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Firstly let's start with a brief definition of what living on purpose is all about. This is about having a mission in life which is bigger than you and your needs. It is about the possibility of finding greater meaning and contribution in our lives and is definitely about feeling that we have the power to and are able to make a difference in the world and that our life has been worthwhile. We are fully engaged, we live our passions and we have inner peace and contentment with ourselves. Essentially we have discovered self-mastery and we don't judge ourselves against other people's standards. All of us no matter what we say want to feel significant in some way but the difference is how we see our ability to become so. We are unfortunately programmed from the moment we begin to attend school and interact with others and through conditioning from the environment around us to believe that our purpose in life is achieved by what we have and what we do so our focus becomes geared towards acquiring things and competing with others for power, status and success in life. Our ego conscious takes over and we start to believe that we are separate to everyone else and that we must compete to accomplish and to accumulate and that resources are scarce. This ego teaches us that our reputation is who we are but essentially this is a false belief. The problem here, however, is that we look for confirmation and assurance outside of ourselves and our power and happiness becomes dependent upon others opinions. All our energy goes in to getting promoted, a bigger house, a fancy sports car, the latest fashions or getting to retirement perhaps losing weight or finding a partner before we really start to live and feel good about ourselves. This kind of living breeds fear and self limiting beliefs and there is little wonder that we have the plethora of societal problems that we have today.
True personal transformation starts with recognising that our power comes from within not our external situation. Looking inwards enables us to tap into our true authentic self and a state of oneness and connection with others. It is here where we are able to re-connect with source or god or the universal intelligence, dependent upon your belief system. It is only from a place deep within that we can truly discover who we truly are and what our calling in life is.
Abraham Maslow coined the phrase 'self-actualisation' as an explanation for a place where we can find fulfilment and where we can live our passions and our heart's desire or in other words a more purpose driven life. Once you begin to live out your destiny you stop living for the approval of others. Self-actualised people are centred people with a mission in life requiring great energy. Their mission becomes their reason for existence, devoted to duty, totally self reliant and independent from love and respect. They accept themselves and others and the natural world exactly the way it is and see human nature as it is without crippling guilt, regrets or shame. They are unhampered by convention, live in the moment and are spontaneous in their inner life thoughts. Maslow believed that humans have four basic needs that must be realised before the point of self-actualisation occurs. They are as follows; 1) Physiological needs
Food, shelter, sleep, stimulation, activity.
2) Safety needs
Security and protection from harm.
3) Love and belonging needs.
Love, friendship, comradeship.
4) Esteem or Ego needs.
Self respect, personal growth, autonomy.
Maslow observed that a new discontent or restlessness would develop unless the individual is doing what he individually is fitted for, unthreatened and fearless from the unknown.
So living an enlightened life is the same as living on purpose and is what Wayne Dyer describes in his new book 'The Shift-From Ambition to Meaning' when 'you stop striving and you start arriving' moving from a point of ambition to a life of meaning . You stop doing things based on what 's in it for you and begin to start really serving others and become part of something bigger that drives you in your daily focus and allows you to detach from the outcome. The joy is in the journey far more than the destination point and this awakening to a higher level of consciousness returns human nature to its source, from where it came from and to a state of oneness with all. The many benefits are obvious from the internal peace and contentment and personal growth and development that comes with knowing you are living a life of intention and your creation. There is joy in what life has to offer you rather than it being a permanent struggle as well as tackling the bigger issues in our society through greater connection and service to all.
Kath Roberts is a business mentor and entrepreneur who coaches others in how to set-up their own home-based business selling personal development products and creating the kind of life they have always dreamed of. To learn more please visit Alchemy4thesoul.com:
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