Finding our Life Purpose

Our Life Purpose may not be Something we are Supposed to Do.

It is tempting to think of our Life Purpose as something that we are supposed to do. We tend to think when we know our purpose we will then be doing the right thing. We tend to assume that our purpose as an action or set of actions.

Yet our purpose for being born may not be something that we need to 'do' at all, or specific actions may be only a small part of our genuine Life Purpose. This is because our purpose is probably something richer, broader and deeper than we normally think of it as being.

The thing which really annoys us; the people, or the situation, which we believe most gets in the way, is probably an essential part of our life purpose. The very thing which annoys or disturbs us most may well be the vital key we need to help us lead the most fulfilling life we possibly can.

Our life purpose (or part of it) is within that annoying thing we trip over again and again, it is in our connection with that person we refuse to forgive, it is that ailment which disturbs us and blows our sense of security.

A life purpose is not usually a neatly packaged idea along the lines of; "save the rainforest", or "save the mountain gorillas". It can be something like that, but it rarely that alone because a lot of our life purpose has to do with developing our character. Our life purpose usually includes something along the lines of developing forgiveness (for this we need something to forgive - and the juicier the better), to learn love and compassion (by transforming situations we experience where these are lacking) and to overcome the limitations of our upbringing (building on what our parents gave us rather than complaining about it).

Our life purpose can also have to do with developing dynamic qualities such as boldness, courage, and honesty. If this is the case then we will find ourselves pushed into situations where these qualities are needed. Facing up to the partner who does not treat us properly. Boldly presenting our ideas when they will help a situation. Courageously dealing with our boss, bank manager, or any person in authority, are all part of developing character. Developing these, therefore may all part of our Life Purpose.

Our Life Purpose is an expression of our everyday challenges.

The everyday challenges of daily life are all part of our life purpose. That is why they are there. It can be good to seek some specific purpose outside of ourselves to serve, but this search not always motived by high ideals. Searching for a higher purpose can also be a way of trying to escape from our current path and our current challenges in character development.

Even when our purpose includes some very specific actions we need to take the chances are that development of our character will also be part of it. We may discover that we have the potential to help many people through a gift that we have; but we still need to develop the qualities of character (patience, compassion, honesty, integrity, or whatever) needed to express that gift. And, more challengingly, we need to develop the people skills necessary so that other people will be willing to help us with our goals.

Finding our Life Purpose means finding our selves and developing our character.

No one succeeds alone and fulfilling our purpose usually involves other people with all the joys and challenges which that can bring. If we don't have the skills to handle people well then the chances of fulfilling a specific life purpose are greatly reduced.

If we want to save the rainforest, but if we are too impatient and annoy everyone by being pushy and obnoxious we won't get very far. If we are too shy to ever ask for help, or too shy to offer it, we will likely remain stuck where we are till we get over that. We cannot separate our purpose from the development of our character as the two are often one and the same.

How many healers do you who have not much in the way of a healing practice? Or, how many people do you know who have a musical or artistic gift who are frustrated in finding a way to express it? This could be because they simply have not faced and overcome the challenges to their character that would enable them to do so. For one thing they don't usually have a plan, or even realise they need one, so nothing much happens.

Some of us do not live up to our potential owing to feelings of unworthiness and not feeling good enough. This can come from having lived in a environment which was not supportive of our growth and repressed our natural development. From one angle this is not a psychological issue; it is a spiritual opportunity. It is a spiritual opportunity because it is a chance to develop our character through overcoming obstacles. By overcoming resistance our spiritual muscles develop. By being honest when it is challenging to do so, we develop a strong sense of honesty. We develop our capacity for courage by standing up or ourselves, other people, or our principles when we feel fearful.

Our actual Life Purpose means seem like small thing to our ego.

In a way we could say that we do not need to find our purpose as we bump into it every day. If we lack a sense of purpose it can be that we need to make an effort to uncover something deeper in our lives. But, that something deeper is probably very simple and probably not very appealing to our sense of grandiosity.

Having a grand life purpose can be very appealing to the ego. In fact the grander the purpose the better from the egos perspective. However, a grand purpose can create struggle and tension within us ambition sneaks in disguised as well meaning intent. If we go that route we can end up all stressed and straining - and deadly serious - as if the future of the whole planet depended on us.

Usually when we want to find a purpose we are feeling that there is no, or little, meaning in our lives. However, just because we do not see the meaning does not mean it is not there. Sometimes it is a matter of shifting how we see what we have already, and what we have experienced already, to see the gifts we have already been given. Looking to the meaning of what we already have can lead us to a deeper sense of meaning and connection with flow which shapes our lives and all lives.

Of course, sometimes radical change is needed and we need to take a leap into the unknown. However, this is not so common.

Our Life Purpose may be to just be ordinary - sort of.

For most of us, our purpose is to be Divinely Ordinary: to be outwardly ordinary people, and to cultivate awareness of the divinity within ourselves and those around us. To treat ourselves and others with increasing love and respect and forgiveness. Forgiveness is vital as many things arise in our lives which are simply effects of what happens when divine beings are not yet fully aware of their divinity.

For most of us our purpose is to develop our character along the lines needed to enhance the quality of our relationships. Our purpose is best served by enjoying and appreciating the life we already have; forgiving ourselves, forgiving anyone and everyone who ever harmed us intentionally or otherwise. It could be said that, as part of the process of living, we are well on the way to fulfilling our life purpose and we may as well learn to enjoy the process - as that is probably part of our purpose too.