How I Found My Life Purpose

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1998

Abstract

ttps://readmedium.com/in-gods-hands-a381caf6c7ad"> <div> <div> <h2>In God’s Hands</h2> <div><h3>Everybody, in fact the entire universe, is in God’s hands; so don’t worry so much I reminded my friend even though</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*DFd1cUoryVeRdVBltQJfmg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="4180">Inspirational by <a href="undefined">Ilana Lydia</a>:</p><div id="a7da" class="link-block"> <a href="https://ilanalydia11.medium.com/6-underrated-quotes-that-help-me-focus-d7c73ee17960"> <div> <div> <h2>6 Underrated Quotes that Help Me Focus</h2> <div><h3>For when you have a furry brain</h3></div> <div><p>ilanalydia11.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*7y8FirjSOQQ-FciY)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="1b6b">Article by <a href="undefined">Shanna Loga</a>:</p><div id="a63f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://shannaloga.medium.com/what-am-i-worth-as-a-stay-at-home-mom-ec93803afb54"> <div> <div> <h2>What Am I Worth as a Stay-at-Home Mom?</h2> <div><h3>And is what I do considered work?</h3></div> <div><p>shannaloga.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*0niE-C__dn_qY_tCFmVFrg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="1e80">Humor by <a href="undefined">Lotta Eirado</a>:</p><div id="beb5" clas

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s="link-block"> <a href="https://lottaeirado.medium.com/4-handy-life-lessons-i-learned-from-the-very-hungry-caterpillar-bc50aab404ab"> <div> <div> <h2>4 Handy Life Lessons I Learned From The Very Hungry Caterpillar</h2> <div><h3>This classic children’s book by the late Eric Carle may be an oldie, but its lessons are still goodies.</h3></div> <div><p>lottaeirado.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*8tLH0G_PGrYYWKWhK1JzPg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="e98e">Of course, after a few weeks here, my reading list has over 300 stories and poems. I do the same thing on Medium as I do in real life with collecting books — my shelves are full of novels in my “to be read” list that I’ll eventually get around to. While I do own a Kindle, reading a physical book has no comparison: that slightly musty old-book smell or the fresh aroma of newly printed ink — the heavy weight of the physical book in my hands — the shushing sound as I turn the pages — the satisfaction of flipping to the last chapter and being able to close the book with a satisfied sigh on a story well read.</p><p id="b804">The only problem is that my reading list here (and piles of novels at home) keeps on growing. Surrounding myself with books is like wearing clothes — I feel naked if I don’t have them around. I’m not a collector of anything else, except now I’ve added Medium articles to the equation. So the question is…</p><p id="88d3">Does anyone else have a Medium addiction? Is there a cure?</p><figure id="0861"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*RTZev5XCvdc76HxnN7nP9g.jpeg"><figcaption>Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/mohamed_hassan-5229782/">Mohamed Hassan, Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure></article></body>

Through pain, growth, and self-discovery

Journaling Notes & Self-reflection | Photo by Author

It begins with self-awareness, the awareness that something needs to be changed in your life, your way of being, and the deep desire to find solutions and answers for yourself. Everyone is constantly in search of the things that their heart truly desires and ways to live better, but how does one go about doing so?

You have to walk that journey yourself, experience all the good and bad, each of them will help you to re-calibrate your path and give you more accurate data to find your true north. But how often do we get swayed by the external voices and refuse to listen to what’s within? Have you ever felt like you are being pulled in different directions only to discover that’s not what you want?

“What you discover on your own is always more exciting than what someone else discovers for you — it’s like the marriage between romantic love and an arranged marriage.“ — Terrence Rafferty

I’m sorry for this comparison, but it helps to give us perspective on the power of choice that we all have. But it’s sad to see that many of us succumb to living other people’s beliefs in our lives, which in a sense is an ‘arranged’ life. And many of us do this because we fear. We fear to step out of our comfort zones, we fear to step into the unknown, we fear judgment, we fear letting people down…

Your real life begins when you stop seeking approval from anyone but yourself. Tune into your heart. Listen. Give it loving attention and space to inform you what you truly want to do and not what you SHOULD be doing. Approach it with curiosity, patience, and openness.

“Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.” — James Stephens

One of the greatest shifts happened when I allowed myself to explore. I became more focused on the process than the outcome, as with my writing practice. It’s the willingness to accept whatever that evolves from it and keeping an inquisitive and open mind rather than being judgemental.

Even with your greatest fears-whatever they may be, embrace and invite them with a sense of curiosity. What can I learn from this? The reason that our fears arise is often due to the meaning and importance they hold in our subconscious, so much that it blocks us from taking the first steps.

But if you reframe fear as your friend, as a loving message that is guiding you to what actions you need to take, what’s important in your life, everything starts moving. Know that it is there for a reason, explore it, and start taking small steps towards whatever’s on the other side of fear.

Sometimes that might also mean going deeper to explore the pain that is beneath fear. Personally, I have come a long way to befriending my pain and past, and now using that to empower and guide me rather than belittle me. I held on to the belief that there must be ways to live better, be better, and feel better. It led me to writing, to meditation, to learning about psychology, and it even led me to journaling and starting a personal growth community online.

I went from suffering to being educated and empowered. I began to understand why I behave or think the way I do and what I can do about it. My deep desire to change and to live better led me to a greater sense of self and it has transformed me so much that I want to share my growth and learnings with the world. During lockdown, I started a little online community where we all shared passions of personal development and journaling. It has grown beyond my expectations and I found myself recently delivering teachings about life skills such as stress management, perfectionism.. etc. (All of my pain points!)

The community has evolved and grown, allowing me to step into my true purpose, where it transformed my painful experiences into something of great meaning and empowerment. I began to see the light of my experiences where it has pushed me to grow, challenge myself, and also developed my ability to empathise and connect with people on a deeper level.

It has touched my heart to know that my experiences and learnings could be of help to someone in any way, and I forge towards this path of becoming a wellness advocate and writer each day, bringing my whole heart into my writings, sharings in knowing that I can bring positivity and growth to this world.