Our life purposes
Purpose, meaning, calling… all words that you may read about, listen too and reflect on for yourself! I know I did for many, many years! Still do! Sometimes inspiring, other times scary filled with stress, anxiety and comparison!
I’ve recorded a YouTube video lately on the subject because it is dear to my heart! It is so because it seems like all the experiences that have captured my attention and reflections for the last 20 years are encapsulated in how I now see our different life purposes! It is also a subject that is quite popular for many! Whether we are young and getting into the marketplace, older and re-evaluating our life, in the face of important challenges or stroke by the climate crisis we are going through for instance; meaning and purpose are at the core of those reflections. It seems like life brings us, when we need it, a good opportunity to contemplate this question!
Of course we all have our own idiosyncratic way to tackle this subject for ourselves, yet I believe that what I am about to share with you can apply at one point to all of us! My hope is to bring a different perspective and help your reflection on the subject, so that you may find your own answers!
Let me introduce to you the idea of our 3 U’s! Our three purposes! One is Unique to us, the other Universal to all of us, and the last one Ultimate for every soul!
Unique Purpose:
In the video that I recorded, I spent quite some time on work for this point! Jobs or vocation! Mind you they are quite different! It’s like the story of the three brick layer! If you ask them all the same question: “What is it that you do?”
The first one will tell you: “I’m layering brick” (He’s got a job)
The second one will say: “I’m building churches” (He’s got a career)
The third one will tell you: “I’m building the house of God!” (He’s got a vocation)
As David Brooks, in his book The Second Mountain would say, perhaps once you are starting your ascent to the second mountain in your life (your unique purpose), you’ll decide to focus much more on one of those higher aspirations:
Vocation
Marriage
Philosophy and/or religion
Community
In any case, whether it’s vocation related or else, you have your own essence, you own skills and strength that are wanting to express in your life time to bring a meaningful contribution! Allowing them to come forth and live this path is your unique purpose!
Universal Purpose:
At the end of the day, don’t you just want to be a great human being! Someone that was capable of love (received and offered it), that was good with himself and others, compassionate, etc. Our universal purpose is to love profoundly; who we are, others and the world!
Ultimate Purpose:
“We are spiritual beings living a human experience”
This is a lofty phrase for many! The word spiritual is almost scary to some people for different reasons! Perhaps a common one is its association with organized religion! In my own experience and teachings from great masters, this could not be further from the truth! In my views, spirituality is what you are! It is what perhaps all religions are trying to express in their own ways. Religion if I recall comes from the Latin Religio, meaning Unity! In that sense what are you trying to unite with/to!? Spirit! The divine! Search no further… it is in you!
“We are all a spark of the divine”
This ultimate purpose is one of a lifelong journey! Unlearning what is keeping us in the darkness (addicted to our partners, conditioning, reactions, negative emotions and thoughts), freeing ourselves from all that crap that we’ve stored inside to feel more inner peace, love and bliss! Such a state is available to all of us! Many would call it awakened, enlightenment, Buddha Nature, Christ Nature…etc. All the same! Is it possible to live from that place all the time? I personally do not know! All I know is that I experienced it and are experiencing it more and more! Yet there are great masters that can show us the way and have lived from that state!
I believe our ultimate purpose is to realize this fully! Remembering who you truly are and experiencing wholeness, oneness! When are you there, you’ll ask!? I’d say, you’ll know! In the meantime, let’s try our best to practise every day, without rushing this natural process, without turning it into a goal, without comparing our progression on our spiritual path!
This is very unique and universal to all of us! Shine bright, bring forth what is in you, your own essence, be great and allow the source of all things to guide you closer to it!
Love & liberation are our highest path and purpose!
🙏💜
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