Life on Purpose: How to start living it

What is my passion and life's purpose? I have thought long on that question as I plowed through basic schooling, deliberated over college courses, experienced angst in choosing a major, and eventually my graduate degree. And that was just the beginning. How was I to discover my reason for being, or predict what l would enjoy doing the rest of my life... or even for part of it?

Living without passion is living without being true to life's purpose. Life begins to lose meaningfulness when you ignore your passion in order to make life easier or to be accepted within society. The “sacrifice” may seem worthwhile at first, but gradually, it begins to eat away at your well-being - that is - if you ever felt you were living within a sense of well-being. You know you are not living your passion, following your life's purpose if you experience the following on a daily or near-daily basis:

Feelings of dread starting the dayr
Feeling drainedr
Lacking motivationr
Experiencing depressionr
Feeling apathyr
Feeling like something is missing... searchingr
Feeling empty

Discovering how to live life on purpose may seem selfish to some. Yet the damage you do to yourself while denying yourself the permission for finding your passion may express itself in your life in destructive ways after awhile. Examples of the consequence(s) of denying your passion may manifest as illness, depression, or feeling like you are gradually losing your mind and becoming out of touch – with yourself and/or with reality. You may begin to feel resentfulness and/or anger at having given up on yourself. Or you may not even be aware from where the negative feelings are originating. You may only know you feel drained or “rudderless” or lost.

Discovering your purpose is being able to hear your heart. Passion emanates from the heart, as it is your divine center. What makes the heart sing with joy is what you are here to share; it is the part of yourself you share with the world, the gift you would bestow. The magic of yourself is wrapped within the heart. You only need listen in loving attention to begin to bring it forth.

Following is a brief excerpt of a conversatio
I had with Higher Self regarding living life on purpose:

me: How does someone go about discovering her life's purpose?

HigherSelf: In order to discover your life's purpose you need to embrace who you are, accept all aspects of yourself. You need to believe your own divinity, learn to listen within, and trust what you hear. Once you learn how to listen openly to yourself, you will be able to discover your true nature, your Core Being. And once you have discovered and accept your Core Being, you know your purpose.

me: How do we get started on this path?

HigherSelf: Learn to tune in and listen within. Be quiet with yourself, listen to your feelings, and do not discount your feelings. They are an important message to yourself. Be willing to sit alone with yourself. Sitting in a natural setting that you find attractive is often helpful to opening up to your inner self. Allow yourself to be without trying to force yourself to be one way or another. Do not look to others to be your guide to who you are. Trust yourself to discover yourself. And above all, learn to love your self unconditionally.