‘Know thyself’- Temple of Apollo at Delphi
‘Find out who you are and do it on purpose’- Dolly Parton
It is often said in spiritual circles that it is important for one to know who they are and why they are here. I, for one, strongly agree. We are all unique beings, and our particular desires bring us to our full alignment, expression and expansion-and to our own special contributions to the collective.
We can get hints of who we are and why we are hereby looking at our astrological birth charts, and by looking at our numerology. And, I think, we can get hints on our life purpose by asking ourselves certain questions. Anthony Robbins states that successful people ask the right questions and the most empowering questions.
In a recent conversation about the topic with my husband, I improvised the following questionnaire, with some questions derived from valuable self-help books I’ve come across through the years:
1. What makes you feel alive?
2. What activities can you get so engrossed in, that you lose track of time?
3. What would you do if you knew you would not fail?
4. What would you do even if you never got paid for it?
5. What places do you like to go to?
6. What clothes do you like to wear?
7. What would you do if you would never be judged for it?
8. What would you do if you were immortal (in other words- if you had all the time in the world)?
9. What would you do if the world were ending and you had one more day to live (in other words, if you didn’t have time)?
10. What is something you want to do before you die?
11. What was a favorite childhood game of yours (i.e hide and seek, or tag)?
Doing this exercise, you may find a recurring theme. When my husband did it, he found that he was interested in worldly affairs. He likes wearing fancy suits, and is also very interested in strategizing, and thinking about and applying ideas. His fave childhood game was tag and duck duck goose, so we also see a theme here of pursuit. The tips that came up went on and on…and he found that he was an “empire builder” at heart.
For me, on the other hand, we saw a pattern of more internal, artistic and communicative focus. I could lose myself in hours of listening to music, feel alive when I dance, want to write a book before I die, and would learn multiple musical instruments and languages if I lived forever. I have a theme of being seen, which is apparent in my fave childhood game- hide and seek.
These questions could give you hints of what your life purpose is. Try this exercise out and see, and don’t forget to drop me a note below with your thoughts!
