Discovering purpose is a transformative journey that leads to authentic living, healing, and deep fulfillment. It’s a quest that helps us uncover who we truly are and the motivations that drive us.
When Jane walked into my office, her energy was larger than life. With a big, bold personality and a “can-do” attitude, she exuded the aura of someone who could take on the world. Yet beneath her superhuman capabilities lay a woman drained by health challenges requiring 60 hours of medical attention a week, compounded by an endless loop of overachievement, hyper-vigilance, and hyper-analytical thinking.
Jane’s life was defined by sacrifice. She took it upon herself to support everyone around her, feeling an unrelenting need to prove she wasn’t a bad person by constantly giving—even when it depleted her to the point of anger, frustration, and exhaustion. Her days turned into firestorms of cortisol, overeating, and burnout. Despite her determination, she couldn’t find time for herself or her soul’s happiness.
As we began working together, the pattern became clear: every action was a coping mechanism rooted in a deeply ingrained belief that sacrifice defined her worth. It wasn’t until one transformative session that Jane said something that struck a chord: “If I’m not sacrificing myself for the sake of others, I don’t know my purpose.”
She nailed it. Purpose.
The Missing Piece: Discovering Purpose
In my decades of practice, I’ve found that a lack of purpose is often at the heart of the challenges my clients face. Whether it’s procrastination, indecision, overeating, addictions, or anxiety, the absence of a clear purpose leaves us directionless, overwhelmed, and vulnerable to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Discovering purpose, at its core, gives our lives direction. It’s the “why” behind our actions and choices. The etymology of the word itself stems from “pur” —toward—and “pose”—to take a stance. So, stand in a direction. With a clear purpose, our actions gain focus, and we feel energized and motivated. Without it, we flail, expending energy in directions that drag us further from our authentic selves.
From Function to Purpose
For Jane, her role as a caregiver had become her function, but it was not her purpose. Function refers to what we do, while purpose is the deeper motivation —the “why”—behind our actions. As hypnotherapists, healers, or coaches, our function might be to help others, which allows us to advance consciousness, ease suffering, or inspire transformation, which, in turn, creates personal transformation and growth. Once we identify our purpose, we can channel our energy more effectively, aligning our actions with our values.
Our work led her to practice creating and defending her boundaries. She soon realized her sacrifices were misaligned with her true self. Yet this created a new challenge: the empty space left behind. For someone accustomed to constant action, pausing in inaction felt alien and uncomfortable. But it’s in these moments of stillness that discovering purpose begins to emerge.
The Role of Authenticity in Discovering Purpose
Authenticity is the foundation of purpose. To discover our purpose, we must first know ourselves—our values, strengths, and true desires. Authenticity means living in alignment with our genuine self rather than the roles or expectations imposed upon us.
Jane’s journey toward authenticity revealed an inner contradiction. While she felt good about maintaining boundaries, she was uncomfortable with the quiet that followed. I encouraged her to sit with that discomfort, resisting the urge to fill the space with more action. In doing so, she could allow new insights to surface that would aid her in discovering purpose.
Exploring Purpose Through Past Lives
For Jane, uncovering her purpose will require peeling back layers of urgent needs and examining the patterns carried through lifetimes. Past life regression offers a profound tool for this exploration. By revisiting multiple lifetimes, we can piece together the threads of our soul’s journey, gaining clarity about our authentic character and overarching Discovering Purpose.
Past life regression allows us to see the complete picture of ourselves, both the light and the shadow. It’s a journey of self-discovery that reveals the patterns and lessons we’ve carried through time, offering clues to what drives us and what holds us back.
Moving Forward
As Jane continues her journey, the focus will shift from putting out daily fires to uncovering her more authentic purpose. This transformation will help her align her energy and actions and inspire a new sense of fulfillment and direction. For all of us as healers and coaches, supporting our clients in discovering their purpose and authenticity is one of the most profound gifts we can offer.
Are you ready to explore how purpose and authenticity shape your clients’ journeys? If you’re not already trained in past life regression or client-centered hypnotherapy, now is the time to expand your practice. My courses are online with a series of live support calls that occur three times a year. Learn an array of tools and strategies to guide clients on transformative paths of self-discovery.
Together, let’s aim at our purpose and help others do the same.
