Anyone who knows me knows, I love the Bourne series…especially the original trilogy. The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. Sorry Jeremy Renner but for me, part 4 was just an anomaly. Part 5 is okay, but the first 3 are my favorite. It’s a little embarrassing but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched them. I basically know the lines by heart.
Jason Bourne is a CIA black op who failed an assignment which resulted in him getting shot and left for dead, floating in the Mediterranean Sea.
A boy meets CIA…CIA meets black-op kinda thing.
Eventually fishermen discover him, bring him onboard and nurse him back to health.
Anyway, as a result of the trauma, Bourne has amnesia…with absolutely no recollection of anything before he was rescued two weeks earlier.
He meets a young woman who helps him escape authorities looking to detain him at the request of the CIA and the remainder of the first instalment of my beloved trilogy is basically Bourne trying to stay alive while trying to determine who he is.
As Bourne and his new companion Marie make their way to Paris, in her sweet ride, an Austin Mini Cooper, he explains that he doesn’t remember anything that happened up until two weeks ago. At first she doesn’t believe him and makes light of it, until finally he screams
“I DON’T KNOW WHO I AM!”
The Bourne syndrome. It’s not an official diagnoses mind you, but maybe it’s still a thing.
It’s difficult to put ourselves in his place and really feel what it would be like to suddenly not know who we are? Or maybe it isn’t.
I’m afraid that many of us…any one of us can find ourselves in a similar spot. I mean, it’s easy to get busy, get into a routine or rut and go through the motions of day to day life and come to realize that we are not thriving but simply surviving.
Even worse, we can find that we have lost focus and direction, meaning and purpose.
Maybe it’s more of a slow fade than a one-off event. But it happens.
Clues that you have lost your way…
- You wake up each day with little excitement or motivation
- You experience little satisfaction at the end of the day
- You have no appetite
- You are binge eating
- You are plagued with negative thoughts
- You avoid people and have lost connections with those closest to you
- You neglect important areas of your life, like your health, finances, and personal development
- Screens take the largest chunks of your time.
- You have no goals
Have you been there? I have. No, you likely haven’t experienced a traumatic experience like Jason Bourne, but you’re no less vulnerable to getting as stuck and frustrated as he was.
Who Are You, Really?
The question may sound like a philosophical one, but I believe it’s a critical consideration if we want to live with purpose and reach our potential.
Dan Miller, author of “48 Days to the Work You Love” suggests that “looking inward is 85 percent of the process of finding proper direction.”
For me, this is a spiritual question much more than philosophical one.
In other words, finding purpose and meaning will become clearer as we gain insights into how we have been created.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
So where can you start?
Let me suggest these 3 things for you to consider:
- What are your skills and abilities?
- What are your personality traits?
- What are your values, passions and dreams.
Discovering or rediscovering these things will set you on your way to understanding who you are and why you are here. So take your time…take some notes…ask a friend or loved one for their insights.
It’s a start.
Feeling stuck? Not sure what to do next? Your life not where you want it to be? Life coaching can help. Contact me to arrange a free 45-minute discovery call. Let’s talk.
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