Connecting with Purpose
This is a ceremony/meditation exercise to complement Chapter 5, “Getting Your Act Together” in the book Family Activism.
We have more power to achieve our goals and support our families when we are fully connected with our purpose—our personal mission or passion for living. The following ceremony/meditation exercise can assist you find that short phrase to connect with your purpose which then can become your ever available tool to focus your power.
A powerful purpose statement is one that reflects your deepest passion and is stated in a few focus words. For me it is “To create a better world”. If, I ever feel unclear or insecure about my actions I only need to remind myself of my purpose to clarify my path or to feel gratitude for my life.
Despite the importance of purpose, we are afforded too few opportunities to discover, reflect upon, or evolve a statement that gives meaning to our lives. The following exercise draws from my Chicano tradition to provide you an opportunity to reflect upon particular questions to surface insights regarding your purpose. Because our purpose is deeply related to the intent of our spirit, this exercise invites you pursue its discovery as a sacred act in which you create ceremony time for the exploration. This means you invite the presence of God or your spirit for this reflection period. This can be done by beginning this exercise with prayer words, or by whatever way invites your personal power.
Select a place for your ceremony that is special for you. It can be in your house or in nature. Prepare your space by clarifying each of the cardinal directions (East, South, West and North). You may desire to place an object of inspiration at each of these points; and, plan to have available a journal for writing.
Place your self in the center of your space, and begin by sitting facing the East. For each direction you will extend a prayer, read a short meditation, feel the silence, and then write the words that come to mind. Plan to commit at least five minutes for each reflection. Or, adapt the ceremony so that it works for you. You might do it during one sitting or several, or have the assistance of a friend who reads the mediations to you allowing you the opportunity to breathe deeply and invite your spirit or intuition.
Face the East. This is the direction of gratitude, new beginnings, and survival.
- Heart words. Begin with your prayer that offers thanks for your blessings and for the insights that will evolve today.
- Read: “As I face the East, I extend gratitude for all my blessings, and this opportunity to connect more deeply with my purpose. This is the direction of new beginnings and the preparation for survival. Today, this is also the direction of education, career and work. Let me be clear regarding the purpose of my study and work that I may offer my best to the world. For greater clarity, I ask myself what is the deeper purpose that underlines my work? What is that I seek to accomplish?”
- Reflection and Notes. Take a few minutes to reflect on the questions. In brief words or phrases note what thoughts come to mind. Also, write down what you want, or might want, to accomplish via your study and work.
Face the South. This is the direction of youth, vitality, courage, justice, and health.
- Heart words. Extend thanks for those qualities of your health and the young people for whom you are grateful.
- Read. “This is the direction of courage, health, and justice. With each breath I feel more my courage, well-being, and power. Feeling my confidence I am reminded that all is possible. To be more connected to my power, I ask myself, what is that makes me happy? Knowing this, what do I want to accomplish to advance health and well-being for myself, family, and society?”
- Reflection and Notes. After reflecting on the questions, note your thoughts. Write down what you want or might want to accomplish for your family and community.
Face the West. This direction teaches about spirit, love, and death.
- Heart words. Extend thanks for those people in your life that have taught you about love.
- Read. “This is the direction that teaches about spirit and love. First, let me remember the people that influenced me with their love. What lessons did they provide me? The West is also the door to spirit life. Let me imagine going to the threshold of this door, to the days before my own death. From this time in the future allow me to respond to these questions. How have I lived? How have I touched others? Is there anything, I would have wanted to do different?
- Reflection and Notes. From the vantage point of being in the future and viewing back upon your life, reflect on the questions. Write down in short phrases how I want to be remembered, by family, coworkers, the community, and even the world.
Face the North. This is the direction of the elders, teachers, and wisdom.
- Heart words. Extend thanks for the elders, those living and those past who have contributed to the good life you presently enjoy.
- Read. “Facing the North it is time to consider what kind of elder or person do I want to have become? What is it that I want to teach or what type of wisdom do I want to impart? Let me imagine one of my teachers, who can be someone I’ve known or not, or can be alive or in spirit. This teacher knowing my needs and challenges extends a message to me to assist me on my path.”
- Reflection and Notes. Regarding the elder you desire to become, what thoughts and words come to mind. What was the message your teacher left you regarding your life or direction? In short phrases write, what am I here to teach?
Be in the Center. The center is the direction of spirit, family, and community.
- Heart words. Extend thanks for your loved ones.
- Read. “I sit, feeling my connection to mother earth and father sky. (Breathe.) I feel my connection to family, friends, and those who came before and after me. I feel confident and wise. Now from this place of groundness, I consider all the insights that came to me this hour, knowing that they will provide important insights for my life.
- Reflection and Notes. Reflect on the notes you have written and with minimal thought note brief phrases that might capture your purpose. Now, review all your notes and write a work, phrase or short sentence that captures you purpose. If it’s a phrase that makes you feel your power, it’s the correct statement. If not, then remain open to the phrase that will surface in the next few days that will capture your purpose.
The suggestion is to participate in this exercise in one sitting, yet some find greater value spreading the ceremony over a week. What is most important is to provide your intuition or spirit an opportunity to express itself, and then you the challenge of writing a statement that energizes your commitment. For Nelson Mandela, his purpose was “Freedom”. First, it was freedom for himself, then his people, and then all people. This purpose continues to keep him focused.