The EDGE
September 5, 2007 Article

"Trusting Your Purpose"
By: Patricia Beck

At the age of five, some children declare with clarity and certainty, “I am going to be a scientist when I grow up,” or “I’m going to be a doctor.”  I was never one of those kids.  For the first part of my life, I never even worried about it.  I spent my youth in awe of the wondrous world around me.  I was always hungry for new knowledge, hungry to understand how the world around me worked and why human beings did the things that they did.  I knew for certain that I loved to read, and writing was a magical tool to discover more about myself and express my deepest self to the world. 

It wasn’t until I went to college that my “grand purpose” in life suddenly became an issue.  With the pressure of choosing a major, I felt increasingly overwhelmed and confused.  I was only 18 years old; how could I possibly know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life?  I wanted to major in Humanities because it encompassed everything that I wanted to learn about the world.  For awhile, I wavered on the decision because all of the “practical” people asked, “How will you be able to make a living?  You can’t find a job with a Humanities degree.  The only thing you’ll ever be able to do is teach.”  I would always counter with, “There is no way I will ever be a teacher!”  I was so painfully shy in high school that I only had a couple of dear friends, and I never made eye contact with strangers; standing in front of people was a nightmare for me.  But deep inside, I had no idea what I could really do.  All I knew was that I cared about people and wanted to help them in some way. 

Ironically, years later, I found myself teaching High School English, the very job I had passionately declared I would never do.  With time, I realized that I really loved teaching; in fact, I was meant to be a teacher.  The painfully shy bookworm emerged from her cocoon, transforming into a confident public speaker.  And here I was, providing a very important service to the community, making sure that America’s youth were prepared to go out into the world. 

After a few years of teaching, an old restlessness began to stir within.  I realized that something was missing from my life.  I loved helping others through teaching, but I was not passionate about what I was teaching.  After much more searching, training, and preparing, I am now doing everything I have always dreamed of.  As a FuturePoint Facilitator, I am guiding young people through the process of self-discovery.  As a Passion Test Facilitator, I help people clarify what their passions are so that they can create a life of purpose, joy, and fulfillment.  Furthermore, as a magazine owner, I am writing and editing articles about spirituality. 

From my own journey, I have realized that the most important thing you can do is follow your heart and be patient with your process.  For some people, their purpose in life will always remain the same.  For others, it may change.  According to Janet and Chris Attwood, “your passions are the breadcrumbs or clues to your destiny.”  You never have to know what you’re doing forever; you only have to know what feels right in this moment.  Trust that this will guide you down the right path. 
When I was in the midst of my search, I couldn’t see the big picture.  Now, as the puzzle pieces are joining together with ease, I realize that everything I have ever done or experienced has prepared me for this moment.  Everything always unfolds exactly as it should.  If you are ever stuck, just be who you are and you will find your purpose for that moment.  Before you know it, those moments will be weaving the incredible story of your life. 

Patricia Beck is the Editor and Co-owner of Urban Stillness, a new online spiritual magazine that will be launching soon!  You can contact her at urbanstillness@hotmail.com