Life presents us with two significant decisions. One is about understanding your purpose—your “why.” The other revolves around discovering your “how”—how you plan to live according to that purpose. This includes your choices, how you’ll navigate challenges, and who you’ll share your journey with. Misaligning your why and how can lead to trouble, and many of us fall into this trap. Without a clear why, life can feel empty and aimless, as if something fundamental is missing.
Often, we dive into the how without considering the why. We rarely spend time clarifying our values and thus tend to wander through life, influenced by others’ values and expectations. Our purpose isn’t something we invent; it’s something we uncover and understand within ourselves. The goal is to help you identify your core values and live by them, making you more authentically you.
This topic is quite personal to me. In the early ’90s, while managing a retreat center in the Scottish Highlands, I felt overwhelmed by my responsibilities. Then, I stumbled upon Stephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People,” recommended to me years before. Initially, I thought Covey’s definition of success was purely materialistic, but I learned that he viewed success as living with awareness and making meaningful choices.
I discovered that Covey’s first three habits align closely with the first three fetters in Buddhism that need breaking for insight to arise. Although not complete awakening, breaking these fetters signifies a crucial spiritual milestone. This alignment between Covey’s habits and Buddhist teachings was transformative for me, shaping my life’s direction ever since.
The aim of “Find and Live Your Purpose” is to help you feel confident that you’re doing the right thing and moving in the right direction, making you feel whole and happy. Ultimately, this course intends to help you move closer to Awakening.
As we explore our life’s purpose, we’ll draw from Buddhist teachings and the overlapping principles from Covey’s book. You don’t need to have read Covey’s book or be familiar with Buddhist teachings, although both can be helpful. The course includes guided meditations, daily readings, and reflections to support your progress on the path to awakening.
If you’re interested in joining this online course, which features guided meditations and daily teachings by email, you can click here to learn more.