I am inspired this morning by a post from Ivon over at Teacher as Transformer. He talks about working in the world from inner inspiration. I love that!

In our explorations of our purpose in life, we often think we have to focus on what to do next.

We ask ” What should I do with my life?… What is the perfect career for me?… What am I on this earth to do?… What is my special gift to the world?”…

Eckhart Tolle has some clear insights on this in his book  “A New Earth”:

dawn of a new earth“Your life has an inner purpose and an outer purpose.

Inner purpose concerns Being and is primary.

Outer purpose concerns Doing and it is secondary.

Your inner purpose is to awaken. It is as simple as that.

You share that purpose with every other person on the planet – because it is the purpose of humanity.

Your inner purpose is an essential part of the purpose of the whole, the universe and its emerging intelligence.

Your outer purpose can change over time. It varies greatly from person to person.

Finding and living in alignment with the inner purpose is the foundation for fulfilling your outer purpose.

It is the basis for true success.”  

This is the new dawn of inner transformation that supports us in our own evolution and making a positive difference in the world.

Our purpose can’t be found by looking outside of ourselves. The answer comes from within us. When we start to explore who we are, and accept all aspects of our ego and evolving selves, we allow our inner Being to expand. It becomes our guiding light for all our Doing in the world.

We can live fully in the highs and lows of life when we connect with our  inner Being  and share it with the world.

How does this resonate with you?

30 comments on “Our Inner and Outer Purpose of Life

  1. I had to think little bit about this one. For me it is like this: When I was just a tiny girl I said that I wanted to love all those who did not have anyone to love them. I still feel like that. Everything I write, paint, talk, say and do is about this. I think I kind of carried that inner purpose out, if I am going to use those concepts. I have never really understood that ego-thing, I mean I am trying to, but I have never really felt that. I have never really liked when people say that we have equal amount of light and darkness inside, cause I don’t feel any darkness. I think ego in many ways is our survival force, I mean we need food to eat, we need water to drink, we need to reproduce to keep life going on earth, we need our own territories for protection, I mean, all this we can see in animals, it is just to study flock animals, and then we can understand where lots of human being’s jealousy, greed, self-potection, defensiveness, pride etc stems from. But this is not a bad thing. It helps us to survive in the world, it’s just that we need to be able to control it, and I think most people can. On the other hand, we also talk about spirit and matter, we are both spirit and we are matter, and the ego belongs to the matter-part. Now if we only believe that we are matter, and the world is only matter, then we are driven by ego and matter alone, and that mostly leads to fear, because we all know that matter dies and fades away. So, if this part which is called awakening is understanding that we are spirit, we are also matter, but that is only for a little while, and matter cannot live without spirit. It is the spirit, or the soul, that we must anchor ourselves in, for that is what we in essence are. I think that when we are aware of this truth, we do live from our soul, then our inner life purpose will simply expand, so that this awakening, or enlightenment will grow and grow to include all living beings. That is what I think. 🙂 🙂 But these are just my thoughts 🙂 Thank you for the inspiring post! 🙂 Have a lovely lovely day! 🙂 ❤

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  2. Yes, Val…you have inspired me! And Trini’s response above is also very inspiring!
    I, too, believe that we find our “purpose” when we go inside….it is all there….like a map. If we feel lost or lonely….the answers are within. Thank you for a great post…one that gives us much to consider…each of us in our own time…at our own pace…exactly where we “are” at this time! ❤ Have a super weekend!

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    • Thank you so much Lorrie! We use different words for this inner Being – God, Spirit, Soul, Source, Presence, Atman, Self, Consciousness, Universe, … and when we feel it, is goes beyond words and becomes a loving connection between us all.
      Hugs,
      Val x

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  3. I’m 40 years old and I still state “When I grow up…” because my job is to be me, and be present, what I’m doing will always change, and I believe it should always change as I grow and change!

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  4. …to just awaken…

    I have never thought of two purposes Val. Again, a lot to think about here… ❤
    Diana xo

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  5. I stopped practicing law when my outer purpose (being the best attorney I could be) became incompatible with my inner purpose (being the best me I could be).

    As we awaken, we stop using ego’s guidance to measure success.

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    • Thank you Nancy for sharing your journey here. Things that seemed to matter so much in the past start to slip away as life takes on lightness, certainty and meaning.
      Val x

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  6. In the Stillness of Willow Hill

    Val, I have this very page highlighted in my New Earth book. It is particularly meaningful to me in my life right now. I absolutely know and understand that my purpose is to awaken. The journey brings delightful surprises and confusing questions. I try to live my job each day with a spirit of love and compassion toward coworkers, but the job itself feels so insignificant to me now. I guess that’s a good thing because my ego is no longer telling me to compete to be the best…..but there is a sense of boredom and wanderlust at the same time……as if my heart is calling me elsewhere.
    Happy Friday, my friend. Your words make a difference.

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    • There’s a letting go that happens when we start to feel we are no long separate in the world but are a part of it.
      Listen to the calling of your heart and it will show you what it’s yearning for.
      Thank you for your kind words and presence ISWH ❤

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  7. Carrie Cannady

    I Loved this post, Val. The text form Tolle’s book is a wonderful reminder. Thank you so much. Inspired (in spirit).
    😉

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  8. Thoughtful and inspirational man, Eckhart Tolle. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. I really appreciate this post, Val – it speaks to me very much. As I read through the awesome comments I can relate to Nancy’s story. As I pursue my newly awakened spiritual path I am finding increasingly that the things I used to just accept as ‘true’ regarding my career were really just false projections of societal fears. Chasing money and promotions just for the never-ending sake of “more, more” seems so completely out of alignment with my inner journey.

    I am concerned we – collectively as a culture – just don’t get it. It can make things so confusing! But I know the answers are within. Just have to listen.

    As I work to align my inner purpose with my outer purpose, I am SO grateful to have words like yours to help guide me. 🙂

    Peace, blessings and light!

    Allison XO

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    • Thanks so much Allison for sharing here. When the spirit awakes, the ego loses its power over us as we accept all aspects of our self. We see through different lenses. (They are rosy pink, but true 😉
      All of us on the path of Being are here to support each other!
      light and lightness,
      Val x

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  10. Edifying post…everything is indeed within and outer world is just a manifestation of the inner. Leading life anchored in the spirit is the prescription for happiness and fulfilment….best wishes val…

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  11. Reblogged this on Find Your Middle Ground and commented:

    Thank you Ivon for being an inspiration once more.
    Eliza, this is for you.
    Love our connections!

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  12. Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature

    Here’s to Being and Awakening and Being Awake! 🙂

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  13. Always love your posts, Val. They inspire and remind one that what’s truly important is to find joy in the inner journey and not the “outer purpose”. 🙂

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  14. Yes, this makes perfect sense to me! Thank you! 🙏

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