Why Your Life’s Purpose Eludes You
“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it” -Buddha
Have you identified your purpose? Are you living it?
It seems that our “life’s purpose” [the BIG purpose] has been framed as something we need to search for and as such implies that it is a mystery or somehow hidden from us. If it is hidden, then we must seek it, chase it, and unravel it; and then, and only then, can we begin to live it, embody it and fulfil our reason for being.
It appears, though, that as a result of all this focused searching, we get turned around in our own beingness, we muddy the waters, not knowing which door to choose, which path to take; and in turn, feelings of dejection, frustration, and a state of immobilization can ensue.
But what if…what if…
…Our BIG purpose is one that emerges over time, as we live and gather experiences? Rather than searching, it is in and through the living and experiencing that we be{come} aware [aka conscious] of our purpose(s?). Perhaps, we even build or assemble our BIG purpose as we learn and grow.
We need to stop operating from the misconception that searching for our life’s purpose (sometimes in the deep dark recess of our psyche) will result in a sudden epiphany sent from above; and instead, in its place, start getting in motion.
As we gather experiences, we should pay attention to how we feel in and toward what we experience, pay attention to what we learn and then use those insights as indicators of where our BIG purpose is trying to surface.
If we haven’t paid attention, then reflection is the next best avenue. Maybe this is where the ‘finding your purpose’ comes from?
By reflecting upon past experiences, we should be able to see themes emerge. Themes of when we felt the most alive, most engaged, most in joy, or most in service to something greater than ourselves. Conversely, we should also take notice of the times when we felt the most miserable, sad, angry or hurt. These too are indicators of our BIG purpose as they point to its antithesis.
I’ve realized that I’ve been living aspects of my BIG purpose from a young age even though I could not articulate as such until now. Maybe you have too, but you haven’t looked at it that way???
When I have sought my BIG purpose, it has eluded me. But when I stop searching for it, my BIG purpose has sought me. I’ve noticed that as I learn and grow, my BIG purpose expands. My BIG purpose is built upon and is refined, polished and sharpened like a sculptor cutting away the excess stone to allow the masterpiece to emerge.
Michelangelo once said that “Every block of stone has as a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
Your BIG purpose is like that statue, it is there, and yes, it may be buried under the hurly-burly of everyday living, but it is not something you search for. It is something that you allow to emerge through you via experiences just as the sculptor is tasked for helping the statue emerge through his hand and from the stone. If this is what it means to ‘find’ your life’s purpose — then okay, go discover it but do so like the sculptor and not like the treasure hunter.
Your BIG purpose is inside you waiting for opportunities to emerge. You are probably living aspects of it now. You do not have to search for your Life’s Purpose. Just listen for it. Pay attention to your soul’s stirring, cut away the excess of the noise of living, and create the space for your BIG purpose emerge.
If you are stuck, if you do not know what your BIG purpose is — GET IN MOTION. DO something. BE of service to someone. TRY new things. GATHER experiences. PAY attention. REFLECT. And LISTEN to your Highest Self. Your Highest Self is your guide and insights provide an avenue through which your life’s purpose, your BIG purpose can emerge.
Until next time, Many Blessings!
