There is only one cause of unhappiness; the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to questions them.

                         -Anthony de Mello, Jesuit priest and psychotherapist

Your Life Should Have Purpose. This may at first seem like a strange belief to question, however for many people it is the source of a lot of angst, anxiety, dis-content, and disappointment. I know it used to be the source of all of that for me, until I learned how to question my thinking. Let’s investigate this common belief through the simple process of inquiry, created by Byron Katie….

1.     My life should have purpose… is it true? Yes or No. Be open for two answers, the one from your mind and the one from your heart.  Let this question sit with you a moment before answering, and then just answer honestly.  There is no right or wrong.  This inquiry is about finding out the truth for yourself.

2.     Can you absolutely know that it’s true that your life should have purpose? Answer yes or no again, after sitting with the question for a moment. Notice that the mind wants to justify or defend what it believes, and gently return to “Can I absolutely know that my life should have a purpose?”

3.     How do you react when you believe the thought, “My life should have purpose”?  Do you feel stressed or pressured to figure out what your purpose is? Do you feel dis-content with your life as it is?  Do you see yourself in your mind doing great things for the world and humanity?  I am inviting you to notice any stressful feelings. Are they the cause of the reality of whether or not you have purpose in life, or the thought that you should have purpose?  I invite you to notice the difference between mind and reality. 

4.     Who would you be without the thought, “My life should have purpose”? Free to notice the grace of this moment, right here, right now. Clear to see that maybe you are already living your purpose, that this is IT.  Perhaps more peaceful and clear. Maybe more present with those in your life. Take a moment to sit with this question and feel what comes up.

5.     Now, for the turnaround. What are some alternatives to “My life should have purpose”?  How about “My life shouldn’t have purpose” – can you find 1 example of how that is true for you?  What’s the reality of it, in your perception?  If you are not clear about the purpose your life has, aren’t you already living this turnaround? If so, why fight reality? What could happen if you let that just go?  Who knows what might show up in your life?  Is this turnaround more or less stressful than the original belief?

In my experience, being in synch with reality instead of resisting it gives us many more powerful options for action.  Fearing what may happen before it happens has never, ever helped me in any way. Once you begin to free yourself from your stressful thoughts the world in all its beauty and abundance will open up for you and you can act with incredible ease and wisdom in any situation.

I invite you to try this for yourself. Any stressful belief can be applied to this process, and if you find yourself struggling to apply it, send me an email and I’d be happy to help!