“In a survey of 90-year-olds, when asked what they would have done differently, they responded, ‘Risk more, reflect more and leave a legacy that matters.'” -Dr. Linda Livingstone, Dean of Pepperdine University Business School

I would like to add this to the best business advice I ever received category. As most of you know creating a legacy is the pure motivation behind Cre8tive Compass. At 58, I have found that this is at the top of my bucket list. So every day, as I journey further toward my life purpose and mission, I am in the midst of living my legacy. And it feels just right.

I have recently interviewed several uber-successful artists on Artistically Speaking and FAMM Live that have contributed to the flow of this transition. They have opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about what I am doing and, most importantly, how I am doing it. The common thread that runs between them is their knowing that it is not about DOing at all…it is about BEing.

It is about BEing who you were born to be…

It is about BEing consciously open to possibilities…

It is about BEing right smack-dab in the middle of your present…

And it is about ASKing for what you want or something better…

Trust me, I have been listening….and what I heard was that each has found that sometimes elusive success by BEing totally themselves…not a poor imitation of someone else. One of them put it like this,

“Why would you want to be

a second rate somebody else

when you can

BE a first rate YOU?”

So that is precisely what I am trying to do on this blog, in my e-courses, in my art and in my life. I have founded, run and sold several wildly successful businesses in the past 30 years. But I lost my way a few years back when I lost a volunteer job as editor of an art magazine for a non-profit group.

“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.” -Vernon Sanders Law, 1960 Cy Young Award Winner

I lost focus and found myself wandering aimlessly through my days. I lost my ego’s identity that was firmly attached to my soul. And I lost sight of the ME who once was so powerful and wise.

So I began a mindfulness experiment to bring my imagination into focus so I could really see what is. I wanted to see, not with my eyes, but with my inner eyes or wisdom.

The universe promptly responded by presenting me with the gift of time. Time to reflect. Time to mourn. Time to refresh. Time to repurpose. Time to realign. Time to reframe. Time to release. It was a time of blessed discomfort indeed. During this gift of time, I found myself, I found crystal clarity of purpose, and I found myself creating a complete new body of work.

“To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders” –Chuang Tzu

What stood out, above all for me, at this time of my journey is: You can come to understand your purpose in life by slowing down, feeling your heart’s desires, and demanding to know.

It has been a two year retreat, mostly silent. I had no choice but to reconnect with myself … find strength to look at what brought me to this place, find fortitude to survive, find courage to move forward, find hope to rebuild, find bits of my soul that had been scattered about the universe over the years and bring them home.

And by walking and stumbling and, sometimes even crawling my path the last two years I was able to learn my deepest passion is to communicate in a major way through my art, a magazine and a radio show!

If you are going to ask the questions, be sure to listen for the answers. -Rebecca E. Parsons

So I was sent several messengers this year to help me move back into BEing. I now know myself to be an artist/explorer/communicator. And I trust that knowing.

I am led to discover how to let my divine intuition create without editing, let go of preconceived notions, and play. Within this journey I found my unique, individual visual voice and once I began to use it powerfully as a blogger, a teacher, and a mentor; I connected with other artists on a similar path and Cre8tive Compass, Cre8Topia and The Artist as a Spiritual Explorer were born…my legacy of BEing!!!

This inner wisdom that lies within every artist your gift. Using that gift is your legacy. I have created a coaching/mentoring program for artists who want to uncover their unique gifts called CVA-Clarity, Vision, Action. Guidance for Creative and Indie Artist Entrepreneurs who are forging a life and a business with the work of their hands…or want to. This 6-month immersion program focuses on YOU, the Artist…you goals, desires and needs.

We facilitate movement

toward the edge of what’s possible!

For more info, to receive the application and complimentary 10-minute coaching session, click here.