For years, I centered my purpose around others’ expectations. The weight of being successful, attractive, and on top of things had been so deeply ingrained in my psyche, that I couldn’t detect that it wasn’t me.
Only recently did I realize I didn’t want to spend my life chasing external achievements.
I redefined true success: I wanted to wake up grateful to be me. I wanted to become an intuitive person. Someone who knows when good is good enough. Someone who is deeply ingrained with what they want in life.
I no longer wanted to feel torn between my ambitions and peace of mind. My purpose is greater than being successful by the world’s standards.
I am here to learn from my mistakes.
I am here to evolve into who I want to be.
I am here to love others and myself.
All of these things are true, but perhaps my purpose is even simpler:
My purpose is to be here. To be present in each moment, even the ones I wish to pass. And that is your purpose too.
You are alive in this time and place for a reason. Every person you have crossed paths with has been for a purpose. It all hinges on your very existence.
This is not something to overcomplicate but does require faith.
Faith that the world needs a you. Faith that you are part of a bigger story that may take decades to understand. Faith that you will never give up on yourself because your purpose is far greater than you could imagine.
You are a river flowing with love and possibility. When you believe in yourself, creativity and fulfillment flow freely. When you feel doubt, the waters close off. It is up to you to choose how freely your river flows.
You Determine Your Purpose
One of the most beautiful descriptions of the human soul comes from East of Eden. It discusses the Hebrew word, Timshel, which means “thou mayest.”
But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed – because ‘Thou mayest.
John Steinbeck
Timshel is a simple but empowering philosophy: Your choices determine your life.
A wise person sees two paths in every experience: one that leads to the same destination and another that leads somewhere new. If you want to change your life, you must embrace the unknown.
No matter what you’ve done, you can choose a new path in this moment.
Our lives are like books and our decisions are chapters. We can’t alter chapters that have already been written, but we can build off of them to create a different ending.
You determine your purpose in life through your choices. Use your gift of choice to act in ways that fuel your soul, not deplete it.
Finding Purpose In Failure
Here’s a valid question: How do you choose the right path in life?
You choose the right path by accepting failure as a possibility and trying anyway.
Failure is not the end of the story. And if you learn from it, it’s a step in the right direction.
When you make a poor decision, there are three ways to remedy it:
- Accept what you can’t change.
- Improve what you can.
- Reframe your mindset to focus on the good.
- Seek opportunities elsewhere.
For example, imagine you had an emotional outburst at a loved one. First, accept that you can’t undo that moment. Then, have compassion for yourself and reflect on what caused your reaction. With self-awareness, you can better communicate your feelings in the future.
Unless a situation is unhealthy, give yourself time before seeking opportunities elsewhere. Plenty of positive decisions have growing pains that can make them feel like the wrong decision. Be patient and continue making good choices within your current circumstances. Change takes time.
Life may be short, but thankfully, it is long enough to right many wrongs.
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore Roosevelt
Facing Indecision
It is better to have failed than to have never tried at all.
Still, there are times when indecision gets the best of us. We live in limbo, experiencing worry and guilt that can suck the joy out of us.
Making a choice is the only way out of this state.
Start small. Choose to put away distractions and go for a walk. Or call a loved one. Or order takeout for dinner. And if you make the wrong choice, allow yourself to learn from it and move on.
Like many systems in our brain, our decision-making ability needs consistent use to stay sharp. Small decisions are necessary to practice for the bigger decisions in life.
The future will unfold in its time. Focus on what you can do now and you will be on the right path.
Listen for Answers Within
Failure is your friend, but so is your intuition.
Your intuition is your inner voice of creativity and compassion. It goes by many names: your gut, your highest self, or Divine guidance. Whatever you call it, your inner voice is one of your most valuable tools for following your purpose.
It prompts you into acts of kindness, fuels your passions, and provides answers where there seem to be none. You can trust your intuition to always lead you to the right place at the right time.
Listening to your intuition reminds you of the answers you hold within. Deep down, you already know your purpose is to be here. You are aware of your ability to choose your destiny. And you likely know what you could do next to improve your day.
There’s one challenge, though: Intuition is easily overpowered by thoughts of worry, lack, and comparison.
To reconnect with it, listen to your inner dialogue. Thoughts that are loving and constructive are from your inner voice.
Here is a question your intuition will always answer:
What does my soul need right now?
Listen to what comes to mind. Your needs are valid regardless of what you’ve been conditioned to believe. And if possible, take action on those needs now.
Your intuition also looks out for the good of others. Slowly extend the question to be What does my friend’s soul need right now? or What does this stranger’s soul need right now?
Life falls into place when you make choices that align with your intuition. Take things moment by moment. When you do so, you are living out your purpose: to be here now.
Final Thoughts
Look at you, marvelously living your purpose by being here and forging a new path for your life. The road ahead of you is truly limitless.
Here is a final word of advice:
Relieve the pressure to be someone. You are someone and you are enough. And when you realize you are enough, you expand to become even greater.
Stay present. Let your intuition guide you to love and create in ways only you can. Fill your days with intentional choices and lessons learned.
This is the mark of a life well lived.
Until next time,
O&K
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