I was interested in checking out an online movie recently
entitled “Meditation”. I clicked on the link and as the serene music began to
play, a voice spoke the following words: “Our purpose in life is to help each
other through it.” I hit the pause button and didn’t watch anymore of the
movie, not because I was uninterested but because I felt the potency of those
words.
Having spent the past several weeks going through the
death and subsequent grief of my Mother’s death, those words rang loudly. I
have felt the love and support of so many people helping me get through life.
It expanded my thinking that purpose isn’t just an individual pursuit but one
of humanity and how we tap into our own life’s purpose affects others. I often
support yoga students in their studies by saying “practice begins within”,
meaning that when we begin to understand our individual needs and work to meet
them, it begins to move outward to others. When we create the inner container
for our own growth and evolution, we create an additional or perhaps larger
container to support the growth and evolution of others. Instead of looking
outside of ourselves for answers, we turn inward and recognize that all we need
to know is sitting within us.
I decided to do a bit more research and came across work
on the purpose of life from the University of Minnesota and Richard Leider, who
is a coach and purpose expert. To quote Mr. Leider, “genuine purpose points to the end of a self-absorbed, self-serving
relationship to life.” Basically, when we become clear on our authentic
purpose, we are able to share it with the whole world. This sentiment so deeply
aligns with how we can approach our yoga practice, from the inside out,
enabling ourselves to help each other through the many challenges that life
throws onto our path.
Leider also came up with an equation: gifts + passion +
values = purpose. Rather than trying to find an occupation that ties us to a
restrictive label according to what we do, purpose can be more expansive no matter
what stage of life we’re in. When we understand our special qualities and
gifts, what we do well and a unique personal characteristic, coupled with the
spark that ignites enthusiastic passion and align it with our personal values,
our purpose begins to reveal itself. In an article in Fitness Matters entitled
“Discover Your Purpose” by Lee Jordan, MS and Beth Jordan, the authors state
that “If you can be fired or retired from
it, or if it can be taken away from you, it’s not your purpose”. So often
we confuse our profession or occupation with our purpose and so often they
couldn’t be further apart.
Getting clear on our talents, passions, and what we value
can apply to anything that we’re undertaking regardless of whether or not it
brings us financial reward. From the age of 19, I have been teaching in one
form or another. Yet, it wasn’t until 15-20 years ago that I realized that
sharing knowledge was one of the reasons for this embodiment. I was always
drawn to sharing knowledge and supporting others whether they were my first
young gymnasts that I coached, teaching at my university to physical
education/recreation students upon my graduation, group fitness classes,
personal training, or the current incarnation of what I’m doing in the form of
sharing the teachings of yoga. The content has changed but the purpose hasn’t.
And whenever the form of what I’m currently doing also changes, I’m guessing
that a large part of me will continue to see how I can share and support
knowledge and the empowerment of individuals.
I had the unique gift in life of training four
nonagenarians during the same period and they all had something in common. They
were all still connected to their purpose in life in their 90’s. One was a
writer, one a professor emeritus, one a consultant for his son’s retail
business (which he started), and a retired teacher who was working at the local
braille institute teaching vision-impaired people how to knit. They were all
engaged and mentally agile, still participating in a way that seemed to be an
ongoing connection to and reflection of their whole life. They had a purpose to
support and walk others through their lives. I don’t even need to look back at
what they taught me as their actions at the time were powerful examples of how
we can move through life with purpose and meaning. It supported each of them in
thriving to their final days and that is a gift I was happy to receive.
Most of us want to thrive as we age, staying active and
healthy. One way to do that is to live with purpose as a guiding light. I thank
the many wise elders that have shown me an example of what that looks like.
After all, we are here to help each other make it through this often wild and
unpredictable thing called life!
As one who has benefitted by your support, I offer back to you compassion as you make your way through grief. Your frequent postings on FB with photos of your mother always brought me a smile. The single time I met her in your chair yoga class I had a sense of her specialness and your love for her. The care that you displayed did not go unnoticed. Grief is tricky. Shows up in many ways and speaking for myself, sometimes long after. I hope that you will allow gentleness to keep you company.
ReplyDeleteLinda