We were lucky to catch up with Deni Seymour recently and have shared our conversation below.
Deni, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
For me, this is a “why am I here?” question that has stirred me for decades. Some people are born knowing. In hindsight, I have been participating in shaping and apprehending my purpose without realizing how specific experiences, patterns of encounter, innate strengths, and unshakeable obsessions have played their role, and culminated in what I now understand to be my purpose. I have been on the path throughout my entire life, preparing to accept my purpose. I just did not comprehend the patterns in the lessons as I wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of experiences. Now I operate with greater intention, on a more focused path that I have deliberately and knowingly chosen.
One of the reasons I did not understand my purpose for so long is that I was in the midst of attaining and preparing for it, focused on engaging in it. I couldn’t see the forest through the trees. The circuitous path to my purpose honed and herded the strengths, abilities, and motivations and drove them into a manageable corral where all came together for a clearer vision of why I am here and how my purpose relates to life lessons.
The purpose of my life did not become clear until my spouse died. That’s when I realized that my purpose is not massive, vast, or overwhelmingly impressive. Perceiving a purpose as a huge (a Mandela-esque) undertaking only renders it unattainable, inaccessible. But, your calling, your inherent purpose, seems simple and natural. Consequently, the path to fulfill your purpose may seem insignificant, but something that comes about through passion, can have inestimable value.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Having paid my dues working for various federal, state, academic, and private organizations I sold my consulting firm in 2003 and have been working as an independent research archaeologist for the last two decades. This means I get to research what interests me and do it when and how I want. I disseminate the results in peer reviewed publications, as well as on public-oriented videos, presentations, popular articles, and a professionally prepared documentary film (Coronado: The New Evidence).
Most recently, I discovered the first archaeological sites in Arizona related to the Coronado expedition of 1539-1542, the first Europeans to enter this region. This has been rewarding because the task has been so challenging. This success reinforces all that has been brought to bear to come to this point: education, experience, engaging my strengths, and pursing my passion. It has also been gratifying because the findings are so unexpected. We are rewriting history each day. This has been important for the world at large, but also for the indigenous people whose ancestors were present at the time. This is the purpose of this work.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My inquisitiveness has been a driving force that routinely pushes me to step outside the box. This curiosity has bestowed a willingness to take calculated risks in pursuit of my passion. It also requires that I accept change as inevitable and endorse its consequences.
Others might benefit from recognizing that passion is a positive quality, not something to be subdued. Curiosity can be a virtue, not something that kills the cat. Innovation is aided by a willingness to step around barriers.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I think we are born with certain abilities and strengths, and these are what make each of us unique. Life is long and so I think it can be valuable to experiment, to examine, to explore areas you think are weaknesses and dislikes to see if you are surprised. We are not born to follow a rigid course, but rather to investigate, experience, and to break the boundaries of our life’s circumstances to embrace what satisfies and motivates us. When we are well rounded, we can simultaneously grow in more than one area. The rounding out process teaches. The lessons from our weaknesses help set the course. Part of the lesson is self-forgiveness. Another part of the lesson is seeing how our habits and beliefs impede or shape our journey. Stepping outside our comfort zone is an opportunity to learn new things and discover. This is how we see and come to understand our abilities and strengths. The seemingly unimportant tasks of our lives show us our strengths and abilities. This process fortifies us, and also leads us to new horizons, new levels of accomplishment and reward. This process helps us calibrate, to home in on what we like, are best at, are drawn to.
On the other hand, why struggle against the flow of your life? If you have certain abilities and strengths, why not accept those and operate in a way that is consistent with those. When you do, that brings you joy. Joyfulness, delight, appreciation, and curiosity are the engines that empower and inspire. They represent the guideposts as to life’s purpose. It’s amazing what you can accomplish, create, achieve, become when you operate from the standpoint of your strengths, when you launch action from the standpoint of inspiration, and when you seek answers from the standpoint of being fully empowered. No one can decide this for you or deliver this to you. Social pressure can misguide you, because you are on your own unique course to discover, see, and pursue your exceptional life’s purpose. And you will not know the desired course of action or the appropriate answer unless you perceive from within yourself, hearing that often-quiet voice that gives you your answer. The person who knows that their feelings of empowerment place them on the right course, sees the inevitable obstacles as signposts that prompt one to shift course or to be mindful that the course is of your choosing, and you are on your way. That course shift is the key to finding, to discovering, to moving forward on that ever-developing life path that is unique to you—the key to not remaining stagnant or to becoming mired in negativity. The course is typically defined by your strengths and abilities because these circumvent obstacles by positive action in line with your purpose as defined by your desires.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deni-seymour.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deni.seymour/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deni-seymour-52a49611/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_2JZImD-mJBKJAopZ5N8DQ
Image Credits
Frances Causey Films
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