Many of us strive all our lives searching for our ultimate purpose, the one thing which will define us and give us true meaning.

We place huge emphasis on the “..once I find my purpose, I will be truly happy..” thought pattern, unintentionally creating a hold on the pleasure, joy and happiness life has to offer every moment of every day. We place enormous unnecessary pressure on ourselves, wonder why we are not happy, and why is it taking so long.

I have been on this earth for 36 years now, and I too was a product of this thought pattern, until one day I realised how much of my life I was missing out on. I was always too busy “searching for myself”, “sorting myself out” (I can still hear my mother saying “how long does it take to sort yourself out..”), to enjoy the simple pleasures in everyday existence, such as friends and family.

After realising how quickly life can pass you by, I embarked on an even more important journey - a life of purpose! This does not mean letting go of my goals, dreams, hopes or aspirations, it is simply being focused and purposeful in all that I do. For example, if I am talking to a friend on the phone, my focus is 100% on my friend, what she is saying, how she is feeling, and I am purposeful in the responses I make. This gives my friend the sense of real importance, which she deserves, enhances the quality of our friendship and stops me from scattering my energy all about the place unnecessarily. The return I get is a fulfilling quality friendship, full of laughter, joy and happiness.

So next time you are bathing the family dog, hugging your partner or cooking the evening meal, stop, focus, look, listen and feel all there is in what you are doing, smile and enjoy it! You will be surprised at how fulfilling life really is.