Hi David,

First off, I thought I’d let you know that your post was EXACTLY what I needed to read today.

I distinctly remember a couple of months in this year where the ONLY question burning me up was – what is my purpose? what is it that I am supposed to be doing and why haven’t I found it yet?

At the same time, disillusioned with the world of employment, I quit my job, taking myself out of a conflict-zone and really focused all my time and energy on seeking Inner answers. During this time, my eyes were also opened to the reality of this world – the madness of the rat race, the misdirection of ambition and how, in the end, how very futile it all seemed.

In the course of looking for answers, I attended a spiritual retreat. It was there that I asked the guru the question – How do you find your purpose? And he responded, “to understand your purpose, understand your motive.”

That was one sentence that stayed with me.

For some time, I briefly flirted with the idea of leaving the material world as we know it behind, and embark on a spiritual journey. In that manner, I would remove myself from the nonsense that working for someone else’s dream can sometimes be – I would never have to compromise on anything ever again, and I would be on a “greater” journey, as compared to those who were running someone else’s race.

Then today, in my inbox, was a quote from the guru. (Quick note: He’s someone born into a Muslim family, who left his family behind to travel to the Himalayas, study the Vedas and seek the Truth. He now runs a spiritual organisation called The Satsang Foundation (www.satsang-foundation.org). He’s known by the nickname Sri M.)

Sri M said, ” In this material world – earning one’s living, going through all the problems and travails of worldly existence, mundane existence, is a very necessary step to learning about spiritual consciousness and evolving to higher levels of consciousness and in fact there is nothing wrong with it.”

It was then that I understood my MOTIVE – I wanted to escape the real world, by using spirituality. That’s when I also realised it was not the way for me.

I was also reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and he devotes a chapter to Purpose. And he said something beautiful – as long as you have found your Inner Purpose, the Outer Purpose does not matter. The way I interpreted that was – as long as I understand myself, and grow myself spiritually and personally, then what I do for a living and hw “important” or “awesome” it is in the scale of things does not matter.

Another realisation I recently arrived at was this – everything you need, you have inside you. All the answers, the skills, the courage etc etc etc – it is within.

And that is precisely what you typed (perhaps unconsciously) – Am I trying too hard to find what may of been there all along? You’ve already realised that ‘it has been there all along.’ You just have to allow that answer to rise into your consciousness. I’ve come to understand that the mind needs something to chew on constantly, so even my genuine quest for purpose had become a piece of mental chewing gum.

I didn’t want to join the real world again. I still haven’t. But the one thing I have stopped doing is TRYING to find answers.

The only thing I can tell you with ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY is this – stop trying. just be still, be calm, and let it come to you. and it will. Nerdy Creator is right – don’t worry about finding ‘IT’. Don’t waste your energy in trying to see the destination, and only then start walking.

Wait. And take it step by step. Don’t bother about “failure” – it’s not real, just a weird parameter created by the world to limit your definition of yourself.

Wish you love and luck on your journey. Keep walking. 🙂

Hi Midge,

What you’ve written above describe my current situation perfectly. I’ve spent the last 8-10 years working non-stop, without paying any attention to my personal life.

After putting in and withdrawing my resignation thrice, I finally had the courage to go through with it. All through the process, one part of my mind kept asking, “what are you going to do with all this spare time you are heading towards??”

I also identify with Scott when he says he keeps changing his mind and questioning his decisions. When I finally put in my papers, I felt relief. I am still serving my notice period – but every now and then, doubt creeps back up – I question whether I’ve done the right thing or whether I should stick it out even though I’m not enjoying myself. The thought of being out of work gives me great anxiety – at the same time, I have another offer on hand and I feel reluctant to take it on.

I’m unsure how to make good, sound decisions anymore, with regard to work.

Any advice?