Years ago, before I knew I could communicate with spirit guides, I used to worry that I would never find my purpose. I had a job I didn’t like, and absolutely no idea what I wanted. I compared myself to other people and worried that I was wasting my life.

I get so many calls from people wondering if they’re on the right path. Some are unhappy in their careers, and others have been disappointed in their search for a fulfilling relationship. Many of them wonder if they’ve done something wrong, or missed an opportunity to follow their destiny.

The messages I get from Spirit Guides are always reassuring. If you’ve been wondering whether you’re on the right path, your guides want you to know that your time has not been wasted. Your soul has gained from every moment you’ve spent here, and every decision you’ve made, whether the decision brought you to a place of happiness or despair.

Your life path doesn’t follow the formula of Hollywood, and you don’t have to do heroic or epic deeds to feel good about who you are and where you’re going. You are enough just the way you are, and you came here for such an important reason: to be You.

You are the only one like this in the entire universe. There was never anyone exactly like you in the history of creation, and there never will be again. You make a difference just by being yourself. Your spirit guides encourage you to let go of the pressure to be like other people, or feel like you have to change the world to be worthy. You are worthy, no matter what you do.

Your purpose changes moment by moment.

In one moment, it might be to enjoy your life, remembering that you are safe in the universe. And in another, it might be to experience the pain of loss in the unique way that you experience suffering. Everything you are inspired to do, explore, or be is your purpose — even if, in this particular moment you’re just watching TV and surfing the web.

Your spirit guides want you to know that you have permission to have fun. You have permission to pursue your dreams, and you have permission not to have big dreams. You have permission to do nothing. You have permission to feel your feelings. You are here to do whatever you need to do.

And yet, your guides recognize that what you most desire is to be happy.

There is just one step to find the path that will bring you the most joy:

1. Move toward the things that attract you, and away from the things that repel you.

It sounds so simple, but it’s not always easy. Depending on how your family was perceiving the universe when you were born, you were taught their version of right versus wrong, good versus bad. Perhaps they taught you what an acceptable career looks like, and what an unacceptable career looks like. Maybe you learned to deny your likes and dislikes because they didn’t match up with what the people around you embraced or expected. Maybe you had to deny what you wanted in order to fit in, until one day, you no longer knew what you wanted, making you feel adrift and directionless.

Since you are different from anyone else here, it’s important to get in touch with your totally unique set of preferences, likes, and dislikes. Ask yourself, “If I could spend my days doing anything I wanted, what would I do? How would I live?”

Your conscious mind will try to disrupt this process with the thought that what you want just isn’t possible. It will echo the obstacles you were taught about what’s acceptable or “realistic.”

Years ago, burnt out from a job I couldn’t stand, I asked myself what I wanted to do, and the answer came instantly: “I just want to stay home all day in my bathrobe drinking coffee and puttering around the house.” My mind scoffed, knowing there was no way I could ever make a living doing that. Today I work from home, and absolutely love what I do.

“I want to stay home,” was just a starting point. From there I rediscovered all the things I gravitated to, including food choices, favorite colors, and the little things that we often ignore about ourselves. I realized I was fascinated with spirituality and personal growth, which led me on a path of awakening.

Your guides want you to know that you don’t need to have everything mapped out. Just start with knowing what you like and moving toward those things. The details will fall into place when you’re ready to take the next step.

Sometimes it might feel scary if you have to make some adjustments to go where you’re attracted. For instance, you may have spent your entire career working with computers and then suddenly realize that what you really love is interacting with people and counseling. That kind of change might take several very in-depth steps. But you don’t have to uproot your whole life. You can take small steps to move toward the things you like, while you also practice moving away from the things in your life that don’t resonate with you. And that will lead to even more things you’re attracted to, until your whole life feels more joyful.

No matter what road you ultimately take, your spirit guides want you to know that there is a place for your unique consciousness in the world, and you fulfill your purpose just by being yourself.