There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open....
~ Martha Graham, Dancer
Why am I here?
Each of us has a reason for being here, a calling of our soul and spirit, a unique part to play in the unfolding of the earth's future. Our calling is the part of our lives that has the most heart, the most passion. It's where we get to use our gifts in such a way that we feel deeply fulfilled and the distinction between work and play is irrelevant.
Some of us find this passion early in our lives, some collect many different experiences and only late in life do we merge these varied interests into a unified path that makes sense. Sometimes it's only at the end of our lives that we can look back and see the elusive thread that tied all of our experiences together into a life work that we understand as a whole.
Some questions which may help to find your own life purpose:
- What is your calling, your passion, your gift?
- How did you connect with it?
- How is it unfolding?
- How do you sustain it in difficult times?
- How can others on a similar path help you deepen your commitment and fulfill your purpose here more fully?
Comment: Here is an alternative view: Life has no purpose except for what I give it.
There is no higher plan nor any contract I signed before my birth to fullfill. I am indeed a free human being to do whatever I choose, except that my abilities may be hemmed in by outer circumstances and inner conditionings. If I look at my life in an objective way I can discover a "red thread" going through life connecting various events and showing a pattern, usually a pattern of missed opportunities or failures or shortcomings to deal with the situations in a good way. Similar situations are repeating each other and I am asked to learn lessons to dissolve these patterns. Such inner work of releasing conditionings, usually from childhood, has occupied a major part of my life and was necessary to become the creative, joyful and playful person I was at the beginning of life. Only then can I ask: what do I wish to achieve in my life here in the world? ~Hans
Comment: Here is an alternative, alternative view! The life-force or energy that runs through us all is love, and we all do have a life purpose, but it is the same life purpose for everyone -- namely, to love. This life purpose is channeled through our personalities, yet it is distorted by the conditioning that results from our childhood experiences. Yes, we must release these conditionings; yes, we must express the original person we once were; but we do not need to think about this; we merely need to love. ~Derek
Threads: Spiritual Practice