Why are you here?

Today, in The Rewilded Woman we finally get around to purpose. Personally I think there is waaaaaay too much importance placed on all the things we have to do to ‘know our why’ and ‘find our purpose’. In our most primal human form the reason we are here is to exist, to be.

The Industrial Revolution that began in the late 1700’s shifted many societies from agrarian to manufacturing, significantly impacted population movement to urban centres in pursuit of the better wages offered over what could be earned with subsistence farming, catapulted the rise of capitalism and began the systematic scourging of the planet for coal, iron and other natural resources - which in turn created vast pollution.

How, you might be wondering, does the Industrial Revolution have anything to do with finding your purpose? Because these two centuries in history are responsible for completely reframing the value of our existence. With the Industrial Revolution, the value of humans and the planet started being calculated by how much could be manufactured and produced from us and by us. And so ended our wild days of living off the land, of being in rhythm with Mother Nature, of valuing rest, human and nature connection as part of daily life.

To embrace our innate knowledge that we hold intrinsic value just by the very fact that we are alive, requires us to let go of the notion that value is defined by production. Even more so as women whose ‘production’ in the home and family has historically been calculated at zero, and focused for centuries, on how many children we have birthed and the gender of said children (depending on which culture we grew up in).

So please start with this baseline - you are deeply valued, loved and needed in this world with or without a ‘purpose’. In The Rewilded Woman stories three and four, I delved into knowing ourselves and getting clarity on our values. I love this phrase, ‘purpose reveals itself when identity is clear’ because it takes the seeking and the doing out of finding our purpose. By learning to be completely ourselves, we easily define why we are here and what we are making of our lives. I much prefer the yoga version of purpose, defined as our divine destiny and our individual path in life. If you looked back on your life, what would make you feel proudest and most satisfied with the life you have lived? Only you can answer that question and when you do, that’s your dharma, it’s the reason you get up every morning filled with joy and energy to go live your truth and do all the things that light you up and feed your soul. And that is so much bigger than a why or a purpose because it’s you sharing the very essence of who you are with the world - and that is pure magic.

Go be you always goddess and I’ll see you soon for more of The Rewilded Woman.