In the first part of this article (below this one: Living Your Purpose - Aligning With Heart) we explored the difference between the essence (energy) and the many possible forms (expressions) of your purpose. When aligned with your essence, you can live your purpose in the moment and touch others in the heart through everything you do. Nothing else is necessarily needed to fulfill your purpose. 

But one day life may wake you up with a specific calling. Whispering about possibilities that strike your heart’s deepest core. It could be an inspired vision or a dream of what might become. A call to a new career path or an idea for a business of your own. Perhaps a book waiting to share its message through you.

A calling like that demands a conscious choice. It's a defining moment that will direct your future. These are the crossroads where people typically want to know the "right path".

But what if there is no right or wrong here? Once again, forms can vary while the essence remains the same. Whatever you choose, it becomes your path of learning exactly those life lessons that await you next.

Alternatively, you could find yourself undergoing an inner crises of meaning. Finding no inner satisfaction, even if everything looks great on the outside. It may feel like you've lost connection to you true self or just grown out of who you once were. It's time to let go of the safety zone and open up to what's in the coming.

Sometimes life calls you through an external crisis that shatters the very foundations of your life. It kind of makes the choice on your behalf forcing you to leave the old behind, like it or not. Life has its ways to nudge us towards growth.

Whatever it is that brought you to the crossroads of your life, between the present moment and your calling is a leap of faith into the unknown. It requires courage to take the first step on a path that is not yet fully visible. And it never is completely. Standing in a place of not knowing is a prerequisite for making your dreams come true.

But the mind wants to be in control and know every detail, so you could feel safe. The mind is never quite ready. Therefore, let your heart be the guiding force when it comes to knowing what's best for you. But do consult the mind when it's time to move into action and do some wise calculations. Conscious living too must be grounded in practical reality.

Making the choice could be one learning lesson in itself. What if it's not so much about what you choose but how you go about choosing it? As with all important choices, your might recognize voices of fear (ego) and voices of love (higher knowing) - which one will you follow?  

Sometimes fear disguises as the rational wise option. And often the path that is most aligned with your purpose comes with greatest fear. For deep inside you know that it's time to jump off the cliff of your comfort zone to find your wings.  

The more you are willing to be stretched, the more your reality is going to form around your inner passion and calling. That which truly ignites your heart and awakens your natural genius. Most of the time, it may seem like you are living in a zone of flow, ease and grace.

Even so, it's wise to pay attention to your other needs too and get enough rest.  Everything in life moves in cycles. Time for activity and a time for rest. Time for being inspired and a time for restoring balance. So take care that your energy becomes continuously recharged.

​And there is always the next vision, goal, realization. Things are never quite complete or perfect in the human terms. You stumble and fall. But you do your best with heart. And deep down, you know. Your life matters. You are living your purpose, moment by moment.

In Service With Heart - Mia

Reflection - 
Below a couple of questions that you can place in the heart in quiet moments of reflection or meditation. 

• Where is my next point of growth to realize my greater potential?
• What do I need here and now for taking the next step into the unknown?
• How do I take care of my energy and well-being while reaching for my vision?

​See Part 1 of this Article! Living Your Purpose - Aligning With Heart
(right below this one)

​Your life has a purpose – you have some special gift to contribute to the world. And there is no-one else on Earth who could bring forth exactly what you have inside.

How do you then get to know your purpose and your gifts? That’s the question I’ve heard so many times from seekers of their path and it has certainly inspired my own life since young.

Below some realizations along the way.

What is my purpose? That’s an enormous question for the mind to handle. Hence it begins to rationalize and doubt, becoming fixed: “I must find my purpose, so I won’t stop searching until I get it.” Or “I’m going to sit on this fence until I’m certain about what I should do”.

Doing is the language the mind comprehends, right? But purpose in essence is not about doing. It’s more about being.

The more you chase your purpose, the further it slips away from your reach as anything you get attached to. Attachment triggers tension which in turn inhibits the creative flow.  

And the more you think about it the more firmly you get trapped in the brain which is very limited in its capacity to help you out with inquiries like that. 

It's your heart that holds the essence of your purpose and gifts. Including a most intelligent navigation system with a compass that always points to your true North. The heart knows even if you mind doesn’t. Therefore, the essential task upon your quest of purpose is to connect with your heart. 

When you are centered within your heart, all that you do radiates the light of your gift and purpose. Every choice you make or meeting with another person, even performing everyday routines. And it's not dependent on your ability to name your purpose or recognize your gifts. It's the unique quality of energy that you deliver. Perhaps nothing else is really needed for fulfilling your purpose?

What is then "living in the heart"? To me its about living in harmony with myself, others and the whole. Being true to who I am, honoring my own authentic feelings, values and needs. Being present to others and honoring what is important to them. And being available for life to serve through me. Asking life: How can I be of service today? 

I believe it's in the giving that our gift becomes known. And by performing small things with heart, our purpose begins to reveal itself.  

But if you live your life cut off from your center, the light cannot shine through nor can your purpose guide your actions. No matter how successful you may be. It's about following someone else's agenda and expectations. 

Even if you can fulfill your purpose without putting it into words, it may become a source of great inspiration when you do so. A good practice to connect with your purpose and capture its energy is meditation. By tuning in to your heart on a regular basis, you could for instance come up with an idea that your purpose is to be an agent of peace. That would capture for you the essential quality of energy that inspires your actions.

​Just remember to keep it open for new discoveries, to change and evolve as you do. For energy can take many forms, and your purpose can follow many paths.

You can explore the expressions of your purpose by asking: How do I enhance peace in my work and everyday encounters with others? Obviously, there are several tasks, jobs and careers where you can spread the energy of peace, right? And even more ways to express it in your everyday life.

So, how do you know when you are living your purpose?

When you begin to move towards a more authentic life, you may notice a growing sense of inner peace, no matter what happens on the outside. Gradually, the external circumstances too will become organized in new ways. For the outer reality always reflects the inner world. New opportunities to harness your true talents may come your way. Unexpected events show up just in time. And you come across with others who share your values and passions. Not because you actively looked for your purpose, as it was always within you. It all happens because you have aligned with your heart and allow your purpose to serve through you.

Living your purpose doesn’t mean the end of difficulties, for life ever challenges us to grow. More likely, the path of the heart will trigger your shadows and nagging doubts just as it gives you tremendous joy and fulfillment. It becomes a rite of passage challenging you to your limits, so you can release old beliefs about what's possible and discover your true greatness.

Are you ready to say YES to your Path of Purpose?

​In Service With Heart - Mia

Reflection -
To inspire your journey, below a couple of questions that you can place in the heart in quiet moments of reflection or meditation. 

• Here and now, what do I want to create?
• ​What ignites my joy and passion?
• ​What do I need in this moment for living my life with heart and purpose? ​
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See Part 2 of this article! Living Your Purpose - Following Your Calling (right above this one)