The Most Important but Ignored Question “What Does Life Want Me to Do?”

Munich, April 12th 2015. Mathäser Filmpalast, the biggest theater in town.

A handsome young man was on stage in a full movie hall. He told a very inspiring story. His story.

His name is Baptiste de Pape (you can google him).

Let me report his story in my own words.

He was a lawyer; unhappy with his profession. He was looking for a more meaningful way to live. He read some books and opened up to finding his life purpose. One day he came across an interview of Eckhart Tolle with Oprah Winfrey. It was about “Finding your Purpose”.

Tolle said that in order to find your purpose, you should ask

“What does life want me to do”.

We usually get much information in our daily life. However, without action, there is no transformation.

Baptiste de Pape went for a walk in the park the next day. He took action and asked himself the above-mentioned question, every step of his long walk. He got no answer.

Suddenly came a heavy rain. He ran to find a shelter. In the moment he put himself out of the rain, he experienced what seemed to him like a heart attack. He felt as if he was dying. He never experienced something like that before.

Touching his heart and asking himself what was going on, he had the nudge to make a film about the heart.

Immediately, his mind reacted. He was in disbelief at the idea.

He was a lawyer, had no idea about the heart or about film production. How can he ever think about making a film, let alone one about the heart???

Luckily, he fought his mind and decided to take the idea seriously. He decided to investigate in producing a film about the heart. First he tried to talk to filmmakers. Of course, none wanted to talk to him. They probably thought that he must be a crazy lawyer who had an epiphany and, now thought he could make a film.

He did not give up though.

His first targets were practicing filmmakers. After their rejection, he decided to talk to retired filmmakers.

He found new ideas and new ways to get in touch with people and get the required information.

He got the help needed on his path. Today his Film “The power of the heart” an “unparalleled and life-changing film about the astonishing power and intelligence of your heart” is a masterpiece that I personally highly recommend. His book with the same title was translated in several languages.

His first film and his first movie.

What does the story tell you?

Three things stood out for me.

1- first, there is a dimension of purpose that is higher than you. You are here on a mission.

When you stop making it all about you and you direct your quest for your purpose to the universe, you align yourself with something that is bigger than you. Call it God, the universe, the higher power. It does not matter.

The fact is it is not JUST about you.

Baptiste de Pape did not just ask “where can I use my talents best” or “how can I earn money with what I love”. Instead, he reached out to something that is higher than his self. He reached out to the universe.

“What does life want me to do?”

If you believe in God you may ask “what does God want me to do?”.

That question requires you to surrender to life.

It requires that you trust in something that is bigger than you.

Trust, that no matter what, there will be a way, because you are listening carefully and you are guided.

2- Second, the answer to all questions is found in your heart. You have to listen and trust that you will figure it out.

Michael Beckwith, one of the inspiring people interviewed in De Pape´s film and, who was also interviewed in “The secret” said:

“There’s an intelligence within the heart that is far bigger than our figuring out the mind.”

The heart knows everything.

When you assimilate that, your fear of not seeing the full picture is minimized. You don´t have to know what will happen tomorrow. As long as you carry your heart within you, you will figure it out.

So, why is the heart so important?

The heart is the door to your soul. It is what connects us all in the universe.  

Your only challenge is to listen to and trust your heart.

You might be wondering: How do I listen to my heart?

Or you might think: I am not an intuitive person. I am driven by my mind.

There probably is no recipe that works for every one and every situation.

However, I know from my experience that listening to your heart is an ability that you can learn.

I see myself as a beginner in that field. But, does that stop me? No. It serves me today to listen to my heart.

If I succeed listening to my heart only this one day, I am happy.

You start wherever you are right now.

You might grow into a master one-day.

And, it is never too late to start.

3- Third, take one baby step at a time. And, check in with your heart every step of the way.

Taking action is key.

The best idea remains just an idea if nobody puts life into it.

Baptiste de Pape got an idea from his aching heart. However, he did not know how he was going to realize that idea.

Did he just take the idea home with him and parked it there?

In fact, I never heard someone saying that they found their life purpose and then sit on it and clapped their hands the rest of their life.

You don´t find your purpose one day and then that´s it.

In every action you take everyday. Your purpose becomes clearer and clearer as you live it. It sometimes grows bigger and bigger the more powerfully you serve life.

Baptiste de Pape became creative. He did what it took to make his film about the heart. He figured it out on his way. And he will certainly have to figure out what´s next for him now too.

It takes consistent action to build the things through which you live your life purpose.

What if you still have no idea what your life purpose is?

Albert Schweitzer said, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”

Can you show compassion to anyone around you right now?

Can you serve anybody powerfully just where you are right now?

Can you put all your love in the job you are doing right now? In the relationship you are in right now?

Can you embrace having no job, no client right now? And, can you use the time to discover yourself or serve people around you who are in need?

Those are a few good places to start.

Want to start listening and trusting your heart? Here is a daily practice that can help. Let me know how it goes for you.

1. Stay in touch with your desire to live a life of purpose by asking yourself everyday “What does life want me to do?”.
2. Practice mindfulness: always be in the present moment.
3. Create a daily practice that helps you go into your inner self and listen.

NOW It´s YOUR TURN

Have you ever asked yourself “What is my purpose?” What ideas have you come up with on the question “what is the purpose of life?”

I´d love to hear your story in the comments.

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