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"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done"

-Thomas Jefferson

Writer's pictureamberdilling

Finding Your Purpose


I'm no expert in this area, but the older I get, the more I realize if you put yourself in position to receive, your purpose will show itself at the right time.


We all have a purpose, and sometimes that can shift or change, or maybe just not be what we thought it was.

How do you put yourself in position? For me it's been working on my relationship with the Lord, making sure I'm in the Word regularly, prayer, going to church, volunteering or giving to those around me, not just financial but time. Also, spending time with friends, friends that will hold you accountable, challenge you, support you. Working on your own demons and healing from trauma. Being grateful for where you are right now, even if it isn't where you want to be, there is still something to be grateful for. And then, stepping forward, doing something to move towards a goal. Practice pushing fear aside, and doing things afraid. Exercise and eating healthy so that you feel good enough to do all these things and still pursue a purpose, and do work when the time comes. All of these things help to adjust your attitude, to prep you for what is coming. So many things in life come to you when you change your perspective. If you tend to be a glass half empty type of person and look at the negative, more than the positive, you are going to miss out on opportunities. Opportunities for happiness, love, prosperity, health, all the good things.


It works the opposite direction as well, if you choose to find the good and positive in things, you will attract more good into your life.


The saying, "Like attracts like" is perfect. If you want more positivity and good things in your life, begin to put that out into the world and into the lives of those around you.


Also, the adage that goes something like, "Don't expect different results when you're doing the same thing" is pretty spot on too.


Begin to change your perspective and you can change your life. When this changes, your friends will begin to change, they say you will be like the 5 people you spend the most time with. Pick those 5 people wisely. Also, be that person.


Some of the most amazing things have manifested in my life when I am in prayer regularly with another person, find someone that you can come into agreement with.


There are times in life when you need to sit back and let things play out, and then there are times when you have to act. Even if you are petrified. Fear will hold you back and keep you from so many good things. If you are having trouble making a decision about something ask yourself, "What is the worst thing that could happen if things don't go as planned? And is that worse thing really the end of the world?". Honestly, the answer is usually, "No".


I've had people comment to me over the years that I'm fearless. Not really, I just hide it well, lol. I've decided that I'm not going to let fear keep me from doing what I want to do or acting on an idea. Even if there are naysayers telling me that my idea is horrible, I'm going to lose so much money, it's so dangerous, etc. The ideas that have opened the most doors, taught me the most and made me the most money have had people yelling the loudest that I shouldn't do it. Looking back over the years, there were times that I let those people talk me out of things, that if I would've acted on I'd be in a much different situation today. Hindsight, maybe not 20/20, but yeah.


Sometimes the plans we have, that we truly feel are our purpose and destiny for our life, simply don't work out. Why? No idea, maybe they weren't really our destiny, maybe a decision was made that shifted things, maybe the timing isn't right. But I don't feel that your journey moving towards something you thought to be your purpose is ever a waste, unless you allow it to be. There is always something that can be learned from the process, the trials, the journey. And that's what life is, a journey. Learn to enjoy the process and your life will be so much richer for it. Still working on this myself, but I know that I'm better than I was.


For years I had the desire to go to dental school, I talked about it while I was still in dental hygiene school. I allowed fear to stop me though, all sorts of different thoughts presented themselves that kept me from ever pursuing it. When I finally did start down that path about 6 years ago, things were moving along. I finished all my prerequisites and applied a few times and then had a really bad car accident that messed my neck up pretty bad. It was becoming evident that dentistry may not be in my future any longer, then shortly after that the cancer came...and then came again...


I have always been someone that tends to overwork, I find my purpose in work. So, when I was unable to work for nearly the past 2 years I struggled mentally with that. I felt useless, I tried to sit back and trust the process but I was still constantly mulling ideas over in my head of what I could do that would fulfill me, provide a good income, and allow the flexibility that I am accustomed too. Nothing felt right though and at times I would be super frustrated with it.


Then, one day, I was on Facebook scrolling and I saw a post for Nutrition Genome and something caught my eye. I had been on the hunt for a nutritionist that specialized in nutrigenomics and cancer, but hadn't been able to find anyone. Nutrition Genome is the company that does the genetic testing and provides the report with diet and lifestyle recommendations based on your genetics and any single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) you may have that. SNPs are changes in the DNA that can make you more or less susceptible to different things.


For example, I have a Fat Metabolism-ACSL1 SNP, which is associated with higher fasting blood glucose levels with a diet higher in saturated fat like, coconut oil, red meat, dairy, butter. Red meat and dairy had been almost completely eliminated from my diet for the past few months already, but for about a month I was doing a lot of fat bombs made with coconut oil. I had been in ketosis for a few months at that point, but all of the sudden I couldn't get in, or if I did it wouldn't last long. It was super frustrating! I went back to just eating salads for the most part and was able to get into ketosis and stay there a few weeks ago. Two days ago when I had my appointment with my integrative oncologist she mentioned that too many saturated fats can keep you out of ketosis, stupid fat bombs. I can still have fat bombs, I just obviously can't do 2 or 3 a day like I was, lol. Others who don't have this particular SNP may have no problem doing a couple fat bombs a day, but me, I can't.


The report that Nutrition Genome provides is so detailed, it takes several read throughs to absorb, and if you aren't trained in nutrigenomics you aren't going to get all of the information out of it. I've been working with a nutritionist and doctor that both specialize in it and have met with them a combined 7 hours now and I'm still learning things that come out of my report everytime I meet with them. Obviously we have a lot of other things to cover in that time as well, but there is a ton of information to be gleaned from having genetic testing done.


Through this process over the past 5 months or so of getting the report, working with my nutritionist and integrative doctor have been sooooo informative, but it also hasn't been as simple as I thought it would be. Since I have a history of eating strict Paleo, I thought the transition to Keto would be pretty easy. I also love to cook and am very comfortable in the kitchen. What in the world would it be like for someone who didn't have the base knowledge that I already have, especially if they aren't feeling well and in the middle of their sickness, when they need this the most? Would they just throw their hands up, like I did when I was ill and eat whatever? There needs to be someone to step in and help the patients implement the recommendations of their nutritionists and integrative doctors, because it can be so overwhelming.


I began to think about this idea more, someone to help people implement a lifestyle that is tailored to their genetics that can help them get into a healthier state. That quickly began to stir something inside of me.


Rodney and I were on vacation in Florida, so we sit and read a lot on those trips, plus I wasn't feeling the greatest as I was mid chemo for the ovarian cancer and didn't feel like doing anything, we just needed a little Vitamin D and rest.


I was reading The Metabolic Approach to Cancer by Dr. Nasha Winters and Jess Higgins-Kelley and I was getting all fired up. I devoured the entire book in several days and then started brain storming ideas.


Start with a blog/website that focus' on food that is nutrient dense, low carb and overall healthy. Which would be great for someone like me trying to implement for disease, but literally great for everyone because as I said nutrient density and lots of veggies would be the focus. After I got that down pat and had worked through the kinks and learned some more I could start offering my services to those working with nutritionists that needed help implementing. We would sit down together, make a plan, clean out cupboards, go to the store, cook all the meals together for several days and get them started.


This was my vision, and I was super excited about it! So, when I was on Dr. Winter's website a few weeks later I stumbled upon a course that she had just started in 2021 called, Terrain Advocacy Program (TAP), and I read everything about it and I knew I needed to do it!!!!


I was still early on in my journey, but The Metabolic Approach to Cancer, resonated so deeply within my spirit, I knew this was the path I needed to be on.


TAP is a 6 month program that is an in depth look at Dr. Winter's terrain philosophy, they will teach you how to be that intermediary person that does, exactly what my vision was, help the patient implement what their integrative doctor and nutritionist are recommending. It was like God was telling me I was on the right path.


Super excited, I went to sign up. The class for 2022 was already full and there was a waitlist:( I was so bummed. They were only taking on 100 students each year. I signed up for the waitlist.


Then, two days ago I saw an announcement. They opened it up to another 100 people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I immediately signed up! I am so excited to learn more, to understand and continue to improve my health and start helping others with their health as well. While there is a lot to learn and lots more work to be done, I know that right now, in this moment I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.


Since starting this blog and website I definitely have a sense of peace and purpose, I have no idea where things will go from here. But, I do know that I stepped out, all the while (and still ) pushing aside the fear that no one will be interested, they'll make my recipes and they'll think they are awful, my pictures look bad, I have zero clue what I'm doing on social media and probably look like an idiot, and the videos I've recorded...yeah, they haven't been posted have they? lol..I obviously haven't pushed the fear aside on that one enough yet apparently.


Sometimes we have to sit in an uncomfortable space for awhile waiting for our purpose to be revealed. But I wholeheartedly believe we need to continue educating ourselves and pursuing our interests in order to start down the path towards our purpose, our destination. We don't even have to know our destination to start, the path will form before us, and oftentimes I think we have to get started down the path in order for it to fully form. So take a step, then the next one, then the next one, pushing any fears aside and you'll be amazed where you find yourself.


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