Making the U-Turn from Ambition to Meaning (WD)

The direction we take in life is far more significant than the place ego parks us in, in the present moment. If we persistently listen to the demands of ego, we move away from our Source of being. The ego insists on pursuing more: more stuff, accomplishments, status, triumphs, and money. More is the mantra of the ego, fueling endless striving with a false promise of eventually arriving. However, every assured arrival point is seductively transformed to a desire to strive for even more, unless we choose to make a shift in the direction our life is taking. The shift begins in the process of halting the momentum and self-importance of the ego, but then we must proceed with the work of derailing and rerouting it in the opposite direction. This doesn’t mean we lose our drive; rather, it signifies that our drive is realigned with a life based on experiencing Meaning and feeling purposeful. Ambition is now fueled by our Source of being, and it’s vibrating at a higher frequency than the false self fueled by ego. Returning to our natural Source puts us on track to a way of life that supports the potential wholeness that we are. Here’s what happens when we make the U-turn From Ambition To Meaning: 1. We shift to personal empowerment. Our ego self has always focused on external power. As we move toward Spirit, though, we replace ego’s need to influence external situations or other people with a preference for personal empowerment. We stop fighting ego’s endless battles and instead shift to Meaning. We do this through conscious compassionate curiosity, and caring first and foremost for our inner self. Noninterference becomes a higher priority than being right or dominating others. 2. We see ourselves connected to everyone. Ego feels separate and distinct from others, a being unto itself. As we move back to Spirit, we recognize our connectedness. The essence of living a life on purpose is to think like God thinks, and the creative Source of all life is just that—responsible for all life. We all share the same Source and have the same destiny. Seeing ourselves as a part of everyone eliminates the need to compete with anyone. 3. We are motivated by ethics, serenity, and quality of life. Ego is motivated by external achievement, performance, and acquisitions. As we move back to Spirit, we shift our focus to internal pursuits. Our preparation for living a life of purpose involves a major shift in attitude in the direction of feeling peaceful, being honest, and assisting others. 4. We shift to the possibility, even the expectation, of miracles being a part of life. As we move toward originating Spirit, ego’s investment in a scientific cause-and-effect interpretation of life is diluted. We acknowledge the presence of the mysterious and unfathomable, and we relinquish skepticism by relying less on our senses and much more on our intuitive knowing. 5. We pursue a meditation practice. Ego eschews the practice of meditation and often labels it as a waste of time—or even worse, lunacy. Shifting to our Source of being leads us to seek silence to consciously contact God as a natural component of a meaningful life. 6. We begin to recognize ourselves in nature’s beauty and intricacy. Ego’s interest in contemplating the beauty of nature is minimal. When we journey back in the direction of Spirit, our interest in the miracles that appear in the natural world is endless. Out of this grows our preference to live in harmony with this universe, rather than to exert influence and power over it. 7. We are less judgmental, and we easily understand and forgive. Ego is rather adamant about the importance of seeking revenge. Shifting to Source causes us to enjoy opportunities to practice forgiveness. Pursuing and achieving vengeance, retaliation, and reprisal prevent us from feeling purposeful and living a life of Meaning. We become truly sensitive to the edict that we don’t define others by our judgments; we are simply defining ourselves as people who need to judge.