By Margie Ulbrick

What is the purpose of my life? Why am I here? It is this question that I encountered from a young age that set me searching all my life. I didn’t always know I was searching but I was. I needed a reason to live. My own brother had committed suicide and I was enveloped in grief, sadness, confusion and loss. Perhaps one of the legacies of his life for me is that from a young age I searched for how to make my life count. If I couldn’t do that, then I also didn’t want to live.

Recently I was having a conversation with a guy in his 20’s about his life. He’s a terrific young man with a wonderful heart and a great ability to put people at ease. He is as genuine as they come, but listening to him made me a touch sad. In talking about his job he described hating living in the city, but needing to do so for the income he had gotten used to. He was clearly happier in his skin when doing things connected with nature and he has a dream of one day living a rural life-style; one that is self-sufficient and sustainable. He says maybe he’ll do it some day, when he’s made enough money. I could see he thought I was from pixie-land when I tried to urge him to follow his dreams!

What happens to us when we live a life disconnected from our soul and life purpose? What happens when we live a life that others dream for us, when we sell out to our soul and are run by the projections of parents, family and expectations from outside of us? We begin the process of slowly dying while still living. If my brother’s death taught me anything, it was to treasure the gift of the life I have. In order to do this, finding out why I’m here and connecting with a purpose greater than me has been vital.

We live in a world where external markers dominate. We focus on what others will think of us and on living a material life. Society booms at us to take up the capitalist cause. Consume achieve, consume achieve: work harder, be more pressured, become more stressed, day in day out. Why? Because we think we should, because we think we have to, because we are programmed for conformity.

How do you find your life purpose? Your purpose goes beyond trying to survive. Firstly, we all have a universal purpose: the one purpose we are here for: to love and to grow. How amazing it is when we set our life intention to do those two things, how full of energy, enthusiasm, and passion our lives become, just by remembering that this is what truly matters. This becomes the compass of our life and so much that does not matter simply falls away.

Secondly, your individual purpose requires that you search for your own passion, what makes you feel connected to life, what puts you in the flow of life, what you love to do. It takes real courage to own this and then to follow it. I can almost hear you saying “easier said than done!” Sure, there are bills to be paid, families to be provided for, but it is ALWAYS possible to connect at any given moment with either your universal or individual purpose. Richard Bach was speaking for all of us when he said “Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they’re yours.”

It is possible to go after your dreams; they have not been given to you for nothing! So follow the lead of the universe and listen to that inner nudging. The still quiet voice within that will be quietly urging you to take steps towards living a fulfilling life. Don’t worry about the how, just follow the inspiration of the moment and allow the mystery of life to carry you into living the life you dream of. Commit to being inspired by the moment and to trusting that the way will be opened.

Living a life on purpose may mean blooming where you’re planted. It may mean that you have responsibilities and commitments which mean delaying certain things. However, you can still live a life inspired by purpose by bringing meaning to whatever you do. By accepting and relishing the position you are in as being an opportunity to love you will be moved by your soul and be able to follow your inner guidance and inspiration. When you ask what life wants out of you, not what you can get from life, you will receive great gifts. When you take the focus off getting and put your attention on giving you will be aligning yourself with the grand creative plan. That goes way beyond what we can imagine!

Margie Ulbrick

Wholistic Counsellor and Life Coach

www.margieulbrickcounselling.com