I’m one of those people who always wants to discuss life’s biggest questions – like ‘What is the meaning of life?’ – rather than engage in small talk, but I’ve had trouble finding others like myself. I started this blog to create a space where those questions might be asked, and begin to be answered, in a way that opens the conversation for further consideration rather than giving anything like cut and dried answers. You’re free to disagree with anything and everything I say. We all go through life deciding what feels true and what does not. Keep what works and leave the rest.
Right now, in August of 2018 in my corner of the United States of America, there is a lot of upheaval – politically, environmentally, energetically, socially, etc. It’s a situation that causes stress. I’ve found that answering some of the bigger questions about what we’re all doing here, what our true purpose is, helps to establish a foundation of comfort, strength and peace whenever the news stirs up anxiety. We all need more ways to tap into the deeper truths about our existence in this place to help us endure our hardships with grace and hope.
What are your big questions? The REALLY big ones? The ones you carry like an ember burning in the depths of your heart, sometimes causing pain, other times shining a light? I urge you to pose them either here in the comments on in your life, to someone you care about. Get them out in the open.
After suffering the profound loss of my entire biological family – through both death and estrangement from seemingly endless cycles of abuse – I was unable to NOT dig for answers to my own big questions. Grief creates a wide space, which we can either try to fill with things like alcohol or drugs, or with pure-hearted effort to figure out what the hell is really going on. I did not find the support I wished for when I lost those I love. Unfortunately, I think this is more common than not. It’s hard to face the finality of death. To love someone with your whole heart, to have them woven into your life and then feel them ripped away. It’s a scary enough prospect that friends, family, everyone can get driven away. We don’t want to have to face the tough stuff, as much as it’s good for us to do so.
What’s the meaning of life? From where I stand, it’s to learn. To grow. To exorcise our own demons through trial and error. We see a goal, strive for it, and fall flat on our face. Or we reach it but find it’s too much for us to handle, and not as wonderful as it seemed from afar. No matter the outcome of our striving, it’s the act itself, the effort, that means the most. We are here to do our best, every moment of every day. Just that. Do not feel like you are a failure unless you meet some arbitrary series of goals. Do not assume that success in life is an amount of money in the bank, or a certain number of friends, or the size of your house. Allow yourself the kindness of stopping all comparisons with those around you. You are yourself, and that is a beautiful, complete truth. You are exactly who you are supposed to be. Every aspect of your being, your body, your personality, your dreams, are intentional. You are who you are so that you will face the lessons specifically set out for you by the Universe. All you need to do is take the ride of life and let things come as they may. THAT’S IT.
You are allowed to mess up. We tend to learn the most when we do, actually. We find the most contentment when we embrace exactly who we are – warts and all – and go from there. We come equipped with everything we need in this life, right inside us. The love or power we tend to seek outside of ourselves can always be instantly found within. Love yourself with all of the energy you expend yearning for shining dreams, and you will be better off than you were. Stop trying to attain power from external places, and seek it in your soul. The more we go out into the world looking, searching, scrambling for the answer, the more we realize it was inside us all along.
It is a real tragedy that our society does not create space for us to be steered inward, learning about spirituality and listening to our intuition. There is so much noise around us all the time, so many screens and voices clamoring for attention, that we never stop to hear our own inner voices.
But, they are there. Please, experiment. Find quiet. Listen. Breathe. Meditate. Clear your mind. Ask a few big questions. There will be answers. You will feel guidance steering you to your purpose, and were exactly you are meant to be. Tune out the noise outside of you and just… listen.
You are here for a purpose. Look for it. Feel for it. Your soul wants you to realize it, so stop working against yourself and just let it come in its own time. It will get here faster the less you fight it or fear it. Ignore the distracting noise, and the false promise of money, attention, or external power. Those things will never be your answer.
There’s a lot of pain when we have to let things go, but lean into it. Let it wash through you and leave again. Feel the space the loss leaves in its wake. Use it to heal and grow.
I’ve been searching for places to find respite and calm. I want this blog to be that kind of place for anyone who needs it, so please join me in conversation. If you want to share your questions below, please do. You’re not alone and you are loved – much more than you know.
Have a blessed day.