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Knowing Your Purpose

By Shelley Hawkins-Clark, EFT-ADV
© 2008, All Rights Reserved, Cadence Enterprises, LLC

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we re powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
~Marianne Williamson, Author

I came across Jack Canfield's book The Success Principles a few years ago. It had a simple, but beneficial exercise that gave me a clearer vision of my purpose. I wasn't sure if what I came up with was accurate after going through the exercise. It seemed almost too easy (anybody hear a limiting belief?). "My purpose is to use my intuition, creativity and curiosity to inspire and teach others to believe in themselves." I never have felt settled with the phrase "to believe in themselves." It's too cliche-ish. It still doesn't sit right with me. But it conveys the basic direction and I've decided the rest of the words will come to me. I've let it sit and it seems to become more true everyday.

For most of us, purpose evolves and emerges as we come to more fully know, love and accept ourselves. There is a yearning in each of us, whether or not we are aware of it, for a sense of meaning and purpose to our unique individualized existence. We want to know we're investing ourselves wisely in something of value and be energized by it at the same time. What is uniquely ours to contribute that will give ours and the lives of others meaning? That will have lasting value? That will direct our energies and efforts toward something?

Fredrick Buechner speaks of one's purpose as the place where the world's greatest needs and our greatest gifts meet. What needs of the world would you like to participate in improving? What needs inspire joy and a sense of reward and wellbeing when you contribute to them? Where do you love to see others succeed? These are some first clues.

Your life experiences and what you have gained from them add to this. I often hear from people, "I've got to get over this depression or this struggle or this illness so I can get on with my life." When the truth is, whatever struggle you are having IS your path of building your life at that moment. Not that we should create or want to experience such things. But that once we're there, our process of healing and getting the higher lessons is our evolution toward knowing ourselves, toward our purpose and unique life path. EFT, used diligently, advances this process with amazing speed and clarity. If not particularly, because it significantly reduces the need to experience the same life lessons repeatedly.

Notice the broadness of my purpose statement. It is not a particular type of job or vocation. There are many types of work I could do that would fulfill these desires and gifts in me. Yet when I put it with my own personal journey and what I gained from my challenges and triumphs, it further guided toward the path I'm on now—a path of immense joy, reward and challenge and a path that continues to evolve. Purpose is dynamic, not static.

There is a mythical idea that the knowledge of our purpose should arrive as a total package or like a lightning bolt. Except for the few that know at four years old what they want to do, this is not so. There is a principle that Jesus shared, "whoever is faithful in a little is also faithful in much." He's relating a universal principle. As it applies here, if you're not willing or do not have the courage to follow even the smallest flashes of intuition and insight, the greater insights will seem elusive.

It takes a great deal of courage and confidence to follow your Inner Voice. It will change you. It may not make sense to the world around you and the outcomes may not always look pretty. But with each choice you make to listen and heed it, your confidence builds.

EFT belongs in the beginning, middle and end (if there is one) of this stunning adventure. Use it for all that drowns out the passion in you waiting to be heard; like overcommitment, giving our time, money, or energy to what drains us or is not congruent, pains of the past, low self-love, oppressive relationships, the need to please others to an unhealthy extent, guilt, resentment, the fear of loss or what "they" will think, procrastination, wanting guarantees, fear of making the same mistake, believing we don't deserve it or that it is selfish, and let us not forget the all inclusive shame. All these and more are prime candidates for EFT.

What leads to the discovery of purpose? Decide what you value. Decide the lifestyle that inspires you. Then make choices congruent with those values. Do you value time for balance, relaxation, being with those you love? Then make choices congruent with that value, right now, no matter how small. Even if it means carving out 10 minutes in your current schedule to make a phone call or do something that fosters a sense of internal balance. Set your intention to expand that time. And remember you will be tested. Be grateful! It is the Universe saying, "Are you sure?" Say "Yes!" with your actions.

Use EFT diligently to clear the things in the way, such as those listed above. Whatever your struggle, dive into it and determine to learn everything you can from it, using EFT. Make time for personal, quiet, and active exploration, including journaling, prayer and meditation, reading, learning from others. You are the only one who can make this time.

Discovering and waking up to your purpose and passion takes courage. It may take you where others in your life do not understand or do not immediately "approve." You will open to parts of yourself perhaps left dormant or hidden away. With EFT, you can release yourself from the fears and resistance associated with this and open yourself to the inherent freedom of this journey. As you do, you will encounter more love, more freedom, more joy and more agility to jump the hurdles along the way. I can attest to this.

As Marianne Williamson so eloquently states, it is not our weaknesses that frighten us away from coming into the light, of awakening to our purpose, it is our power. Dare to free yourself.