Three Simple Ways to Have More Clarity and Purpose

Doug Cartwright is a 30-year-old entrepreneur and spiritual teacher. Rewind five years ago and he was grinding away, selling home automation. At 25, he was making a lot of money and spending it all.

The problem was: he wasn't happy.

The advice he got from his mentors was to make more money. If you've made $1 million dollars the past few years, then make it your goal to make $2 million.

The advice made some sense to Doug, but he wasn't necessarily inspired by those giving him the advice. Several of his millionaire mentors seemed incredibly anxious and uptight, most of the time.

This concerned Doug, but also led him to ask some questions. It couldn't be more money that was going to solve his problems. So he started studying spirituality and self-improvement. He used plant medicines and ultimately, had his world flipped upside down.

Over the past few years, Doug has read many books and delved into his own spirituality, trauma, and story. He's changed his life, environment, and focus.

Through his transformation, Doug became concerned that he didn't see any tools or resources for "beginners"–people who were just getting started on their spiritual path.

He ultimately ended up creating a company, The Daily Shifts, to provide a way for people to experience what it feels like to be "fully alive."

I wanted to know, from Doug, what were three simple things I could do to feel more alive?

Three Simple Ways to Feel More Alive, Have More Clarity, and Have a Sense of Purpose

Here's what Doug recommended:

1. Breathing
2. Gratitude
3. Meditation

"When you're stressed out or anxious, just stop and take three deep breaths," Doug told me. "While you're breathing, think of what you're grateful for. Anything. This will help you feel less overwhelmed."

"Daily meditation can start at 2-minutes per day. It shouldn't be complicated. It's just a way to slow down your thinking," Doug told me.

"Why would I want to slow down my thinking?" I asked.

"So you can be more intentional and proactive about your life," Doug replied.

That made a lot of sense to me. I've long been a practitioner of daily journaling. For me, journaling is my way of creating my "future self" and regulating my emotions.

Having a sense of purpose in your life is the key to feeling happy and motivated. Actually, research shows that you can't be motivated without a desired end.

The purpose of slowing down is to be less reactive to the world and your emotions. To think about who you are, and who you want to be. To feel a sense of purpose and intentionality, even for the moment you're in.

"Spirituality" is a process of connecting, both with your higher self and higher purpose. Anyone can start, wherever they are, to slow down and begin connecting.

Eventually, confidence is built, allowing you to live intentionally and with your chosen purpose.