manifest your purpose

We all enter this lifetime with a purpose to fulfill. While many people may have similar purposes, the way in which we each manifest our purpose is a unique expression of our timeless essence. Although we made the journey into our human bodies to fulfill a purpose, most of us have been programmed from very young to put significant energy towards a career that we hope will meet certain needs for us – often needs that are out of alignment with our spiritual essence and life purpose.

Many people spend their whole lifetime working at careers, perhaps with some sense of dissatisfaction, often without an awareness of their true purpose. Others begin to seek their purpose and are unsure how to proceed. And in humanity’s current stage of development, most people never discover their purpose. Yet your purpose is not meant to be a mystery; it is not meant to be hidden. But to find it, you must dive into the unknown to discover what is meant to be known by you – your timeless essence, gifts and purpose.

In the process of searching for your purpose, it helps to know where to look for hints and clues. I liken this to an old-fashioned treasure hunt. There are many clues in your life and environment that provide hints to your purpose. And they can help you to discover your purpose if you become attuned to them.

When I was a child, my favorite activity at summer camp was the treasure hunt. And I learned that the keys to finding the treasure lay in knowing where to find the next clue and how to put the clues together to solve the puzzle.

And these keys are very applicable to unlocking the mystery of life’s purpose. While the process is unique for everyone, there are several common clues that can help you solve the puzzle. And unlike the group treasure hunt, there is treasure here for everyone, and there is no need to rush. Some of these clues may lead you down expected paths, while others may take you to unexpected places.

A word of caution before we start on our trip: you may find that working through all the clues in one setting is too overwhelming. I recommend working through one clue per week, following the guidelines here, and then holding that clue in your awareness as you go through your daily life, and recording any new findings throughout the week. If a clue seems to have no relevance for you, hold it in your awareness and move on to another clue.

Before we begin, take a few moments to settle into your heart and allow yourself to breathe deeply and fully. Slow down and quiet the mental chatter. Let’s go on a journey together with the intention of peeling back the layers of the mystery of your life purpose, by following some common clues.

Clue: What fulfills is on target

Let’s examine the most obvious clue. Each of us, no matter how far we think we are from living our life purpose, has experienced fulfillment. And these experiences often serve as signposts to our purpose.

Take a few moments to center yourself in your heart. Then travel back to the time period with your earliest memories. Allow yourself to journey there without your internal dialogue. Travel gently with a strong intention to become clear. As a young child, what activities were most pleasurable? What events stand out as positive forces in your development? Ask these questions and allow the answers to come to you as you read this, and through the coming days and weeks. Write down whatever comes into your awareness under a heading labeled Fulfillment.

Now move on to your elementary school years. Ask yourself these same questions. And allow the answers to unfold in their own way. Record whatever becomes present for you. Next, look at your adolescence. And ask yourself what was most meaningful in this potentially challenging time of life? What was most fulfilling? Remember to keep breathing.

And proceed to early adulthood. Look at how you chose to spend your free time. In those activities what was most meaningful? What was most fulfilling? And remember to stay in a centered place while you gently ask these questions.

Now look at the type of work you chose. What aspects of your work or your relationships with coworkers or customers do you find most meaningful? Remember to stay in your heart as you ask these questions and to hold an intention of discovering your life purpose.

If you have started a family, look at your family life without judgment. What is most fulfilling here? What is most meaningful? What is most purposeful? What makes you joyful?

And continue through your adult life until you arrive at the present time. And ask your self these same questions, continuing to stay centered as you proceed.

Once you have completed this journey, take stock of how your answered these questions. Take out a piece of paper or open a file on your computer and write these attributes under a heading labeled Fulfillment, if you haven’t already done so. Then look for patterns or progressions and note those below your answers. These patterns often point us in the direction of our life’s purpose.

Looking back on my life journey, one of the themes that emerged was being available to others when they were in need of support. Other themes were teaching, leading, nurturing, and spirituality. And these same qualities are all present and expressed in my life’s work as a psychotherapist, life coach, and teacher.

Clue: What comes naturally or easily is not by chance

By the time we arrive at adulthood we have acquired several skills. Although many of those skills were honed through years of repetition and teaching, we each possess some inborn talents. Just as a master artist benefits from years of instruction, our innate talents may be harnessed through teaching and practice. But they differ from attributes that are mainly acquired through learning. The master already possesses the seed of artistic mastery before receiving any instruction. The master is gifted before being instructed in technique. Similarly we all gifted in our own ways, even if we are unaware of the gift. A few examples may serve to clarify this.

As a child, I took several years of piano lessons. And much of what I did during that time was practice – the same piece over and over again until it seemed to flow naturally. But I was not unusually gifted in music. I enjoyed music and did not balk too much about the hours of practice. So with discipline I could produce a result that was pleasing to the ear. But leave me without music and I could barely peck out a tune. So while I became competent at playing the piano, that task never came naturally or easily; I was not a gifted musician.

A different example illustrates an ability that has come more naturally. I had heard that public speaking is one of the topmost things that many people fear. Yet, one of my first public speaking experiences was to an audience of over 2,000 people, and I felt relaxed. It was only later that I realized that I had not been afraid, and that speaking in front of groups was an enjoyable task for me, and not a terrifying prospect. I never expected to have an ability to speak in front of groups, nor did I ever seek opportunities to do so until it was a requirement of my job. Although I have never spoken to such a large group again, the ability to speak in front of groups has served me in manifesting my purpose. And any instruction I have received, has fine-tuned an ability that was innately present.

Several life purpose programs ask you to generate a list of strengths and to narrow the list to a few top qualities. Then those strengths are used in the process of defining your purpose. Let’s take a slightly different perspective. Start solving this clue by creating a list of your personal skills. This is not a time for low self-esteem. Write down as many attributes as you can without judging, rationalizing, or minimizing. Then take that list and go through each quality, and ask yourself if this strength came naturally and easily. Or did it come as a result of training and repetition? And place a star next to those attributes that came readily.

Next list all the qualities you starred under a heading Natural Abilities. It is likely that not all of these will be related to your purpose. But in this process we have begun to separate your innate strengths from the skills honed through education and practice. And it is those inborn qualities that provide stronger hints to your life purpose. Allow greater clarity to develop throughout the coming days.