24 Comments
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Geoff Wilson's avatar

Yep, I knew I liked you haha. But it's coming from a biased place as reading this (and most of your Notes) feels like I'm receiving your messages on a HAM radio frequency I've tuned into to see who else out there is seeing what I'm seeing.

I do have many questions after reading this one though; mostly around trying to understand what exactly you're working with your current clients on and how you're approaching it. I might have to message you about that sometime as I'm insatiably curious why and how people don what they do, and I've got your Why, but the How and What I'm not confident on.

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Philipp's avatar

It makes me really happy to read that. Thanks Geoff.

I share your passion about understanding why people do what they do. I think I don't fully understood your question but I'm happy to talk about it. Feel free to send me a DM.

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Sidra's avatar

The guru game sells tactics. What you’re pointing to is soul-work. Big difference

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Nik Pathran's avatar

A raw, vulnerable, beautiful and insightful read, Philipp!

This read like both a confession and a manifesto, and that made it really profound.

A rare mix of honesty, depth, and clarity, which is exactly what this space needs.

I have come to a similar realization in my journey.

And I loved how you highlighted authenticity as refusing what doesn’t align.

Great piece of writing!

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Philipp's avatar

Thanks Nik, I really appreciate that.

You could really see it as a manifesto. I try to write most of my articles like this.

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Nik Pathran's avatar

You're welcome. The praise is well deserved.

And yes, your last few articles did stand out as manifestos.

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The Real Raw's avatar

The contrast between these two sentences made me stop. The image that came to mind when I read, "One is a lottery of guru blueprints and pre-packaged identities. It promises a shortcut to freedom but often delivers a longer road to burnout" was a gray building with grey suits. It's the life that we were sold we should want - the life, they said would lead to success.

When I read this, "The other game is a messy, nonlinear, and deeply personal journey. Its only rule is radical self-alignment" the image that comes to mind is a child full of so much life - pure joy and love for living. The life we once lived and then were told to be quite, raise your hand, wait your turn.

But what is life if we can't live it.

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Philipp's avatar

The ultimate goal is to live our OWN life.

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Mara's avatar

Thank you for this article. I will surely follow your work, and explore what you’ve been writing until now.

Are you also a magician?

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Philipp's avatar

Thanks Mara.

You got it absolutely right haha. Magician is very dominant for me. I wouldn't say "I'm a magician" because we are all of the archetypes. That's the beauty of it.

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Mara's avatar

You have the benevolence and open heartedness and the struggle of a magician (ok predominantly ☺️). Your soul shines in your writing, it has resonance

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Corey Tate's avatar

This really resonates. Thanks for sharing the messiness behind the polished story, it’s a good reminder that alignment isn’t a straight line, but the courage to keep choosing what feels true.

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Philipp's avatar

Thanks Corey!

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Julian's avatar

This really resonates with me. Thank you for this piece, I will take some points with me on my future development. These ideas are adding and binding together pieces of knowledge and insight that are already floating around in my head

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Philipp's avatar

Thanks Julian, I'm looking forward what comes out of it.

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Eric Woods's avatar

Deep shit. I think I have gone through a journey similar to yours. Cheers on making it through wiser and with a stronger sense of self. Contrary to your advice, I DID quit, but with a bit of a safety net set up. Fulfilling and confusing and fun work finding purpose in your vocation

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Philipp's avatar

I'm glad to hear Eric.

I probably should have added that for some people quitting is the right choice. It can give you a lot of drive if you know how to handle it.

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Eric Woods's avatar

I still have that frenzied sense of "try this, now try that, now try that", so the issues you're speaking to here are very much real. Substack is the only thing I've been doing consistently the whole time, which I think is going to be worth critically analyzing as I move forward. But I AM the type where, if I have no job, I will actually work much *harder* haha

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Philipp's avatar

A great sign you're in the right place. Happy to have you here.

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Debra Douglas's avatar

I literally sighed with relief. I’m lost and nicheless, beginning to wonder how to square myself into the round hole. I have a lot of work to do, but I’m ok with that now. Thank you. And your Serapex site is work of art.

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Philipp's avatar

Thank you so much Debra. It really fills my heart when people appreciate all the details of my work. I have a knack for design.

From what you said about squaring yourself into a round hole, this article might give you some clarity: https://www.lab.serapex.com/p/your-generalist-nature-is-killing

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Carolyn Appleton's avatar

I like this. You are similar to me. The journey, the understanding. the depth. That you read the Time magazine article Arriana Huffington wrote, inc maslow's heirarchy of needs. Its true, working on something bigger than ourselves. Purpose. But there are shortcuts, signs and signals just not quick fixes which I've learnt along the way. I say this as a fellow traveller and someone also walking the path. Supporting each other, because everything is connected. Anyway I call the path, The Fractal Path because the pieces of our lives make up our journey, where we've come from and where we were born to go, where our soul wants to go. Thank you.

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Philipp's avatar

Glad to hear that Carolyn.

Fractal Path is a great word for it. What is the Time magazine article Arriana Huffington wrote?

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Carolyn Appleton's avatar

It's this one: https://time.com/7308119/the-connection-between-spirituality-and-mental-health/

Actually, The Fractal Path is my soul led portal too. The fractal path, soul path, the universe path, they are all one and uniquely your path.

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