I remember both the subtle whisperings of my soul and the more jolting cosmic two by fours over the head, metaphysically speaking, that initiated my process of awakening to my life's purpose. And while this process continues (generally, in a more gentle way), I revel in the profound mystery of its unfoldment and am grateful that it has led me to this moment in time.

You and I have reached an exciting juncture in our collective evolution where fully realizing the purpose of our human experience is a distinct possibility. As we embrace this possibility, we have been guided to do work (both inner and outer) that forwards the process of our own awakening and helps others awaken - healing or wellness work. And while the healing arts or wellness professions cover a breadth of different modalities, their collective purpose is the same: to awaken us to our intrinsic wholeness, the purpose of each individual life.

Your Life's Purpose and Your Business

In Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, he defines awakening as the process of consciousness shifting to a state where thinking and awareness separate. He says that your inner purpose, which concerns being, is to awaken and this is primary. Your outer purpose, which concerns doing, is secondary.

These key concepts underpin inspired business planning and relate directly to the first step of the process, which is to discern the higher purpose of your business. If you're not focussed primarily on your inner purpose (to awaken), then you will not be connected to the higher purpose of your business. And, consequently, your outer purpose (your business) will be out of alignment with your inner purpose. In other words, you will operate your business from the consciousness of your ego (your conditioned, limited mind), rather than the consciousness of your awakening self.

Discerning the Higher Purpose of Your Business

"Finding and living in alignment with the inner purpose is the foundation for fulfilling your outer purpose. It is the basis for true success."

- Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

As you continue to focus on your inner purpose, the higher purpose of your business will become clearer and more rooted in your consciousness. You will experience and facilitate awakening through your work.

While this is the broader, higher purpose of your business, you may also start to discern aspects that are more specific. You may feel called to facilitate awakening through a particular life area and/or with a particular group of people. For example, as I've focused on my inner purpose, I've discerned that the specific, higher purpose of my business is to model and facilitate awakening with healers/wellness professionals through money and all forms of prosperity, as expressed primarily through business.

Your business's higher purpose may not include such specific aspects right now or they may emerge, change or diversify over time. Also, you may feel that you already have much clarity and connection with your business's higher purpose. Nevertheless, to deepen this connection and invite further clarity, consider asking yourself these questions and journaling your responses:

- What do I think is the primary purpose of my life?

- How does my life purpose relate to the higher purpose of my business?

- How would I describe the higher purpose of my business?

- What specific life areas relate to the higher purpose of my business?

- What specific groups of people relate to the higher purpose of my business?

Discerning and deepening your connection with your business's higher purpose is the first, ongoing step of the inspired business planning process, and it will fortify all subsequent steps. As you focus on fulfilling this purpose, immense spiritual power will infuse your business, uniting your intentions and objectives with the evolutionary impulse of universal consciousness.

Copyright 2008 Mary C. Davis

BlueWaterArticles.com: - Finding the Higher Purpose of Your Business

About the Author

Entrepreneur, Coach and Prosperity Guide Mary C. Davis helps spiritually-oriented wellness professionals build prosperous, fulfilling businesses. Get tips on how to build your wellness business, with ease and joy, by subscribing to her FREE e-zine, The Prosperous Healer, at http://www.anamturas.com