’re ready to go further, I’ll share how we can work together going forward.