“Each of us is an artist of our days; the greater our integrity and awareness, the more original and creative our time will become.” – John O’Donohue
Being successful and living a purposeful life is not the same thing. Success is often counted in the external trappings of wealth, fame, and youth but you could still miss the mark of what you were destined to become when you were born.
The disconnect between external and internal needs will inevitably trigger a pain often drowned in the addiction to short-lived gratifications and distractions. This is why taking time to reflect, digest, and reassess personal values and needs is so important.
Humanity is collectively transitioning to higher consciousness
The meaning of life and purpose differs for every individual but at the same time, humanity is collectively transitioning to an ever-changing evolution of consciousness. The global crisis situations we are experiencing at the moment are the very nature of the transition between the old and the new.
Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl describes the journey of creating and doing, experiencing and encountering, and cultivating a different perspective on pain and suffering.
For eons, the largest part of humanity has essentially struggled to provide basic needs such as food, shelter, and reproduction. Our ability to walk on two legs and use our hands to shape, mold, and exploit our environment has honed exceptional survival skills, even in the harshest environments.
As social beings, humans have in communities, villages, and cities made major technological advances through division of labor. Individuals were able to specialize in skills such as carpentry, clothing manufacturing, or food production while others could spend their time studying or working on new inventions.
Moving from a culture of exploitation to one of restoration and sustainability
The downside is that we have become so successful that we are threatening the foundations not only of our own future but of most other species on Earth. Since the incremental industrialization of the 19th century natural resources have been extracted, exploited, and destroyed. The burning of fossil fuels is the foundation of our transportation and manufacturing industries but it has heated the atmosphere to such an extent that if nothing is done, life on earth will become uninhabitable for humans.
We should not be nostalgic about outmoded structures and institutions but work on new initiatives which reconnect us in search of common goals and help restore the natural balance of nature.
There is no silver arrow in finding a life of meaning and purpose. One stage of life often is a training ground for the next stage. The skillset acquired in one discipline serves another but in a different way. Growth and meaning are found where we perceive the flow of where we can engage actively with our unique abilities and creativity.
The pain and trauma of the past can either be a burden pulling you back or it was that “walk over the hot coals” that instilled the burning desire, providing the fuel that catapulted you forward into a new future.
In a spiritual context, we as individuals have been bestowed with Grace by a divine entity. We have been given unique individual talents and were born into circumstances that have put us on the trajectory of becoming who we really are.
The soul path is always edging toward fulfillment but often this path is clouded, confused, and distracted. Yet in those most extreme moments of pain and joy, there is alignment with soul purpose. You become aware that the universe is minding your back and that you are being guided into your authenticity.
Life is a constant process of learning, adapting, realigning, and ultimately growing as spiritual beings in human form. While deep walking through life, the soul is harvesting from all of life’s experiences and becoming whole.
Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker
P.S. In my new book “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living” I go into more detail on this topic. It is available on Amazon and where all good books are sold. You might also find my other books “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago” of interest.
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