Erin Fackenthal
Stepping Stone 10 Guide
"The words most true of me are thoughtful, curious listener, intuitive, reliable, creative and passionate. I am 20-something and navigating life one day at a time!"
A steppingstone on this website that really stood out to me was The Seed in Each of Us. This steppingstone had me asking myself: What is my story? Why am I here? What is mine to bring to the world? As I struggled with these questions, it occurred to me to listen to the guidance that my body—especially my gut—has been sharing quietly, yet persistently, over time.
As a mental health counselor working with college-age students, I have always felt connected to the idea of helping others find their purpose. However, it is important to share that there have been times when I have found myself questioning my own purpose, asking myself: How do I know this is what I want for a career? How do I know that this is my "calling"? In spite of these occasional doubts, I have consistently had a voice inside of me, calling me to a career in counseling.
I’ll never forget a conversation I had in high school with a friend about the daunting challenge of selecting a college major. In the midst of our conversation, my friend asked, “What types of books do you like to read?” Confused, I asked her what my book preferences had to do with choosing a major? She responded by pointing out the importance of paying attention to subjects that fascinated me and sparked my interest.
"I listened to my gut and began to trust myself."
My anxieties around the choice of a major diminished over time as I let go of my "what ifs”—e.g., What if my choice of a major does not provide me with financial stability? Or what if my friends or family don’t approve of my choice of a major? Rather than getting caught up in fear and self-doubt, I allowed myself to be led by the yearnings arising from deep within me. Simply put, I listened to my gut and started to trust myself.
While wrestling with this steppingstone, I often asked myself: "WHAT is the SEED within each of us and WHY is it important?" As I now see it, the seed, is akin to a whisper from our soul that calls us toward our life’s true meaning and purpose. It is what provides us with our reason for being; it is the compass that guides us; and it is what drives us forward through the most difficult of times.
If you feel something audacious calling you, please refuse to worry about whether you’re good enough. Instead, trust that it is by patiently nurturing the seeds buried within ourselves that we will each grow into something quite beautiful...
