Some definitions to ponder:
The condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally
The general or universal condition of human existence
A corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived as belonging to the soul
We can find purpose by pausing for one moment and reflect on the nature of what we call life. Connecting with life, is connecting with ourselves as human beings. The first of the three definitions of life above, defines life as something that is transformational (metabolism), that extends oneself into new forms of life (reproduction), and the power to change, according to the signals and messages we pick up from our environment (adaptation). This definition notes that changes start within ourselves (internally), before being manifested in the outside world.
When we first start to question our purpose, most often than not, we will look at our physical surroundings and circumstances and decide what we want more or less of. For example, if I had more time, if I had more money, if I didn’t have children blah de blah. Life is such that these are just products, outward manifestations of what you have been creating internally, based on what you have picked up from your environment, and decided to create as a result.
The second definition gets us to look at life as a condition of our human existence, which is fundamental to understanding Life Purpose. No surprises here - we are living beings, called human. This is the label, for the species that we are. We can find our place in the world by comparing ourselves to nature and identifying what makes us the same, and different according to the three kingdoms of minerals, plants, and animals.
It doesn’t take much to observe that whilst we require minerals for the maintenance of the physical body and are a chemical constitution, we are more than a combination of minerals and chemical substances; otherwise, we wouldn’t be here, living and breathing.
We have similarities to the plant kingdom in that we have a physical body that absorbs nutrients from the soil, grow, reproduce, die – as with plants, we have a body that contains a life force, chi, or prana. Yet, we know that we are different to plants, and we compare ourselves to the animal kingdom. Animals have the ability to respond to the environment by staying and fighting, or ‘flighting’ from danger, they show patterns of behavior associated with the particular animal group they belong to – animals have an instinct, and they use this instinct to survive, and complete their purpose as an animal.
Animals of the same species, will have a collective behavior pattern, yet with human beings, there is something that sets us apart from the animal kingdom. As living, breathing beings, we have a sense of individuality. This is the called the Ego – it is what makes you, you. Not only are you a human being, living out the purpose and characteristics of a human being, you have an individual way about you which desires to be expressed in the world, which if not given the opportunity, will lead to a feeling off-track, and off purpose.
Today’s society is one of conform, as we are told how to dress, behave, learn, express – we all have ideas about what is acceptable, and what is not. They can differ from person to person, depending on our family background and cultural heritage, yet we find that most of who we are today is based on what we have picked up from our environment around us – and this to some extent is part of our make-up of being a humans, evolved from animals that have a greater sense of collective consciousness, rather than you, as a unique individual expression, within a greater collective system.
Consider being human as a living being that responds to his or her environment, whilst doing so in his or her unique way, or expression. When we feel off track, not happy with who or where we are, we are not feeling our humanness. This stems from a lack of appreciation for our individuality, and many of us will often suppress who we really are, in order to fit in, and appear ‘normal’.
This sense of normality, is nothing more than a collective viewpoint that changes throughout time in response to things happening around us, and whilst we need to appreciate the need for living in harmony with one another, we must not do so, at the cost of being human – that is, you were meant to be an individual, with a combination of talents and qualities, that make you, you. Combine your uniqueness, with ‘free will’, your greatest gift of choice in responding to events in your life and you will set yourself free. Of course – if you choose to do so.