If I were to ask you if you wake up excited and happy every day, what would be your answer? I ask this question, because I once would wake up with absolute dread about five days a week. I’d have a pit in my stomach as I’d get ready for work or the commute ahead, to the point that my dread, worry, fears, and I believe a deep knowing that I was far off the path of my purpose, led me to an illness of about eight years. I had rampant inflammation in many parts of my body, and it would take that many years to connect the dots, find the clues, and follow the breadcrumbs to the healing path and unravel the mess I had made.
I can say with certainty, I made myself ill. To clarify, limiting beliefs, unhealthy patterns, fear-based decisions, going with the crowd, doing things that didn’t align with my values, were all adding to my illness. The reason I can say this so confidently is that after an almost ten-year healing journey of trying most everything, I healed when I quit my job. I watched as swollen and stuck joints overnight became healthy. I healed when I said yes to me, my needs, my body, my desires, my passion, my joy, and my health. I took courageous steps when only myself understood them. I pivoted and changed most every aspect of my life because I was at a place of having no other choice; either continue the path towards hospitalization or change everything.
I worked in HR, but I had always wanted to be a writer. I had kept receiving intuitive nudges and writing ideas for years. But I was living in the expensive, fast-paced, keep-up-with-the-Jones Bay Area, as a divorce and single income homeowner. It wasn’t until I decided to alleviate some stress by selling the home and moved to change up patterns, that I felt safe enough to explore writing. It was all part of my divine path. Earlier in childhood I had a lot of trauma and I was able to calm myself in nature. I was lucky enough to have a large yard with an orchard and beautiful flowers all around me. I’d usually be barefoot in the yard, making flower arrangements, climbing trees, or feeding fruit to my dogs. I found solace within the trees, flowers, and with the animals. They saved me. I was a highly sensitive empathic child, and outside was where I found healing and peace.
Following my healing journey, I’m now a writer, advocate for healing with nature, and here to be of service and have compassion for others. My four main paths all came together like a beautiful intersection symphony. I found my purpose, and it was a large pillar in my healing and growth journey. My purpose is a big reason that I wake up happy every day. It’s why the days don’t feel like the same or monotonous because I’m building towards a future and excited to impact more people. I am on my right path and my body is feeling great because of it. I went through such a profoundly dark and difficult time, facing all of my shadows and doing the work to get here, but it was absolutely worth it. It took taking charge of my fears and choosing to take steps from trust instead. I returned to my heart and my authentic core, and I’m feeling more home than ever. I am wholeheartedly one hundred percent in my purpose.
Now that we know why purpose is important, how is it that one finds their purpose when it’s not super clear yet? Provided below are some tips I’ve learned on discovering your purpose.
- Think about what you were innately drawn to as a child. My other friends weren’t necessarily running barefoot amongst the chest-high mustard seeds like I was, or worried about their dog’s daily vitamin c intake. What did you love to do as a child? What lit you up? What were you drawn to?
- What are your passions now? What do you gravitate to learn about now? What would you ideally do if you had extra time?
- What is it that your friends compliment you for, or ask you for advice on? Often they can see something even if you can’t.
- If you had all the money in the world, what would you be doing with your time here?
- Have you reviewed your north node placement? Your north node in astrology represents where you are heading, whereas the south node is your comfort zone. You can look up which house your north node is in and which sign it is in, and that can give you more insight into what your life purpose is.
Once you can hone in on your purpose, you don’t necessarily have to quit your job and throw caution to the wind like I did, but you can spend some down time with it or as a side passion. I can assure you that having a purpose in life is one of the main healing pillars on our paths, and can lead to a more fulfilled, healthy, and heart-centered journey.