CATALYST NEWS

Eva Dahm, CPCC, MA

May, 2007

Dedicated to your growth and exploration.

SEEKING A LIFE PURPOSE

If I had money for every time someone said, "I am trying to find my life purpose." I would be rich. Most of us have it in our minds that a life purpose is something that we will discover or realize and it will be a lightening bolt.

We hear about someone who knew their whole life that they were meant to be a doctor or teacher. And that is marvelous. It is wonderful when someone has this certainty especially when it is an internal knowing rather than family pressures. In fact, only the internal knowing counts in my opinion.

However, your sense of your path may not be so grandiose. So rather than pining away for the huge life purpose to crash down on your awareness, perhaps it's better to simply do the next thing that seems to attract your attention. The next training, a new variation on your work, another degree, or a specialty is the step to take. And one of these next steps will bridge you to an even more passionate purpose.

When we don't know, we can also turn inward. The Peace Pilgrim says, "If you do not yet know clearly where you fit, I suggest that you try seeking it in the receptive silence. I used to walk amid the beauties of nature, just receptive and silent, and wonderful insights would come to me. You begin to do your part in the Life Pattern by doing all the good things you feel motivated toward, even though they are just little good things at first. You give these priority in your life over all the superficial things that customarily clutter human lives."

It is also possible that we "don't know" our place because the time is not upon us to know. Certainly when we are younger we have no concept of our later years and how we will impact others and the world. I believe that is kindness from the Universe that allows us to stay focused on the path ahead and stay away from feeling overwhelm.

ACTIVIST

Many of us looking for purpose expect a worldwide cause to champion or a good fight to join. This may also NOT be your unique part in the human fabric. Not all of us are destined for this type of role.

Julia in "The Summer I Dared" wrestles with this issue after surviving an accident. "Most of the people who died were younger than me. They had so much ahead of them. So here I am, spared. For what? Why? There has to be a purpose, something that goes beyond what I've done so far in my life. And it's not an activist thing-like I'm supposed to try to change the world. It has to do with me. With making me a whole person."

Being the best unique individual is the goal we each have. When we live from our best then we touch others with love and they change. I believe that changing one person changes the world in small steady ways. One of the first books I read that started to change my growth was The Aquarian Conspiracy which talked about the critical mass necessary for global change. (The modern version is Tipping Point.) When group thinking becomes that we no longer need the Berlin wall---suddenly, the wall comes down. Impacting one person's life for peace can assist us to reach our global tipping point for peace.

So how do you need to change to be your best in every situation? How have you always been? Perhaps this is what needs to change. If you have always been a planner, try being spontaneous and vice versa.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

So how do you determine what's next? What calls to your heart? It's not about more money or more stuff, it's about aliveness and juiciness? What's really exciting for you? Happiness lives where you feel lost in time and in love with your activity.

What are the activities, pastimes, people you value the most. Living a life filled with your values creates fulfillment. Most of my clients are in touch with some values and not with others. They know they love their kids but they work long hours and barely have time for the family. They love to be outside in nature because it grounds them and inspires them, and yet they work a job that takes so many hours they never leave the computer screen.

Having the nerve to step into something truly rewarding or realize that you are trading one value for another is the key. Realize the trade off: you work long days so your weekends are your own to devote time to your family or to nature walks.

In Living on Purpose, the authors maintain that purpose is more a verb and not a noun. Rather than WHAT you do as teacher or doctor, life purpose is more HOW you do everything you do. You empower others or heal or research across all specific roles. For example, in my life I was involved since college in assisting people to connect better and to transform themselves and their world.

HOW MAY I SERVE?

We come to the most powerful way to approach your days and your life. Simply asking each day and each moment, "How may I serve?" What can I do to empower another? How can I listen to a friend or acquaintance and provide strength and comfort? Recently another yoga student simply shared a family health crisis with our class. We were all able to hear her anguish and listen with compassion. She left the class comforted and ready to sit at the hospital again that afternoon.

When you ask this question you may find yourself doing different things than you planned. You may take time to mentor a co-worker rather than sitting at your computer doing yet another email.

"I certainly think that everyone should be doing what feels right to do." says the Peace Pilgrim.

KNOW YOU ARE ON THE PATH

I also believe that we are usually on our right path. At least we are on ONE path to our Life Pattern or Life Purpose. If we follow our gut feeling that pulls us to the next step, then we are moving the in the best direction to make the most difference on the earth. And if we ask regularly how we may serve and we respond, then we are where we will do the most good for others.

"Never think of any right effort as being fruitless-all right effort bears good fruit, whether we see results or not. Just concentrate on thinking and living and acting for peace, and inspiring others to do likewise, leaving the results in God's hands."
Peace Pilgrim

Complimentary Coaching Session, Email Eva

The Aquarian Conspiracy, Marilyn Ferguson, 1980.

Living on Purpose, Paulson, Brown and Wolf, 1988.

Steps toward Inner Peace, Peace Pilgrim, 1981.

The Summer I Dared, Barbara Delinsky 2004.