We recently connected with Rachel Gilbertson and have shared our conversation below.
Rachel, 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.
I’m actually working to unlearn the notion that we each have one unique purpose on this planet.
At a recent weekend workshop about creativity and healing with Elizabeth (Liz) Gilbert and Martha Beck, Liz outlined how searching for purpose can lead to a lot of anxiety.
She said that in our Western culture we are taught the idea that we each are born with one unique purpose and that our duty in life is to find that purpose. Ideally we find it at a young age and go to school to gain the highest level of achievement with it, then find a way to monetize it. We believe that it must support us financially as well as help others. Not only must it make an impact, but it must leave a lasting legacy that extends beyond our lifetime. This one notion of having one singular purpose creates stress, striving, and scarcity. It has us searching and scared that we might not ever find it or do enough to achieve it.
Dear Reader, please pause here and notice if this resonates. Do you feel stressed searching for your purpose? I know I did.
However, she says that the antidote to pursuit of a purpose is simply following enchantment instead. My own journey to serendipitously publishing a 100-day self-reflection journal called “Aligned Enchantment” is a testament to this unfolding. More about that later…
This all makes me wonder if the whole point of life is to be present enough to notice the clues of curiosity.
To follow them just far enough in the direction of delight to see glimmers of inspiration that lead to sparks of joy and soul shimmers.
To slow down enough to allow a sliver of space for spontaneity, serendipity, synchronicity, and sacred surprises to surface.
To trust the timing and the unfolding.
To get still enough to sense the inklings of intuition that invite us into expansive and enchanting places.
To take aligned, empowered, and inspired action.
What if this is the path to deeper connection, compassion, and collective wellbeing?
What if these simple invitations were all around just asking us to take a closer look?
I think they are. I think that just might be the whole point and our purpose on this planet.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
-`For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the human experience and exploring personal development. I have a love of learning and have earned my undergraduate degree in Community Health Education with a minor in Psychology and went on to complete a Masters of Education with a graduate minor in Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices. I’m a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, a certified Intrinsic Coach, an A.C.E certified personal trainer, and a mindfulness facilitator. I’m grateful to get to share my life in Northern Minnesota with my husband, three kids, three dogs, and two cats.
I’m the owner of Art of Presence where my mission is to inspire others to practice the art of presence and support whole person wellbeing by aligning intention, attention, attitude, action, and impact through coaching, classes, and creativity.
Art of Presence is multidimensional, interconnected, and expansive, like we all are. My offerings include wellbeing coaching, consulting, and workshops and retreats to support whole-person and collective wellbeing, mindfulness, and creativity.
Tailoring wellbeing practices and coaching to honor what your body wants and needs.
Integrating mindfulness practices to get comfortable being still, sitting with emotions, and accessing inner wisdom.
Offering practices and support as others access, trust, and take aligned action on their intuitive nudges in the direction of their dreams & desires.
Bringing curiosity to daily delights and sparks of inspiration to notice beauty all around and practicing creative self-expression to see what emerges.
A year after starting Art of Presence, I embarked on a 100-day creativity project where I painted a mini-water color painting, paired it with a word, and wrote three reflection questions. Because it was for no other purpose than pleasure and play, I called it “Aligned Enchantment.”
I was practicing being courageous and sharing my art, so I posted each day on my social media pages and only anticipated my friends and family seeing it.
The process itself was a practice of presence. As I went about each day, an image would catch my eye and a word would resonate. These became the day’s theme which I paired with the definition and origin of the word and three related reflective questions. Some days, my project flowed quickly and easily; other days, inspiration was more elusive, and it felt like a stretch to pull it all together. Sometimes, the word would come first. Other times, the image became crystal clear, or a question would surface for me to ponder.
Once I reached 100 days, I felt proud of the journey I took and glad I stuck with it. I also had a lingering sense that it wasn’t quite done. On the 100th day I wrote: “I’m not sure what it is yet, but it feels like there’s a few more steps to fully complete this project.”
However, I didn’t do anything with it for two months. It wasn’t until I sat with my mini watercolors, reflected on the lessons and wondered how I might gather them all in one place. As I did this, I knew I needed to connect with a local indie publisher, Heather Wilde of Hezzie Mae, to brainstorm ideas for pulling these together. When we met later that month, it became clear that this was meant to be a journal. We got to work and published “Aligned Enchantment: 100-day Self-Reflection Journal” in March of 2024.
Aligned Enchantment is an opportunity to journal for 100-days and beyond about the things that matter most to you. The things that light you up and make you feel alive. It provides a space to imagine, wonder, and reflect. It helps you set intentions for how you want to be today and what you want your impact to be in the future.
My greatest hope for this journal is that it allows your inner wisdom to emerge. I hope you notice any inklings of insights arise, you feel any glimpses of soul shimmers, and that you follow the subtle hints of curiosity. I’ve found that intuition, enchantment, and inspiration hang out in these seemingly insignificant places. The extraordinary is hidden in the ordinary, not just in the grand gestures or the big, bold moves.
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?
Three qualities that really shape my life and decisions are
Intuition
Creativity
Connection
These each require a level of presence in order to access them.
Intuition is the little nudges and whispers from your inner knowing that point you towards alignment. Take time to slow down to check in with yourself and notice the nudges and hear the whispers and begin taking inspired action. These don’t need to be big steps. Simply to follow the little clues of curiosity along the way within your day and see what unfolds. The serendipity and synchronicities begin to line up as you take aligned action. Trust is also built through this process. This helps you practice tuning inward toward your dreams and desires and prepares you for when bigger decisions come your way.
Connection is critical to our wellbeing. We want to know that our lives matter and that all humans want to be seen, heard, and valued. Yet, if we don’t take the time to be present with ourselves to truly see, hear, and value ourselves, it can be difficult to do this with others. However, presence is felt and leads to deeper connections through being our authentic selves and creating a safe space for others to be their full selves too. That’s why practicing presence is such a powerful gift to ourselves and others.
Dear reader, In your next conversation, see if you can just be present with the person you’re talking with without an agenda. Notice when your mind wanders, and bring it back to the conversation. Cultivate an attitude of curiosity, compassion, and non-judgement. Ask curious questions. See what happens. My guess is that you’ll have a more meaningful conversation with this intentional approach.
Creativity is the willingness to be curious and notice sparks of inspiration and then take inspired action to express it in the world. More coming up about this in the next question…
If you’re interested in hearing me share more about these core values, check out Heather Wilde’s the Startin’ Some Ripples Podcast episode: Breadcrumbs to Enchantment.
https://startin-some-ripples.simplecast.com/episodes/breadcrumbs-to-enchantment-connecting-life-to-your-core-values-gGhNS5Mt?fbclid=IwY2xjawG-mrxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZUAZ9hZFdnHNaqOFmmWsmnSmxE7FkPu477Y-pS21VYRiFjhCdotk4qx0Q_aem_9TlpjheA7zzcS4cmOicnXQ
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I love to read and learn about personal development. One book that has been so impactful is “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert.
In it, Liz outlines elements of living a creative life: Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust, and Divinity. She really personifies inspiration and her relationship as she works with her inspiration and practices that help her to be courageous and consistent.
Over the past two years, I’ve been cultivating my own connection with inspiration and intuition, honing my craft, and practicing vulnerability and courage by putting my creative work and authentic self out into the world. I’ve been organically curating resources and testing out practices that I’ve integrated into my life.
It’s scary to put yourself out there and share something you’ve created. I believe that inspiration is connected to our divine essence. Creating is making that sacred internal space visible to the outside world which requires tender vulnerability and fierce courage. In taking the risk, it just might touch another person’s heart and soul reminding them that they are not alone.
I write in Aligned Enchantment, “Through this project, I notice that art touches us and creativity connects us. Perhaps it’s the recognition of the reflection of ourselves in another that reminds us we are real and worthy of belonging.”
Art resonates because it reminds us that we are all connected and reflected in each other.
I believe we are all created to be creative and made to be makers. Even if you don’t feel creative, you are designing your own life. That in itself is creative self-expression.
My hope is to support others in creating the space and conditions for curiosity, imagination, inspiration, and enchantment to emerge.
Dear Reader, here are some reflection questions for you:
Think of a time you’ve been both creative and courageous:
What strengths and skills helped you access innovation and bolster your willingness to take a risk?
What has resulted when you’ve taken a similar risk in the past?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artofpresence.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_of_presence_rmg/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofpresence.rmg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-gilbertson-32872b42?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Image Credits
Feature Photo – Stacy Crawford
Rachel Headshot & Rachel Painting Photo- Sam Gilbertson
Aligned Enchantment Available Now – Heather Wilde
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
