Five Steps to surrender to your life purpose

There's not much purpose in just knowing your life purpose; you must live it. (In a way, it's worse knowing your mission in life and not doing anything about it. It makes you feel like a real unprincipled louse. I've been there...)

I have found the only way to really live my life purpose is to surrender myself totally to my Higher Self / God / The Universe. Mystical traditions refer to the need to die before being reborn and the way to do this is to surrender totally and put yourself in the hands of the Universe.

Yes, it's frightening and it DOES mean relinquishing control and trusting that everything will work out. Changes WILL happen in big ways and you WILL have to make sacrifices in your life. There is always an element of sacrifice in surrendering, but keep in mind that the things that are sacrificed are the things that are stopping you from living your life purpose. For instance, I was "moved" halfway around the world from Switzerland to the Seychelles. This "moving" seems to be a recurring theme in my life and each time I have to give up all my worldly possessions and lose daily contact with close friends and family.


Step one: Ask and ye shall receive
With an open heart surrender yourself to the Universe. Find a quiet time and ask for help. Say a prayer, shout it to the sea, announce your intention and readiness to surrender. Do it out loud. And do it with a trusting heart and faith.

Step two: The Universe is speaking: just listen
The Universe will respond immediately (well, sort of immediately). Don't expect a voice coming out of a burning bush. But then again, you might be lucky... Trust that you will be supported, go with the flow and look for your messages. These may come in the form of a book, something someone says, a sign on the road. Messages come in all shapes and sizes, often in a humourous manner. If you are open to receiving them, you will recognise them.

Step three: When opportunity knocks, take it
The Universe will also provide you with plenty of opportunities to live your life purpose. Take them. Going with the flow does not mean not acting. Surrender does not mean you will never do anything again. Wait for your cue and then ACT with focus and intent.

Step four: Practice makes perfect
It helps to state your intention to surrender every day. Surrendering is something to be practiced continually and in all areas of your life. For instance, I recite the Gayatri mantra every morning. It is a Sanskrit prayer and it's essence is "I will to will Thy will". Find some form of this prayer that is right for you and practice every day.

Step five: When you get off track, ask again
You may be more enlightened than me and never have to ask again. Most of us, though, do get off track from time to time. Our good intentions fly out the window, when "life" interferes. When I got to the Seychelles, I got sidetracked by going to the beach all the time. A life of leisurely sun-bathing and sipping gin tonics at sundown wasn't really part of my life purpose and things soon started going wrong. (Which is a message in itself!) I had to surrender again, rededicate myself to my life purpose. And I was given (yet) another chance. God is forgiving... Just go back to step one and start again.