Purpose In Presence
By Jennifer Kelleher
It’s Sunday morning. I am sitting on my son’s bed, looking out the window in front of me watching the calming ocean ripple by. My son, Max, is focused at his desk building Legos. We have creative, healing sound frequencies playing in the background. Life is good.
When I was younger, I was on a constant search for my purpose. Why am I here? What big, impactful thing am I meant to bring to the world? I existed in a state of impatience to find my purpose, which I eventually realized was holding me out of the present moment. In focusing on a purpose “out there” and telling myself that I have not yet obtained what I was here to do, I was unknowingly diminishing my self-worth and putting myself in a lack mentality. This made it difficult to take aligned strides forward.
Eventually, I became aware of what my thought process was doing and decided to change my way of thinking. Studying under Dr. Sue Morter, I began to realize that my purpose is always to be here– in this body, in this life, with whatever circumstances are present. I started to consciously surrender to the moment, accepting and appreciating myself and my life just as it was, in real time– I am enough, this life is enough. Instead of trying to escape what was in front of me, I decided to prioritize it, giving it the importance it deserved.
A short, daily meditation practice played a big part in helping me to surrender, accept, and appreciate my present. It felt incredibly freeing to trust that I was exactly where I was supposed to be and know that all I had to do was be engaged, honest, and authentic here and now.
I, of course, still had dreams and aspirations for my future, but I knew I had to try a different approach for moving toward them. I began using a manifestation technique (which I now teach in workshops at Ocean Bliss Yoga) that works with the feeling body to somewhat effortlessly bring you into your dream life. Using my mind to create felt emotions in my body not only led me towards my dreams, it also helped me to realize that I had everything I needed inside of me, and that I was good, just as I was.
Furthermore, it made me see that the lack of fulfillment that I had been feeling years before had nothing to do with the physical world, and everything to do with my emotional and mental states. This process felt like alchemy. It was extremely effective, and even at the very beginning I could sense how, by simply doing the exercise, I was raising my self-worth and closing the gap between where I was and where I wanted to be.
Today I feel deeply happy and grateful to be right here. I understand that life has chapters and there are times for everything. I do my best to make the most of the moment, even amid life’s challenges. I live in gratitude and try to not take anything for granted. Life is beautiful, and life is fleeting. I want to experience its fullness, spreading love and doing good, however I can, wherever I am– and that’s enough for me.
I invite you to join me at Ocean Bliss Yoga next Wednesday, November 20, at 7 p.m. for a Grateful Heart Sound Bath. Browse and sign up for all classes and offerings at oceanblissyoga.net. Call or text me with any questions at 917-318-1168. We are located on the third floor of the Belle Harbor Yacht Club. Parking is available in the lot downstairs. All are welcome.
