[Daily OM]: Many people are committed to
professions and personal endeavors they never consciously planned to
pursue. They attribute the shape of their lives to circumstance, taking
on roles they feel are tolerable. Each of us, however, has been blessed
with a purpose. Your life's work is the assemblage of activities that
allows you to express your intelligence and creativity, live in
accordance with your values, and experience the profound joy of simply
being yourself. Unlike traditional work, which may demand more of you
than you are willing to give, life's work demands nothing but your
intent and passion for that work. Yet no one is born with an
understanding of the scope of their purpose. If you have drifted through
life, you may feel directionless. Striving to discover your life's work
can help you realize your true potential and live a more authentic,
driven life.
To make this discovery, you must consider your interests in the present
and the passions that moved you in the past. You may have felt attracted
to a certain discipline or profession throughout your young life only
to have steered away from your aspirations upon reaching adulthood. Or
you may be harboring an interest as of yet unexplored. Consider what
calls to you and then narrow it down. If you want to work with your
hands, ask yourself what work will allow you to do so. You may be able
to refine your life's work within the context of your current
occupations. If you want to change the world, consider whether your
skills and talents lend themselves to philanthropic work. Taking stock
of your strengths, passions, beliefs, and values can help you refine
your search for purpose if you don't know where to begin. Additionally,
in your daily meditation, ask the universe to clarify your life's work
by providing signs and be sure to pay attention.
Since life's journey is one of evolution, you may need to redefine your
direction on multiple occasions throughout your lifetime. For instance,
being an amazing parent can be your life's work strongly for 18 years,
then perhaps you have different work to do. Your life's work may not be
something you are recognized or financially compensated for, such as
parenting, a beloved hobby, or a variety of other activities typically
deemed inconsequential. Your love for a pursuit, however, gives it
meaning. You'll know you have discovered your life's work when you wake
eager to face each day and you feel good about not only what you do but
also who you are.