Last month, after completing the Power Byte about being happy, I immediately began to wonder - what next? I knew that even those who had great attitudes and were happy people. had a deep desire to be fulfilled, to be working on something worth working on. It is interesting that many of the conversations I had this month pointed to the fact that while there was a "belief" there is something special each of us is supposed to be doing, some special purpose for being alive, many had absolutely no idea what that was, nor exactly how to find out.
I too believe that we each have a purpose for being here. I believe that we came specially to fulfill that purpose.
Each of us is unique. Each has our own natural gifts and talents and something special to offer. I also believe that up to the moment we start wondering what we're doing here, what's the meaning of all of it, everything that has already happened is meaningful. What I mean is, when you consciously begin to seek your purpose, you'll realize that everything that has already occurred has been purposeful.
It's up to you to decide if the time has come to get clear about your life purpose. And if so, it's up to you to declare boldly, that you have a soul-print, a special reason for being here; and you're going to find out what it is.
"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a
purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one;
the being thoroughly worn out before you are
thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of
nature instead of a feverish, selfish, little clod of
ailments and grievances complaining that
the world will not devote itself to
making you happy."
-George Bernard Shaw
I beg you not to get caught up in Shaw's words "mighty one". A mighty purpose does not have to be ending world hunger, getting the British out of India, or getting a man to the moon if you get my drift. Let me tell you a story.
In 1978 I decided that I was here to transform lives - to help people to be all they could be. Beside the fact that I had so much satisfaction and joy when I worked with people, I thought that was a pretty lofty and important purpose. I have to admit that I had a point of view about the "worthiness" of my purpose. I felt pretty good about me!
A cousin of mine passed away in 1992 so I travelled to Montreal to attend the funeral. As a young mother Esther had lost her husband and had spent most of her adult life, a single Mom, bringing up her four children. When they were out on their own she worked as the Director of Volunteers for a Geriatric Hospital until she could no longer work - and because of ill-health, and lack of mobility, spent the last years of her life apartment bound.
Her grandchildren gave the eulogy. They spoke of their grandma's extraordinary cooking and baking. They shared about the little freezer she kept in her bedroom closet and with tears streaming down their faces said that whenever they visited she sent them home with their favorite foods which she had lovingly prepared and frozen for them. They loved her so much. She had made such a difference for them. They were going to miss her, but she had left her legacy and they would never forget all she had done for them. They were cherish her memory and her recipes forever.
It was so touching. On top of the fact that it moved me to tears, I began to see what a mighty purpose she had. She had spent her life nurturing those people she loved with special focus on the way that Jewish people often gift their loved ones - with food.
It took me time and serious thinking to move from the idea that I was wasting my life. I wasn't staying at home to cook for my children and grandchildren. I was out supporting other people's children. But soon it became clear. Esther had fulfilled her purpose, and I was fulfilling mine. We both had "mighty" purposes.
Good chance if you discover your purpose and your life is consistent with the fulfillment of that purpose, you will be "turned on, motivated, and joyful", but even if that weren't the case, you would be doing what you came here to do. And as far as I can tell, sooner or later, you will be called upon to do what you came here to do. If not now - when?
G-d has given each of us
our "marching orders."
Our purpose here on Earth is
to find those orders and carry them out.
Those orders acknowledge our special gifts.
-Soren Kierkegaard
