Episode 36: Following the Call of Inspiration with Nick Williams
Nick Williams has inspired tens of thousands of people to follow their calling over the last three decades through his writing, speaking, broadcasting and coaching. Now in his early 60’s, Nick has been on his own transformational journey. He overcame low self-esteem and addiction issues to pursue a successful corporate career in sales and marketing, and resigned in 1989 to follow his own calling and become a speaker and coach.
He is the best-selling author of 18 books, including ‘The Work We Were Born to Do’, ‘The Business You Were Born to Create’, and most recently ‘Be Inspired, Be Inspiring, Be Yourself’. Nick is also an inspirational keynote speaker, coach, and mentor. He spent twenty years at the heart of the Alternatives programme London, hosting and working with many of the worlds thought leaders in the area of personal and spiritual growth and human potential.
In this episode, we talked about:
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As a child Nick felt he had a calling, but he went into corporate life. The Kahlil Gibran quote ,‘Our Work is Our Love Made Visible’, came into his life and struck him deeply
Nick quit his job and started a business as an author and speaker, helping others to realise their gifts
Our calling is our accumulated wisdom, experiences, and gifts, as spiritual beings who have experienced many lifetimes. Our calling is partly about healing our own wounds, (our self-leadership journey). As we heal ourselves, our calling is then to offer leadership to others. Our calling comes with our creation and is etched upon our own heart. It requires deep listening to our soul
The concept of ‘dharma’ or right work or livelihood
Three navigational signposts: 1) follow inspiration and believe the voice is within us (and is the voice of our soul) 2) fear or resistance 3) looking in your shadow life
Quote from Patanjali: “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
Feeling inspired is a mind/ body/ heart connection. It’s like a golden thread you keep following. Inspiration is always speaking to us
Julia Cameron, author of ‘The Artist’s Way’, and other books on creativity and inspiration
Stephen Pressfield, author of ‘The War of Art’
Differentiating between resistance and fear. If inspiration is the voice of the soul, then resistance is the voice of the ego
Resistance keeps us small. It includes procrastination, distractions, making excuses and being a perpetual student
Showing up consistently in the face of resistance, e.g. with a daily writing practice
Inspiration as a constant companion, waiting for us to show up to it
Quote by Luciano Pavarotti, “People think I'm disciplined. It is not discipline. It is devotion. There is a great difference.”
Beliefs around being well-paid for doing something you love
The shadow life e.g. admiring other peoples’ creativity instead of being the creative
Nick was co-leader of Alternatives, in London, for many years
The ego question “who are you to…”
Inspiration can be anywhere and actively sought out
Anais Nin quote “Then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk to blossom”
Effort and action alongside inspiration
Following your inner guidance system can sometimes be a lonely experience
Our signature work is our best work, delivered to people who value it
Remembering what’s important and making it urgent
Holding ourselves to account and producing ourselves, as self-sovereignty
Having people around us to see our blindspots and also our gold
Resources
Website - Nick’s books, coaching and speaking
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