Mindfulness and Living With Purpose

10.1.2017

As Robert Byrne once said, “The purpose of life is a life with purpose.” This is easier said than done. From an early age, we’re asked what we want to do when we grow up. The emphasis is usually on what job we will do, as if the sooner we decide the better. There is so much pressure to have a path set out by age 17, that many of us simply do what we think is best at the time. Parents and peers have a great influence on our decisions at that time and it’s no surprise that many people make choices that they find themselves later regretting.

According to HR review, a staggering 72% of 25-34 year olds are dissatisfied and wish to change their career. The good news is that with some careful introspection it’s possible to discover a more fulfilling purpose and develop the resilience to change course. Here’s how mindfulness can help.

What is Mindfulness?

According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.”

We take our thoughts very seriously, as the ego makes thinking about the ‘me’ or the ‘I’ priority. However, we are not our thoughts and with practice, we can stand just a little aside from our thoughts and see them from the perspective of an objective witness. Thoughts can then be treated with intrigue, as we begin the journey of discovering who we really are.

As the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.” Our thoughts are always changing and with increased mindfulness we can come to see them as fleeting, and learn to not get too caught up in them.

How can mindfulness help me discover my life purpose?

On a daily basis we experience so many different thoughts, feelings and emotions; some positive and some negative. We have fears for the future and regrets about the past. Mindfulness meditation calms the wandering mind, at least to some extent, and we begin to experience greater clarity. As Kabat-Zinn puts it: “You start to peel back the onion to what it means to be human.”

When we acknowledge the fleeting processes of the mind as just thoughts and feelings we can let them go. That stops our more superficial thinking and feeling from influencing the bigger and deeper decisions we make about our lives. This allows us to start living the life we always meant to lead and be more of our authentic selves. Mindfulness allows us to be more discerning with our thoughts and put them into perspective.

What is living with mindfulness like?

Mindfulness meditation is not an overnight solution and discovering one’s life purpose is something that comes with time. Kabat-Zinn calls mindfulness, “A love affair with life itself.” By paying careful attention to your deeper experiences, and by nurturing your more proud impulses, the answers will begin to emerge. By loving our innate humanity and calming the more superficial workings of the mind, we can reconnect with our deeper selves and begin to live a more meaningful life.

To explore how mindfulness could help you discover your life purpose, contact michael@mindfulnessworks.com or call (+44) 01223 750660.