People talk about walking in purpose; pursuing their purpose; finding their purpose; finding a purpose partner, and so forth. And other people be out here confused and disillusioned when they reflect about their own journeys!

A doctor friend of mine once relayed to me, in a discouraged tone, that she’s in an existential crisis because she did not feel like she was walking in her purpose.

I hear a lot of ‘I’m not sure what my purpose is’ in my coaching. I’m not going to lie, I used to wonder about my purpose myself.

All the these led me to pursue the meaning of the word, and to decide that part of my assignment as a coach was to bring people to a place of alignment with their purpose. Hey, I’m Shibu, a Self-Mastery & Purpose Coach😁. I digress.

My understanding of purpose derives from dictionaries and the Bible: Purpose is simply the reason/intention for which something was made/created. When the Creator considered creating humans (called ‘adams’ in Genesis, Hebrew translation), He said to do so in His image, so that they will subdue the earth and have dominion over everything else He created on it. There, that was the purpose of human creation! That was, IS, your purpose. I know it’s simplistic, it shouldn’t be complicated either.

So how were two people supposed to subdue and dominate this vast earth? He charged them first to be ‘fruitful and multiply’. What would they be multiplying? His image, His likeness, His nature. In human race multiplying, they would automatically multiply His nature. What is this nature? The seed that God put in you. Your gifts, your talents. And, He puts different measures in each person.

Your internal nature to be a creator, an encourager, a nurturer, a provider, a teacher, a healer, an advocate, a writer, etc., is the work assigned to you to multiply. If you read your Bible, aren’t these all attributes of God?

When the first adam was made, his place of dominion (the earth to subdue) and a small part of the earth (garden of Eden) within which to do his work, were already in existence. He is created a male (an external work related attribute), and given a gardener role. Later he is a husband and a father.

I hear people say ‘my purpose in life is to be a wife’. I ask: Was being a gardener the purpose or a role through which Adam could do the work of nurturing? Is a role the purpose?

This is what we learn from the account of creation: We have a universal purpose as humankind. This remains constant. We are given different abilities to do the works tied to this purpose. I’m confident these are also constant because the Bible says a calling is irrevocable. These give us our positive passions, inclinations, and desires.

We are then assigned places to do our work in, our roles or gardens of Eden if you will. These places are environments and the people divinely assigned to you to do your work in and through. They are the only ones on the entire earth who will hear/receive what you have to say/do for them! You are a goldmine to them! This is where your value is realized.

And because this is where most confusion is experienced, I’ll mention this: In Christian circles, I understand a calling to be your work and assignment a role. Roles can be in relationships and careers.

Notably, roles change. Yes, we use our roles to define our identities, but we should only do so as a last layer and not be attached to them as our core identities. If you are a husband, what happens when you lose your job? Do you stop your work of providing? Should you not continue providing security, comfort, support, etc. to your family?

Also, and I hope this does not rattle any cages but, as a case in point with my doctor friend, I have to ask this: just because you were given the ability to heal, does it mean you have to be a doctor to do it? You can certainly heal through food! I mean that chocolate cake with the 70% dark chocolate ganache is some heavenly medicine!

To end the people’s confusion, let’s stop ascribing to this idea that purpose is something to be chased. No, you already came with a purpose and works built in.

The greatest issue, at the end of the day, is wisely aligning your roles to your God-given abilities/gifts/talents. Don’t be a wife when you know that the humility of submitting is not your skill. O o, did I rattle again? Same applies to men. Submitting is for both parties. Bible say submit to one another.

I firmly believe this: You don’t develop a new talent or ability. You had it in you all along, covered, undiscovered. Nothing is new under the sun. However, you nurture talent, you build it up, you fan it up.

TAKE HOME

As long as there’s alignment with the abilities you are divinely given, you are walking in purpose and you will be fruitful! You won’t feel unfulfilled, frustrated and/or dissatisfied.

If you were to park your Bentley in the garage and forget about it, yes it beautifies your garage, but car enthusiasts will have a field day with you: ‘These cars were made to be driven! You are actually damaging it if you don’t drive it!’ That is exactly why it is an existential crisis for a person, who is far more valuable than a Bentley, to not be walking in purpose, or be feeling like that.

This epiphany hit me like a ton of bricks and liberated me from the chase: If God made me with a purpose in mind, then I’m valuable for just existing. And maybe even, my purpose is in merely existing. I am at the very least subduing the earth by 1 person factor, aren’t I? I’ll leave it at that!

YOU ARE IN PURPOSE! Period. Because you exist, and I know, by and large, your assignments are tied to your given works!

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