We were lucky to catch up with Christian Bradley West recently and have shared our conversation below.
Christian, 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, so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I don’t think I have found my purpose. Not exactly. The word purpose has played a major role in my life. So much so, I’, writing a book with the working title, You Are Here on Purpose.
I haven’t found my purpose because I haven’t found one thing I like to do. I inhabit a prismatic range of expression that cannot be finished by something as final or determined as a purpose or even a destiny. The root of the word destiny is destination, and I wonder while we are alive if there is a final destination outside of death. I’m not so sure any of us are here for one thing. Anything’s possible, though.
I have found we can use the word purpose as more of a verb or an adjective to describe significance. Instead of there being a purpose, maybe life is more about living ON purpose and recognizing the significance of our circumstances. The how is far more important to me than the what. The what becomes the mission. So my purpose is to live on purpose; everything else is a mission, from brushing my teeth to writing a book to taking care of my grandmother. This is my daily practice, moment to moment.
And if you’re wondering how I stumbled on this revelation, it was through a meditation practice that didn’t involve me sitting on a pillow, trying to still my mind. It came in a state of presence while doing the dishes, the laundry, taking out the trash, working with a client, designing carpet, or photographing a friend. Exploring my layers of scientist, artist, philosopher brought me to the conclusion that nothing I do is final and that I don’t have one purpose beyond whatever I’m doing at this moment.
Thanks. So before we move on, maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I really, really want the books I’m writing to get published. I’m currently focused on that. But it’s taken me a long time to feel safe enough to express my voice.
I talk a lot about all the layers I’ve been willing to explore in myself. The scientist, the artist, the designer, the consciousness-centered teacher, and now the writer. I also talk about the myriad of mistakes I’ve made along the way. Most of those mistakes involved unconsciously choosing relationships with men who fetishized my “free spirit” and slowly bullied me into discarding the most sacred parts of my expression so I could meet their needs the way they envisioned. These relationships gave me a degree in self-abandonment, betrayal, and suffering.
This was part of my trauma drama and patterning, and I have a lot of great stories. But I’m writing new stories. I like allowing all my pieces to be a part of what I do—even the painful ones—and this is another practice of mine that’s part of living on purpose.
I’m also focused on working with clients, helping them address their own suffering and access a greater sense of self-expression.
I teach classes periodically, and I have one coming up in July about the intersection of past lives and astrology. And I’m going to start a Substack soon. My funny, spiritual meme page @thecountryclairvoyant on Instagram has been awesome, but I’m feeling inspired to introduce more long-form works to the world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being able to connect dots, contextualize things, have the willingness to be curious and learn, and my tenacity.
I ask a lot of questions and do my best to make no assumptions. I just refuse to feel like I look stupid when I want to know something.
Learning is just connecting dots where we previously didn’t know there were dots. My entire life, I’ve been voracious in my learning. I’m also willing to change my perspective, which is a major part of learning, right? I’m okay not knowing everything. How can I? I’m also okay admitting I was working from an incomplete perspective. This has required the cultivation of my listening skills while giving up the need to be right. Don’t get me wrong; I love to talk. But if I’m going to teach, I want what I have to say to be meaningful, useful, and thorough.
And as far as tenacity goes, I just don’t want to give up. My safe word is keep going. This isn’t something that’s innate. It doesn’t seem like it, anyway. I’ve given up a lot. A lot. One obstacle is fine. But recently I was rejected by 150 agents for the science fiction book I developed for over eleven years. That stings. I’ve also had a couple potential book deals fall through. And each time things like this happen, I do feel a little defeated, but I always return to the fact that I love being creative and want to continue this whether people get it or not. I’ll keep making things until I die.
My best advice is to become an explorer, both of your inner world and the outer world. Keep a beginner’s mind. Nothing is final as long as we’re alive. Every perceived roadblock invites us to pause, evaluate where we are, and look at the circumstances differently. And sometimes giving up on a relationship or a project is a good thing. But don’t give up on your vision.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I regularly feel overwhelmed. I’m pretty sure it’s a symptom of childhood trauma and the way our culture pushes productivity and output over receptivity and rest. In the past, when it came to fight, flight, or freeze, I chose freeze. My coping strategy was to shut down and disassociate the moment I felt emotionally flooded. And I’m not entirely sure I’ve overcome this. But my toolbox has grown.
My strategy is to be honest about what’s going on with myself. I’ve given up on pushing through, which was just another way of exploiting the resources of time, energy, and money I just sometimes didn’t have to give. When I need a nap, I take a nap. I do check-ins throughout the day. Have I had enough water, enough food, enough rest?
I’ve struggled with Crohn’s disease since I was a teenager. I wear out fast and need to make sure I’m providing my body with the things it needs. Chronic illness can be a boundary. Recently, it’s gone into remission, but this is only because I remain tuned into what my body needs and refuse to neglect it. So, when overwhelm strikes, I remind myself to begin with my body.
I also remind myself to breathe. It’s deceptively simple, but there’s a reason many spiritual teachers talk about the power of the breath. It can provide a reset.
I workout a lot too. Movement is also a big reset.
Overwhelm is just another word for burnout or exploitation of our personal resources, and sadly, in today’s world, it’s inevitable because we lack community infrastructure that allows us to relax and seek out support. This is another way of moving through overwhelm: be honest when you need help.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.christianbwest.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thecountryclairvoyant
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecountryclairvoyant/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/christianbwest
Image Credits
Christian Bradley West
