Purpose

What if your purpose is very different than what you've been taught to believe?

• What if your purpose is to build an everlasting relationship with yourself? To fall deeply in love with precious you? This isn't self-centered or selfish, it's self-expansive. Interconnected. Conscious.


• What if your purpose is to forgive yourself and others? And by doing so, to allow warm waves of compassion to wash over the entire planet (yourself included).



• What if your purpose is to gently heal all self-injury? And by doing so, to become a mentor and role model for others to do the same.



• What if your purpose is to release all shame and feelings of unworthiness? Guess what you'll find behind those feelings? Vulnerability. Roll out the red carpet for the V-word, because vulnerability is where your true strength and glory reside.



• Shall we talk about perfection? Yes, I think we must. What if your purpose is to teach yourself that there is no such thing as perfection and that your never ending pursuit of it is destroying your life and your relationships. Let it go.



• What if your purpose is to speak kindly to yourself so that you elevate your energy and the world around you?



• What if your purpose is to develop an everlasting faith in yourself? To remember your holiness and treat yourself accordingly. The deeper your faith gets, the stronger your connection to a higher power.



• What if your purpose is to take impeccable care of yourself so that you have the energy and joy to serve others?

And lastly...

What if your purpose is to bear witness to your suffering? To acknowledge it and embrace it in order to move through it. "They" say that "suffering is optional." I'm not so sure about that anymore. I used to think that was true. But that was before I had a deep and layered experience with suffering. Today, I think suffering is essential. The trick is to learn how to move out of suffering once you get the nugget and are ready to apply the lessons. Note: Residue of pain may remain (and that's OK), but at some point you can fully release the suffering.

Seriously, what if finding your purpose is about finding and nurturing yourself? Not an external to-do or accomplishment, even if that to-do or accomplishment is the most important discovery of all time. Because if you are the one destined to find the most important "aha" of all time, you will probably find it quicker and easier if you feel good, loved and happy. Start there. It's that simple.

Now this doesn't mean that I don't love my job (or you), or that I'm going to quit in any way. I cherish my work and all of my readers. And it doesn't mean that you shouldn't start an orphanage or save animals or empower women or teach people how to file taxes. It means that you no longer need to connect your personal self-worth with a plaque on the wall.

Your self-worth has nothing to do with your craft or calling, and everything to do with how you treat yourself.

I've met brilliant and effective activists who I have gallons of respect for but who are dirty messes inside. Mean messes. Bitter messes. Sad messes. And guess what? Their reach and impact reflects their attitude. Imagine what they could accomplish if they moved from loathing to love, if they knew that no matter how important their mission, their inner purpose matters even more. Folks are like plants, we all lean toward the light.

You are the light. Your inner purpose is to connect with that light. Everything else will follow in time.

If you are struggling with this topic, I hope this blog gives you peace and exhale. 2013 can be easier than we think.

Now I'd love to hear from you. What do you think?

For more by Kris Carr, click here.