Finding Purpose in Life - Are We There Yet?

Sometimes we need to pause and admire how far we have come in finding purpose in life.

 

Finding purpose in life is like taking a road trip.  Have you ever taken a long road trip as a child or with young children? The line always comes up after a while on the journey – Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? It usually comes in multiple repetitions too!

 Part of the reason behind this question is pure enthusiasm and anticipation. The destination may be to a new place where we’ve read and heard how wonderful it is, but we’ve never been there. We’re so excited that we want to get there now!

 The other part of the reason behind the question is due to impatience. How come we’re not there yet? How long will it take us to finally get there, already? It’s taking too long to get there!

 Our lives are a journey. If we want to be fulfilled, if we want our hearts and souls to sing, we must find, “there“. There means reaching our full purpose and potential. There is different for each of us. Some people will find their joy and calling in raising children, being a teacher, selling insurance, creating art or music or being a CEO.

None of us know how long our journey on earth will be. So, it’s important to keep moving to get there. It’s also important to not get lost.

We will make many wrong turns, take detours, and take a longer route to get there. That is all part of the journey.

As I keep moving in my quest for there, I realized this week that I wasn’t enjoying the journey. Like a kid in the back seat, I impatiently asked, “When will I finally get there, already!”

I haven’t appreciated the milestones I’ve made as I’ve stayed on the path following the compass of my heart. It’s like taking a drive up the stunning Pacific Coast Highway and not looking out the window to take in the views. To truly appreciate some of the stunning views would mean pulling off to the side of the road to take it all in. There is a reason why they have  scenic view pull-off areas! We’re meant to stop and take in the view!

While it is important to keep moving, it’s just as important to refuel and rest. If we don’t, there won’t be any of us left when we do get there!

I discovered that I am finally on the road to there. Some days I am there in how life flows, the joy I find in the present moment, helping clients grow their businesses, getting swept up in my writing and creating or encouraging someone to overcome a challenge or to just keep on keeping on.

Maybe the Apostle Paul summed up “there” the best when he said,

“Not that I have already obtained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do; Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Phillipians 3:12-13

 

Let us keep moving towards our there but never forget to enjoy the journey.

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