© Teresa Cheong, Lifebridges Communications
The heart's restless yearnings
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Restless yearnings
What are these restless longings? It could be the longing to find another career or life choice more suited to our natural talents and temperaments. It could be the strong appeal from the heart
tocreate art and literature. Or the thought of giving up a high-paying job for the freedom to pursue what we feel drawn to.
We expect those who have found some measure of career or material wealth to feel happy and fulfilled. Well, many still find their lives empty. There seems to be a need to search for ‘more.’
The search for ‘more’
I believe the search for ‘more’ has to do with finding our life purpose that is larger than ourselves.
It means contributing our talents, time and resources to doing something that will benefit others.
Psychologist Abraham Maslow theorized that once human beings have achieved a certain level of physical and material comfort, they will yearn for more – self-actualisation. A 'life purpose' based on fulfilling one's narrow needs for material comfort and success will never make one feel full, but only hungry for more.
Overcoming obstacles
What could hold us back from this relentless pursuit of our life purpose? Our fears. The fear of failure. The fear of losing out on social and economic status. The other major obstacle is procrastination. We let ourselves be carried away by many urgent things, and neglect the one or two things in life that really matter.
Making Room for Silence
Where can we find answers to one's life purpose?
Before my teacher-friend made the radical decision to leave her comfortable job, she spent a long time pondering over it. In silence. She spent a month in silence in a retreat house praying and thinking over many life issues.
She gradually found her answer in the silence of her hearts during periods of solitude.
Unfortunately, in our fast-paced schedule-driven lives, we have lost the art of retreating into silence. If we are serious about finding our life purpose, we have to create silence in our lives.
Some people retreat from their daily lives to a quiet place for a time of reflection. Others make it a point to go for long walks by themselves periodically to quieten themselves and listen to their hearts' promptings. It is only in the inner quiet and solitude, free from external noise, that we begin to really hear our heart’s true yearnings.
So, what happened to my teacher-friend? She still grumbles occasionally about her "pauper" state. But does she regret her decision? When you have found what your heart is calling you, you don't turn back, she said.
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Copyright 2008 Teresa Cheong. All rights reserved.
Teresa Cheong is a freelance writer specialising in corporate communications and web content writing. She has written on a wide range of topics, including health, nutrition, macrobitoic diet, spirituality, happiness, and eldercare.
Not to be reprinted without written permission.
