THE TWO WAYS TO TEST THE AUTHENTICITY OF YOUR LIFE PURPOSE ARE…!

 

“Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose”

― Leonardo da Vinci, inventor

 

“… belief that getting to heaven was the name of the game.”

Zachery (Zach) was an artist.   He made fine jewelry mostly aimed at affluent women whom he considered his market niche.   Especially, very wealthy, and if possible, very attractive women.   He said he loved his work and was entirely devoted to the creation of what he called ‘divinely designed’ pieces of art for his clientele.

Zach was a large, robust, deep chested, dark haired man of 45 years of age.   He had been married twice but, he said he had no children as far as he knew.   He had a long history of studying design and apprenticing with a variety of skilled, successful people in his industry.

Zach was also a devout Roman Catholic whose divorces had challenged, but not shaken, his faith or in belief that getting to heaven was the name of the game.   He wasn’t a regular church goer but he followed the basic tenets of his church and often quoted the latest pope, perhaps hoping that would suffice instead.

When I asked him what brought him to making an appointment, he replied,

 

“Maybe I’m just deluding myself.”

“Ken, I read a book on being purposeful.   It confused me to such a degree I considered changing my career.”

“What did you read that upset you?” I asked.

“The author said getting rich, famous, or being successful in any form, could not be only pleasurable, it had to also include pain as well.   My goal has always been to get to heaven where it is only constant pleasure…paradise!”

“It sounds like you are having a challenge to your spirituality.   How does this connect to your work and career, Zach?” I asked.

“Ken, when I create my jewellery, my joy seems so profound I have started doubting I am really being purposeful at all.  Maybe I’m just deluding myself.” he said, the confusion rising on his face.

Then he added, “And then, I had an argument with a friend who said my jewellery was decadent trash made only for the rich, and a waste of my time and their money.”

“That must have been very upsetting for you at that moment!   Almost like an identity crunch.   So, what is your goal in coming to see me?” I asked.

 

“So, whatever you do each day is purposeful, whether you realize it or not.”

“My goal…actually I have three specific goals in booking this consult.   The first is to understand more fully how one’s purpose fits into one’s life on a daily basis.   The second is to make sure I’m on my life purpose.   And, the third is to figure out what this means for my spirituality.”

“OK, Zach!   Let’s take them one at a time.   Every person is on purpose unconsciously because we all have a specific role in this universe, as does every other thing in the universe.   We spend most of our time trying to figure out how our world works and how we fit in or if you prefer, how we serve it.   Because, we can think about our thinking, we can put words around our purpose and see it happening on a daily basis.” I began.

“So, everyone has a purpose and is on their purpose all the time…is that  right so far, Ken?”

“Yes!   So, whatever you do each day is purposeful, whether you realize it or not.   When you can make the connections consciously between what you do and your purpose, it is so fulfilling you are more motivated to do it.   This is displayed to others by such behaviours as energy, certainty, commitment, gratitude and inspiration.   Does that make sense?” I asked him.

“Sometimes it’s the same moments that take your breath away that breathe purpose and love back into your life.”

― Steve Maraboli, author

 

 

“… don’t see how me getting to heaven will serve humanity…”

“Yes…sort of!   So, being conscious of how, for example…taking out the garbage, is connected to my purpose would enable me to do it with energy, commitment and gratitude.   Is that what you mean, Ken?”

“You got it Zach!    And, with our imagination, our creative intelligence, humans can connect any two things together if we work at it.   This is how we have been able to create this wonder-filled environment in which we live today.” I added.

“OK, I think I understand so far.   Let’s go to my second goal of being sure I’m on my purpose.   How do I know that?”

“Remember, you can’t be off purpose, but you may not be aware of how you are on purpose!   You purpose must serve humanity which has its’ own role in this universe.   What have you been thinking is your life purpose, Zach?”

“Well, I thought it was to get to heaven.   But, now I wondering if that is true because I don’t see how me getting to heaven will serve humanity on the planet earth.” he said.

“That may be the crux of your challenge!   So, you said earlier you find great joy in creating your jewellery.   The question you may have to answer is how does your form of creativity serve the people who buy it?”

“I really don’t know, Ken!   They like  my creations and pay me lots of money for them, but I really have not thought about how my jewellery serves humanity.” Zach said mystified.

 

“Your purpose is derived from your perception of your past.”

“What is the best thing anyone has ever said to you about the things you create, Zach?”

He paused to stare off and collect some memories.   After a few minutes, he said, “Two comments come to mind that have always stayed with me over the years.   I remember an elderly lady who said, ‘When I wear this necklace I feel so beautiful!’   And, another time, a younger woman commented, ‘The perfection and price of these ear rings reminds me I’m important and to take care of myself!’”

“Zach, can you see how both of those women were using your creations to empower themselves to move forward in their own lives, thereby serving them in their evolutionary journey?”

“So, my work does serve humanity…but, kind of like…one person at a time.   So, I haven’t been wasting my time with my work.   It’s very reassuring to know that!   But, how do I know I’m on the right purpose…for me?” he responded.

“Zach, there are at least two ways to test the authenticity of your purpose.  The first is your purpose comes from your perception of your past.   Whatever you perceive was missing in your past you will strive to fulfill in your future.   So, your past voids create your future values!   And, the second is when you are purposeful, you experience presence…a sense of time and space collapsing into each other and leaving you energized, focused and inspired!”

 

“Have your Catholic beliefs changed over the years as you grew up?”

“Ken, you just described how I am when I’m creating a new piece.   It’s like I’m alone in the world working away, forgetting where I am and when it is…totally engrossed in the task before me.”

“Your purpose rarely changes across your life but the form of its’ manifestation can and probably will.    For example, perhaps you might evolve from creating new lines of jewellery to creating new lines of clothes.   But your purpose will remain basically the same.”

“That really makes sense because I have thought about a new line of unique luggage.”

He paused, then he continued, “So, from what I’ve learned so far, I’m on purpose and can link it to my work which is really my daily life.   Now, what about my spirituality?”

“Tell me about your spirituality.   What do you currently believe happens after you die,  Zach?”

“Well, as I mentioned, I was raised Catholic and have worked at getting to heaven as my ultimate goal!” he said.

“Have your Catholic beliefs changed over the years as you grew up?”

He paused, looking uncomfortable for a second, hesitating, then he said,“Well getting educated, growing up and just having a life seems to have eroded many of my core beliefs about god, hell, heaven and the rest of it.”

 

“Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.” ― Washington Irving, author

 

 

“…every person has their own unique version of a god…”

“So, what do you believe today, Zach?” I asked, wondering what were his core beliefs now.

“Well, I learned in anthropology we have, at some point in time, made a god out of everything we were afraid of including the sun, moon, fire, thunder, and so on.   And, then we started giving those gods human traits to help us negotiate our safety in the world around us.”

“What else have you noticed?”

“After talking to my relatives and friends over the years, I’ve realized every person has their own unique version of a god, not just those various religious organizations.” he said, demonstrating his confusion.

“Let me ask a similar question but from a different perspective, Zach.   From your life experiences, what have you decided is definitely true?” I asked.

He paused again, thoughtful.

He replied, “What I have always noticed is how nature is so complex, and yet, it fits together perfectly.    When I create a nice piece of jewellery, it seems to fit together…almost in a natural way to create beauty!   What I know for sure it there is this innate perfection to everything around us…like why is it that gold doesn’t really tarnish so its beauty is evident.   And, its uses are so varied from a currency, to a tooth to a computer chip…that’s god-like to me!”

“Would that be OK if your god was the genius of our natural systems…”

“It sounds like the design of nature, components of which you use in your work, is god-like to you.   Is that what you’re saying Zach?” I asked to make sure I was hearing him.

“Yea!   I see evidence all the time of the unique genius of our natural world.   And, I see it in my work when pieces of material come together to become a thing of beauty.   Maybe that’s my unique version of god!” he said.

“Would that be OK if your god was the genius of our natural systems…the grandly organized design, or designer if you prefer, of the universe?”

“Yeah!   That would actually be fine with me!   I think I could move on and more easily make sense of some of the events of my past.”

“What about getting to heaven, Zach?   How does that fit into all this?”

“As we’ve been talking, I’m remembering how many times I have been with family or created a nice piece or in the woods or at the shore…somewhere in my world and thought to myself, ‘This is heaven!’ or ‘This is a heavenly place!’ or even, ‘This is as good as it gets, right here and right now!’, which makes me wonder if maybe heaven is all around me and I haven’t been noticing.”

“Given the evolution of the many new forms of spirituality we have witnessed in our world in the last number of years, I suspect you have lots of company in that kind of thinking, Zach!”

“Yea!   Maybe everyone is defining their unique forms of god, heaven, and hell today instead of relying on others to do it for them.” he said, insightfully.

“Maybe so, eh?”

 

‘“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it”

― Gautama Buddha, teacher

 

Until Next time…

    Now you know, you have a life purpose and are on it constantly.   It is tied to your perceptions of voids in your past which you are striving to fill in your future.   Your purpose doesn’t change dramatically, but its’ form can, throughout your life.    Since you can’t be off your purpose, it might be wise to know it and use it to guide your future.  In this way you will create an inspired destiny!   Go for it, you won’t regret it!

 

Encourage others to subscribe to our FREE Newsletter and ebook, “Finding Balance in Your Life” at http://mental-health-center.com/our-free-gift/  And, please like us on Facebook, or Twitter.

 

Our next seminar is entitled, “How to Bring balance to Life and Purpose to Work!”  It will be on Saturday, October 22nd, 2016. Details are available at ww.kenpiercepsychologist.com

Send us your feedback and topic suggestions…we love to hear from you!  If you have a specific question or wish to schedule a consultation, feel free to contact me.

 

Namaste, (I salute the grandly organized design of the universe, manifested in you!)

 

Ken

Further information: www.kenpiercepsychologist.com