“It isn’t about a function, it is a part of purpose.”
Purpose.
Something each of us has, but often go through life not thinking about or through. We take it for granted until we find ourselves drifting, not knowing who we “REALLY” are or what our life has been or is about.
After two days out of the office, I walked in this morning to find that statement jotted down on a notecard on my desk.
Above that statement, I had written, “Hope is not a strategy.”
Purposes require strategy, and – yep – hope is not one of them.
Hoping we find our purpose does not mean it is going to happen.
And every single one of us has a purpose – whether we are 20ish or 80ish (or somewhere in-between).
Buddhist teacher Frank Ostaseski spent many years companioning people as they were dying. His purpose was to help walk them through the process of death with ease and grace. What he found was that the same process in which they approached dying is the same process one can embrace to fully live.
Below are five invitations outlined by Ostaseski. They are beautiful invitations that will lead us each into lives of fullness and integrity.
They can be applied to us at any stage of life . . . dealing with transitions, crises of any form – health, occupational, relational, monetary), forming new relationships, letting go of old ones, or finding new realities (like empty-nesting).
Maybe take a few moments and reflect on these.
- Don’t wait. [Step fully into life. Be fully present.]
- Welcome everything, push away nothing. [Turn toward your suffering.]
- Bring your whole self to the experience.
- Find a place of rest in the middle of things. [Example – focus on your breath and breathing to center yourself]
- Cultivate a “don’t know” mind. Give yourself permission “not” to know. [Practice a beginner’s openness, curiosity, and humility.]
“Until we are led to the limits of our present game plan and find it to be insufficient, we will not search out or find our real Source.” -Rohr
May we all be connected continually to our real Source.
Grace and Peace,
Andrea