Dancing to Your Purpose: Hearing the Music When Others Cannot

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"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." —Friedrich Nietzsche

Have you ever felt the pull of something others couldn't understand? A calling that made perfect sense to you but seemed foolish to those watching from the sidelines?

Nietzsche's words speak directly to this experience—the profound disconnect between those who hear life's deeper melody and those who perceive only silence.

The Symphony Only You Can Hear

Last Tuesday, I met with a client—let's call him Thomas. Fifteen years into a successful banking career, he had all the trappings of what society calls "success": the corner office, the luxury car, the vacation photos that sparked envy among friends.

Yet Thomas sat across from me, eyes hollow.

"I feel like I'm living someone else's life," he confessed. "Everyone thinks I'm crazy for wanting to leave this behind. But something's calling me toward education—toward helping kids discover their potential."

Thomas could hear music that his colleagues and even family couldn't. To them, his desire to step off the corporate ladder seemed like madness—financial insanity!

But I saw something else: a man finally tuning into his purpose.

The Two Drummers

Most of us live with two drummers beating in our hearts:

• The first plays society's rhythm—steady, predictable beats of achievement, accumulation, and external validation.

• The second plays your soul's unique melody—sometimes soft, sometimes thunderous, but always authentically yours.

The trouble begins when we only follow the first drummer while the second plays on, unacknowledged but persistent.

As Henry David Thoreau wrote: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

The Courage to Dance

Your purpose rarely announces itself with society's approval. When you begin to dance to your inner music:

• Colleagues may raise eyebrows.

• Family might express concern.

• Friends could question your judgment.

This resistance isn't malicious—it's simply that they cannot hear what you hear. The melody of purpose that moves you remains silent to them.

Remember the words of Wayne Dyer: "Don't die with your music still in you."

Finding Your Symphony

How do you discover this music—this purpose that's uniquely yours?

It begins with quiet. In our achievement-oriented world, we rarely create space to listen deeply. Yet purpose rarely shouts; it whispers.

Try this simple practice:

1. Set aside 15 minutes without distractions.

2. Ask yourself: "What moves me that might appear foolish to others?"

3. Notice what emerges—not from your logical mind, but from somewhere deeper.

The answer might surprise you. It may have nothing to do with your career or credentials. It might seem impractical. And that's precisely the point.

As Rumi beautifully expressed: "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."

The Dance of Purpose and Prosperity

Here's what I've learned in my years as a financial planner: Purpose and prosperity aren't enemies. They can be dance partners.

The most fulfilled clients I work with aren't those with the largest portfolios—they're those who've aligned their resources with their deeper purpose. They've found ways to dance their unique dance while remaining financially sound.

Sometimes this means radical transformation; other times, it's subtle shifts that honor both practicality and purpose.

An Invitation to Dance

Today, I extend an invitation:

Listen for your music. Begin your dance—even if it's just the smallest step. Trust that those who matter will eventually hear what you hear.

The world needs your unique dance. It needs people brave enough to move to the melodies that others may not yet comprehend.

As Dr. Seuss reminds us: "Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

So dance your dance. Follow your purpose.

And know that somewhere, someone else is beginning to hear the same music—watching your courage with growing understanding, preparing to join their own dance with yours.

Because when enough of us dance to our purpose, what once seemed like madness becomes a movement.

What music are you hearing that others cannot? I'd love to know what purpose is calling you to dance.

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I help people align their finances with their deeper purpose. If you're hearing music others can't understand and want to explore how to dance to it without financial fear, let's talk. Contact me here.