Determining your life’s purpose

‘’We have to cultivate the skill to listen to our own intuition instead of looking for external validation.’’

Cultivating self-care is a lot about creating a shift in what we were taught to value – a shift from external validation to inner knowing. We tend to forget that so many accomplishments begin internally in stillness. We have to cultivate the skill to listen to our own intuition instead of looking for external validation. Knowing our inner desires and our purpose will help us to trust ourselves more.

‘’Who are you, really?’’

What is your individual purpose in life?  

These sort of questions we never really ask ourselves, but they can really clear space, remove blocks, realign your energy and potentially change the entire course of your life for the better. Let’s check in. I’ve always felt that there was some greater purpose than what I could initially see. By uncovering more of my truth and listening to what is inside of me, I’ve started to feel more grounded and satisfied. Reflecting on this journey, there was always something that was motivating me to uncover my purpose. I kept asking myself the question: Who are you, really?  I stumbled across the concept of ikigai. It is a term that embodies the idea of happiness in living. Essentially, in Japan ikigai is the reason why you get up in the morning and what keeps you going throughout every day.  

”Don’t be afraid to dig deep”

Grab yourself a soothing cup of tea and self-reflect by asking the following questions: don’t be afraid to dig deep with these questions. The best answers will come when you can turn off your self-judgement. Nothing is too outlandish or ordinary. Becoming clearer about what our beliefs are and where they come from can foster greater authenticity that will open doorways & set us free. Suppress nothing. Write down whatever comes to your mind.

1. Make 4 lists and title them the following:

• What I love (Passion)
• What I’m good at (Profession)
• What the world needs (Mission)
• What I can be paid for (Vocation)

The fundamental truth of Ikigai is that nothing is siloed. Everything is connected. Look at the complete picture and try to find overlaps. Take your time. Identify the similarities on the lists.

‘’The only thing we need to do is to dig deep and listen to our soul mission.’’

But how can you transform your passion into a mission that becomes a career?  

We all have our own strengths and visions that drive us, and they are very different from others. Something you love to do can be something that someone else hates to do, and vice versa. And that’s what’s so great!! That’s what makes us so unique. The only thing we need to do is to dig deep and listen to our soul mission. Answering these questions made me realize what my inner drive is and that I need to incorporate my purpose on a daily basis. I felt like I had to commit myself to the practices that make up my daily routine, adopt methods that bring me closer to my life’s true purpose. Only then I can inspire others and only then I can change the world in which we live.  

The path of practice – morning ritual 

‘’My small, simple morning rituals prepare me to make the most of each day’s opportunities and help me to live a purposeful life in every aspect.’’

Establishing little rituals during morning routine is the most accessible, simple starting point of the path towards finding our ikigai — starting small. By mindfully curating a group of small, repeatable activities, you can give yourself a reason to find joy in rising and set the tone for your day. Making the most of your morning rituals encourages joy for the simple act of living. It allows us to see meaning in the everyday and discover happiness in places we may not have considered before. It’s about being inquisitive, open, and looking at our desires and needs as a whole. It’s about recognizing and celebrating what truly matters to us. 

”Having something to look forward to every morning that made me jump out of bed.”

Personally, a morning ritual – having something to look forward to every morning that made me jump out of bed – has been the best way to practice ikigai and to find fulfillment in my life.

Cooking porridge session at 6:30

Good morning yoga session at 6:50

Short meditation while enjoying the soothing warmth of the moon-pad at 7:15

Taking a shower at 7:30

Mindfully eating my oatmeal and inhaling the scent of my morning candle 7:50

Evening Ritual

How we end our day is just as important as we start it. Evening rituals are those traditions that make us somewhat eager to consciously embrace the new day ahead. As I’m a morning person, my Sleep Ritual is way shorter than my morning routine, yet it helps me to unwind and to end the day peacefully. With the following two simple steps I train my subconscious to scan for the beautiful moments in my day and to quiet the mind and body while enhancing inner peace.

Before bed, I’ll do a few calming stretching postures such as a forward bends, legs up the wall or cat/cow to relax my muscles & mind, followed by journaling and an herbal tea. Any time I prepare myself tea I’m giving myself the opportunity to be present, merely the smell makes me swoon. This coupled with the practice of journaling is the most important reconnection for me.  In my journal I note down three things I enjoyed in my day. 

”These bedtime rituals act as touchstones in my day and bring a sense of ceremony and appreciation for every day.”

Optionally, I add a short mediation practice, as I realized practising meditation in the evening is ideal as it is encouraging the body and mind to transition from “doing” to “being”, thus preparing us for a peaceful sleep. 

These bedtime rituals act as touchstones in my day and bring a sense of ceremony and appreciation for every day. They kind of build a foundation of joy in my life and help me to deeply relax.

By creating your personal rituals, I want to invite you to commit to showing up for yourself daily and to allow yourself to inhabit the fullest version of yourself. Always remember change that happens gradually.

”My small, simple morning rituals prepare me to make the most of each day’s opportunities and help me to live a purposeful life in every aspect.”

These small rituals act as touchstones in our day and bring a sense of ceremony to small moments. It may seem mundane, but I look forward to our predictable but pleasant routine upon rising. As a result, I typically arrive at work refreshed, energized, and in a positive mindset. My small, simple morning rituals prepare me to make the most of each day’s opportunities and help me to live a purposeful life in every aspect. 

This article was written by Lina Graf. Lina Graf is a wellbeing enthusiast who cares deeply about helping people navigate the latest wellbeing trends. She is passionate about natural living and rituals and trained in plant-forward diet & nutrition. After graduating from her international business studies, she did not wait to be offered her dream job, she created it. Together with her partner Daniel, she started her own start-up, femble – with the vision to provide a portable and sustainable self-care space for women. During her studies Lina had been feeling disconnected and unbalanced with her inner self, she sought to self-soothe and create a remedy that would give her balance. That’s when Lina  started to create her own well-being tools. Femble became the expression of her purpose and the fascination with the power of rituals and well-being experienced through all our senses. She believes nurturing a sense of connection to ourselves is the most fundamental thing we can do to be happy. If you would like to get in touch with Lina, feel free to find her on Instagram at femblecares