| Some say that the purpose of life is to seek | | | | Following Your Bliss |
| happiness. | | | | Gillian decided early in her life that what had heart and |
| Is happiness the purpose, or is happiness the result of | | | | meaning for her was getting married and having |
| another purpose? Is happiness the meaning of life, or is | | | | children. She had decided that if she did not have |
| happiness the result of discovering what has heart and | | | | children by the time she was 43, that life was not |
| meaning for you? | | | | worth living. She started working with me when she |
| There is not one right answer to this question. The | | | | was 42, unmarried, childless, and contemplating taking |
| answer lies within each of us regarding what gives | | | | her life. |
| meaning to our life. | | | | In the course of her deep inner work, Gillian discovered |
| What Gives Meaning to Your Life? | | | | another source of meaning in her life. She discovered |
| Perhaps, in seeking happiness, we discover what has | | | | that learning to be loving to herself - to the spark of |
| heart and meaning for us. Is this how it is for you? Or | | | | God that she truly is - was extremely satisfying to her. |
| is it the other way around for you? Is happiness for | | | | As she practiced getting to know and love her true |
| you the result of loving yourself and others? Do you | | | | Self, she discovered another source of meaning - |
| find that when you are open and loving, that you feel | | | | helping others. She realized that working in finance |
| filled with happiness? | | | | was not fulfilling to her and went back to school to |
| Maybe love and happiness are inseparable. Maybe | | | | become a chiropractor. |
| when we are happy, we are naturally loving, and | | | | Gillian currently loves helping people attain excellent |
| maybe when we are loving, we experience happiness. | | | | health. In addition, she adopted a 10-year old girl whose |
| If this is the case, then is the purpose of life is to seek | | | | parents had been killed in an accident. She has found |
| happiness, or is the purpose of life to evolve in our | | | | great joy and meaning in loving her adopted daughter. |
| ability to be loving and compassionate with ourselves | | | | Gabriel consulted with me because he was |
| and others? | | | | depressed. He had become an attorney because that |
| In my view, it is not important to separate out love and | | | | is what his father was, but found that he disliked it. It |
| happiness. What is important is to discover what gives | | | | held no heart and meaning for him. In his soul, Gabriel |
| your life meaning. In my experience, meaning always | | | | knew that he was a writer. He decided to "follow his |
| has to do with love - with loving yourself and | | | | bliss", as Joseph Campbell encouraged us to do. While |
| discovering how you want to share your love with | | | | Gabriel is currently not making nearly the money he |
| others. When you discover this, you will likely be happy. | | | | made as an attorney, he is finding his happiness. By |
| Perhaps the meaning of life is to discover what has | | | | choosing to love himself and share his love through his |
| heart and meaning for you and, therefore, brings you | | | | creativity, he is finding his joy. |
| happiness. The questions to ask yourself are: | | | | Love, happiness, joy - perhaps they are all One. If you |
| - What has heart and meaning for me? | | | | choose to pursue what has heart and meaning to you, |
| - What brings me joy? | | | | you will likely find your joy. |