The Aligned Life

Jenn Stevens | Spiritual Life + Business Coach

How To Practice Mindfulness While Doing Anything

by: Jenn

Have you ever left work at the end of the day and wondered just what you spent your day doing? That’s because you were distracted: thinking about tomorrow or yesterday or what you’re going to do tonight. You weren’t in the moment so the moment literally passed you by.

One mundane moment passing is not all that big of a deal. But when we learn to live our entire lives this way, we become disassociated from ourselves.

The current moment is all you ever have.

Living with our heads constantly in the clouds is just another way to check out of our own life. It’s damaging to our physical health. (We get stressed out thinking about the big picture instead of on what we can actually do right now.) It’s damaging to our relationships. (We ignore the person in front of us while having a lively text conversation with someone else.) And it’s damaging to our mental health. (We feel increasingly isolated, especially as we compare our lives to the glossy world of Facebook.)

Practicing mindfulness is the way to combat the problem. Mindfulness is all about focusing on the present moment. Mindfulness helps you to stop future tripping or catastrophizing and instead puts the focus on living your actual life.

It’s about slowing down and being in the moment. Noticing what’s happening right now, how your body feels, as it actually happens. Not thinking about what you’re doing next or what you were doing an hour ago.

Mindfulness only requires two basic components: focus and awareness.

Focus – the ability to concentrate on whatever you’re currently doing

Awareness – the ability to recognize distractions as they come up and release them.

You can easily bring both of these things to every single activities during your daily life — even the most mundane ones! In fact I’d argue it’s the magic of these mundane moments that can teach us how to really be free.

So with that in mind, here are 8 suggestions of how to bring some mindfulness to your every day:


How To Practice Mindfulness Doing Anything


Mindfulness While Doing Anything Tip #1:

Waking Up



Resist the temptation to dive directly into your Facebook feed. Instead, take a few minutes to just be. Notice how you’re feeling today: mentally and physically. Stretch and take a few deep breaths while you ready yourself for your day rather than constantly checking out the latest “news”.


Mindfulness While Doing Anything Tip #2:

Drinking Tea



Ever make a cup of tea then wait for it to cool down and only remember it once it’s totally lukewarm? Yeah me too! Mindfulness training will help stop that from happening. And in the mean time, it’s time to sit down and notice the act of drinking tea.

Try It: Hold the cup in your hands. Notice how it feels. Take a few deep breaths. Smell the tea before you slowly sip it. Don’t do anything else for a moment but concentrate on the act of drinking tea.


Mindfulness While Doing Anything Tip #3:

Brushing Your Teeth



I’m a guilty-as-charged teeth brushing multi-tasker. But even this act can be turned into a mindful moment.

Try It: Slowly apply the toothpaste to your brush. Focus on the sensations of the brush. Notice how the toothpaste tastes. Breath deeply. After you rinse your mouth, notice the clean sensation of your teeth.


Mindfulness While Doing Anything Tip #4:

Doing The Dishes



Of course, I would not exactly say I enjoy doing dishes! But there is definitely something meditative to be found in this most mundane of all tasks. (I think this happens naturally because you are often facing a wall or window instead of a TV screen. Plus the presence of water means you can’t do this and scroll through Facebook at the same time!)

Try It: Slow down and notice the different sensations as you go. Feel the warmth of the water. Notice the smell of the dish soap and the feeling of the water on your hands.


Mindfulness While Doing Anything Tip #5:

Eating



Again, I’m horribly guilty of multi-tasking during a meal. Whether it’s scrolling Instagram, working or watching TV, I’ve definitely done it.

But focusing on the act of eating makes your meal more enjoyable. And as an added bonus, when you slow down to eat your food you’ll end up eating less.

Try It: To do it, simply focus on eating your meal: no book, no phone, not distractions. For added points, use real plates and glasses (or the fancy stuff if you have it!).


Mindfulness While Doing Anything Tip #6:

Listening



We’ve all had that uncomfortable sensation that the person we’re talking to is not really listening to us. While we can’t prevent that from ever happening to us, we can practice active listening to ensure that we’re never that person! The wonderful side-effect of this practice is that it will help create a sense of trust and respect in your relationships.

Try It: So practice listening fully in your daily conversations instead of constantly thinking about what you’re going to say next. You might occupy less of the conversation than normal but the person you’re talking to will feel deeply understood (and that’s a sacred gift).


Mindfulness While Doing Anything Tip #7:

Driving



We’ve all had that experience of pulling up in our own driveway only to realize we don’t remember driving the last few blocks. When you’re really good at a task (like driving) it’s easy to get into autopilot mode and start thinking about your grocery list or what workout you’re going to do tomorrow.

Try It: Try bringing focus back to the task at hand. Notice your hands as they perform each task. Listen to the sounds beyond the radio: the hum of the car, the sound of the turn signal, the sounds from outside. Notice the car in front of you: the color, make and license plate. Look around you at each intersection.


Mindfulness While Doing Anything Tip #8:

Waiting In Line



Whether you’re in a hurry or not, waiting in line is frequently an infuriating experience. (Especially here in Germany! Hoo boy let me tell you.) So these days I try to look upon the experience as a forced time to settle in and focus on my breathing.

Try It: Again, sink into the experience. Notice the sounds, look at the people. And if this one is difficult to do without becoming aggravated, try using a mantra as a form of moving meditation. (It really works!)



I hope these tips help to bring a bit more mindfulness to your every day! Practicing mindfulness is just another way you can learn to really love and accept yourself.



PS Looking for more? You might also want to check out this post about decluttering and personal growth or this one about surviving + thriving after a break-up.



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How To Practice Mindfulness While Doing Anything

How To Practice Mindfulness While Doing Anything

35 Quick & Easy Self Care Practices

by: Jenn

Self care is an ongoing practice, just like yoga or meditation.

But the outside world doesn’t prioritize self-care. Which means we have to make it a priority for ourselves and not wait for the exact right moment or for when you have an hour to spare.

(Because when does that ever happen really?)

Small acts of self love are effective and much easier to work into your daily routine. Especially when they’re five minutes or less!

Life doesn’t always go the way we want it to. As much as we work on ourselves and our lives, there will be inevitable times of disappointment, heartbreak or stress.

Practicing self-care regularly will actually help you handle those situations better when they do arise.

Plus it will just help you to chill out and be a better overall human, any old time.


The Mini Self Care Checklist

Identifying the problem is the real beginning of self-care. Our practice will always be the most beneficial if we can figure out where the problem is stemming from. Here’s a quick list of some questions to help you narrow it down:

  • Have you eaten recently?
  • Are your surroundings bothering you?
  • Are you feeling anxious?
  • What do you think is missing?
  • What do you need more of right now?
  • What do you need less of?
  • What do you want right now?
  • Who or what is causing me to feel resentful and why?
  • What are you starving for?


35 Quick & Easy Self Care Practices

Not all of these suggestions will be a good fit for you! Take a look through them and go for the ones that seem to resonate for you at the time. But most take five minutes or less so you can do them and get on with the rest of your day.

1. Drink hot lemon water.

2. Have a good long stretch before you hop out of bed in the morning. Make it a full-body one. Think about how cats and dogs do it!

3. Set an intention for your day. Write it down in your planner or calendar.

4. Do a 1-minute plank.

5. Smudge your bedroom or office.

6. List out 3 things you’re grateful for (either in your head or on paper — your choice).

7. Drink a cup of ginger tea to promote digestion and increase Agni (the Ayurvedic term for digestive fire).

8. Get out of auto-pilot: take a different route to work.

9. Take two minutes to hang out and play with a pet.

10. Eat a piece of fruit.

11. Do nothing for 2 minutes! (http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/)

12. Do the legs-up-on-the-wall yoga pose.

13. Study a piece of art that you love. (A picture of it online still counts!)

14. Practice the Hawaiian Hoʻoponopono forgiveness mantra. Repeat this yourself:

I am responsible for this or This is my responsibility
I am sorry
Forgive me
There is only Love
Thank you

15. Do an oil pull: put 1 or 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth like mouthwash for 10-15 minute. Then spit it out.

16. Send a quick message or text to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.

17. Do a quick declutter: pick three items from your closet, bookcase or cabinets that you can donate or throw away.

18. Unfollow or mute some people that annoy you on social media. (No un-friending required!)

19. Do a quick body-scan. Focus for a moment on each part of your body and release any tension that you find there.

20. Write yourself a love letter.

21. Spend some time watching the clouds roll by.

22. Ask for help on a project that you’ve been stuck on.

23. Color in a coloring book.

24. Use a tongue-scraper. Use firm pressure and go as far back on your tongue as possible. Rinse off your scraper and repeat until there’s no chalky residue left.

25. Sing! Whether at karaoke or in your car singing always releases stress.

26. Do a guided meditation on YouTube.

27. Fix a small annoyance in your life, like changing batteries, a lightbulb or sewing on a button.

28. Put on your favorite song and have a dance around your flat.

29. Do two-minutes of Pranayama: slow deep belly breathing.

30. Roll on a tennis ball for a self-massage. (This is especially great for your feet!)

31. Use aromatherapy. Try peppermint to increase motivation or lavender for calm.

32. Say no to a project or obligation that you’re dreading.

33. Watch a hilarious video on YouTube. Laughter is the best energy and mood booster!

34. Give someone a compliment.

35. Write in your journal or do your Morning Pages. Let yourself write about whatever comes to mind.



I hope you found some of these suggestions useful! If you enjoyed this post, please say thank you by sharing it. See you back here next week!

Jenn Stevens The Aligned Life



PS You might also want to check out 5 Ways To Create A High-Vibe Home or this one about practical advice for empaths.



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35 Quick & Easy Self Care Practices

A Quick & Easy Guide To Spiritual Travel

by: Jenn

I’ve just returned from a whirlwind week in London with my parents and it was fantastic. I love traveling, even just for short spurts. One of the reasons is that it always gives you a fresh perspective on your own life. Just taking a little distance between yourself and your usual world allows you to see things in a fresh way. I always return from a trip (even a short one) feeling reinvigorated and inspired.

But with that said, traveling can also be energetically exhausting.

There are several reasons for this but here are three of the most common ones:

Traveling forces us to become really present in our day, which is actually a great thing. (That’s also why days feel so long while we’re on vacation.) It forces us to go off the auto-pilot way of living that we all fall into, where our brains and bodies can seemingly let go and relax. It forces us to really think about what we’re doing in every moment, to figure out schedules, transit and food. It forces us to process every little thing around us instead of just the important things. None of this a bad thing! But being fully present is not how we’re accustomed to living, which is exactly why it’s so damn exhausting.

The disruption to our regular routine is another reason. Last week not only did I skip my regular meditation practice but I found myself consuming way more beer and pub food than I ever thought possible. Part of any trip is the loosening of our normal routine. It’s fun and even healthy to play hooky from our normal behavior. But it doesn’t take long to begin to feel completely out of balance and ultimately more susceptible to stress, irritability, poor sleep and even illness.

And, finally, where we sleep always has a big impact on us. Hotels, as lovely as they can be, are just never as good as the comfort of our own bed. From an energetic perspective, this makes absolute sense. Everyone carries an energetic imprint where ever we go. And the place where we leave the most of that imprint behind is the bed. Beds are soft and absorbent to this energy. Plus we spend hours of time (our most intimate and unguarded moments) in them at night. Beds accumulate energy incredibly quickly. So of course, hotel beds are always full of the energetic gunk left behind by other people. And of course, that’s not very relaxing!

So as amazing as travel is, it’s definitely not without its hurdles! Identifying the issues is only the first step; after that, it becomes much easier to learn how to cope and make the whole traveling process more relaxing and enjoyable. And fortunately, there are loads of ways to increase ease and make traveling a more spiritual practice.


A Quick & Easy Guide To Spiritual Travel


1. Bed Thwacking

Bed thwacking is something I’ve learned about from the queen of space clearing, Karen Kingston. Karen recommends bed thwacking regularly, whether you’re living on your own or not. But it’s especially important to do at the end (or beginning) of a new relationship. (Who wants to invite the energy of the previous relationship into the new one?) It’s also important for hotel rooms because of just how many people spend time in the space.

So before you climb into your hotel bed, it’s time to give it a good thwacking! This one’s super fun to do though! All we’re really doing is dispersing the accumulated foreign energy out of the bed and into the air where it’s much easier to get rid of. Ideally, this is done with something like a baseball bat but we’ll have to improvise since we’re on the road. Just hit the bed with your fists, making sure to get every little bit. Thwacking will let you sleep more soundly and calmly – as well as help to remove any leftover travel tensions!


2. Space Clearing

Space clearing is my all time favorite for fixing the energy of a space, therefore allowing yourself to truly relax. And again, the hotel room is one place where this is really needed.

I’ve written lots about space clearing over here so go check up on it. The process is easily adaptable for hotel rooms but you’ll have to take a few extra precautions. Sage is super-effective for space clearing but also very smoky. So for hotel rooms (where you really don’t want to set off a fire alarm) I recommend opting for a small piece of palo santo. As a bonus, it’s very easy to pack!


3. Bring A Travel Altar

Traveling is often about saving space and moving around with as little as possible. But I always save a little room for something special. A travel altar is a great way to center yourself in your space and remind you to indulge in your regular routine. Just as an altar is a highly personal thing, your travel altar can be composed of anything that’s important for you.

I almost always have a crystal (pink quartz FTW) with me, but you can bring a photo, mala beads or tiny figurine. I don’t recommend using a real candle in a hotel room but a battery-operated one is a great substitute. Set them up somewhere you’ll see them (like on a dresser or nightstand). Then throughout your visit, take a moment to stop and take some deep breaths whenever you see it. (Read more about creating personal altars right here.)


4. Mini Feng Shui

Take a look around your hotel room for any obvious Feng Shui no-no’s. There are often quick switches you can do yourself to improve the room’s Chi. If there’s a mirror facing your bed or aggressive images on the wall, try to cover it up with a scarf. Remove any pointy objects that are directed to the bed. Open the windows and let in some fresh air if you can (another great way to help dispel any lingering energy). Keep your bathroom door closed to avoid flushing away any positive energy. Try to avoid beds that face the door or beds that back onto windows. If there are things you can’t change or if things don’t feel right, go ahead and ask for another room.

Then unpack your things as soon as possible and try to keep your room neat and organized. Clutter is problematic even in a temporary space!


5. Create Mental Space

Travel is a whirlwind of activity and noise so making time to sit down and process it all is key! Journalling is a quick and easy way to let your mind start to process. There’s no real trick to this: just open up a blank page and go. I love to use my computer but some people prefer to do it by hand. Either one works. It’s the process of letting your brain go unfiltered that’s the magic part; the tools are just a matter of personal preference.

If journalling isn’t your thing, think of another way in which you can slow down and process the contents of your day. Going for a walk (without an agenda or phone to distract you) is another favorite way to do this. Simply allowing your mind to go off unfettered is amazingly for reducing stress!


6. Meditation

Meditation is the best way to become centered and present in your body and mind. The process of meditating isn’t about beating your mind into submission; it’s simply about creating some distance between you and your incessant thoughts. There are multiple ways you can try to meditate; for beginners I suggest going for a mantra or doing a guided meditation. There are loads for free on YouTube! I recently tried this meditation from Jessica Snow and I highly recommend it.



I hope this helps you in your spring & summer travel plans! Let me know how it all goes.

Jenn Stevens The Aligned Life



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A Quick + Easy Guide To Spiritual Travel

A Quick + Easy Guide To Spiritual Travel

How To Find Your Happy

by: Jenn

Are you looking for happiness in all the wrong places?

We all want to feel happy but often we take the wrong path to get there.

When we feel bad about ourselves we (most of us anyway) automatically look to fill themselves up with stuff: alcohol, drugs or sex. And it can also show up as an addiction to our physical belongings (excessive shopping or hoarding tendencies).

But of course, the things outside us can never truly fill the void. True happiness is not the result of a fleeting moment of pleasure. And it’s not something you can buy or consume. Those joys simply give a temporary rush, which is often enough to distract us for the moment. But running away doesn’t work. At a certain point, we need to face up to our true motivations and desires, as dark and scary as they can be.

A sustained feeling of happiness cannot come from something outside of us. It’s something we create for ourselves and it’s largely independent of the external world.

Happiness is a choice.

That means we have to learn how to let ourselves be happy. So here are some tips on how to exactly that:


5 Ways To Ditch The Drama & Find Your Happy


1. Release Control

It’s important to understand that despite our wishes, work and planning, things aren’t always going to go our way. If we lose an opportunity, mishandle a situation or make some other kind of mistake, it’s important to know that it’s not necessarily our fault. We can’t control how the world operates. All that we can control is our reaction to it.


2. Check Your Reactions

So often the reasons why bumps in the road feel so debilitating is because we make these events mean something they don’t. When the guy we like doesn’t like us back, it doesn’t mean that we’re unattractive or unlovable. We tend to blow things that probably have little to do with us way out of proportion. So before you let an external even govern how you feel about yourself, ask yourself what you’re making that event mean. Our internal perception is usually much more harsh than reality.


3. Choose Kindness

What is the kind thing to do, for yourself and for others? It’s very tempting to take anger and frustration out on the people that are around us. But choosing the kind thing to do is the most rewarding. You never feel guilt or frustration with yourself for being overly kind. Choosing kindness in the way you treat others eventually rubs off on the way you treat yourself.


4. Express Gratitude

Expressing gratitude for who we are, what we have is an immediate way to snap yourself out of an internal downward spiral. We get caught up in thinking about the things we don’t have we start to forget about all those things we do have. Why spend energy focusing on lack? No matter where we are in life or how far away our goals appear, we can always find something to be grateful for.


5. Feel Your Feelings

Even though this article is about finding internal happiness, don’t be afraid to feel your feelings. Humans are multi-faceted creatures and it’s ok to feel the things we do. Our emotions are very often tool to tell us what we need to focus on or change. Let your emotional states be a tool for self-understanding, not something that you’re trying to escape from. Again, this has to do with our ability to deeply accept ourselves, flaws, feelings and all. Your feelings don’t have to consume you. As long as you realize they are temporary and changing, feeling your feelings becomes easier and easier to do.


6. Accept Yourself

Getting upset about things we can’t change is futile. All the resentment and anger in the world won’t change the outcome so why let yourself spend your energy in that way? The sooner we can accept the breakup, the heartbreak, the loss the sooner we can begin to process our real feelings. Staying in that angry state is often just a stop-gap between letting us feel the sadness. But sadness (or any other “negative” feeling) is not something we can escape. Acceptance is simply about surrendering to reality and keeping our own energy in check.



(Note: Now it’s also important to understand that when I say happy, I don’t mean an over-the-top bouncing-off-the-walls kind of happy. I also don’t mean that you need to be happy during times of normal stress (layoffs, breakups, health or family issues). But the difference is that when you’re mostly happy, you don’t crumble under the weight of the stressful experience. So don’t put unrealistic pressure on yourself. This is about self-acceptance not somehow becoming superhuman.)



I hope you found this post inspiring! If you did please remember to share it. See you next week!

Jenn Stevens The Aligned Life



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How To Find Your Happy: 5 Ways To Ditch The Drama

Why You Need A Self-Care Practice + 10 On-The-Go Ideas

by: Jenn

To most people, cleaning doesn’t sound like a fun activity. But although I’m admittedly a lot more invested in the practice of creating a beautiful home than the average person, lately I have realized that cleaning has actually become an important part of my self-care practice.

There’s just something about cleaning out all the gunk from the flat that triggers the “work ready” part of my brain. It helps that wound up monkey part of my brain to relax and enables me to finish my week in the most optimal way possible. It’s much more than just a boring old necessity.

Cleaning might be an unusual way to practice self-care but it’s not the only one! There are loads of ways we can incorporate the concept of self-care into our life, in ways that are meaningful and beneficial for us specifically. It just takes a little time to figure out what that method is for you specifically.

So what do you do as a self-care practice?

If answers don’t spring to mind immediately, then there’s no better time to make the care of you a real priority.


What is Self-Care Practice?

Self-care is exactly what it sounds like: it’s the simple act of taking care of ourself. Why this has become such a foreign concept to most of the world is kinda crazy!

It is solely up to us to monitor to our current state and to make sure that state is as happy and healthy as possible.

But of course, it’s not feasible for us be the main focus of our attention 24/7. But conversely many of us never fully focus on ourselves! Instead our focus is consistently outwards; in this way, our internal state becomes dictated by the external events in our life.

And that’s not good.

When we forget to care for ourselves, we become more prone to getting run down and falling ill. We become stressed and anxious. Basically, we become ticking time bombs, either mentally or physically!

And y’all know exactly what I mean because we’ve all been there.


Beginning A Self-Care Practice

Here’s the trick: self-care isn’t a one time deal. We need to incorporate self-love practices into our regular routine but we’re still going to encounter times when we need to do something for ourselves – ASAP!

Life has lots of surprises! And we need to learn how to cope when things start to feel off.

Feeling present in your body and mind not only makes you a happier human being but allows you to show up for your life in the best way possible.


Self-Care: A 3-Step On-The-Go Practice


Step 1: Check In

It all begins with checking in with yourself. I’ve begun to train myself to do this regularly throughout the day. Our lives aren’t static; even while we’re doing things we’ve done tons of times before we can encounter new feelings. Things that wouldn’t normally stress us out can begin to do so.

Part of the solution is simply to become aware of how we’re feeling on a regular basis. We need to know what normal is before we can figure out when we’re feeling off!

So check in with yourself as you go to work, as you sit at your desk, as you’re standing in line at the grocery store, while you’re sitting in front of the TV at night. It’s important to notice your true internal “temperature” in each of these states so that when the temperature begins to rise for some reason you can also begin to fix it.

How do you feel in your stomach? Heart? Hands and feet? What is your mind focusing on? For now, just focus on awareness.


Step 2: Self-Service

Once you’ve figured out that you’re feeling off, it’s time to take positive action in a way that works for you.

Listen: it’s absolutely essential that you give yourself a time out now and again! Maybe sitting and staring at a blank computer screen is doing you more harm than good. Maybe you find yourself sliding into a place of anxiety on a regular night out with your friends.

Instead of toughing it out, address it full on! Ask what you can do to fix things for yourself in the moment. Feel it out. Sometimes that requires a little break or maybe just shifting your focus for a few minutes. Other times the best thing for you to do is to just call it a night and head home. Whatever approach you need to take is 100% okay.

(Need inspiration? I’ve got a few suggestions at then end of this article.)


Step 3: Monitor

Fixing the problem once doesn’t mean it’s done and gone! Sometimes we become re-triggered and sometimes it takes a few attempts to really recharge and fully come back into stasis. If your self-care treatment wasn’t successful, try a different method or take a longer break. We’re all unique and no one method will help everyone. Take the time to practice and experiment with what works for you.



My Story

As an empath, I often need to give myself a time-out. I’m a pretty social person in general but there are certain environments where things start to bother me. Crowded places in particular get me going! If people start bumping into me a lot — even just if on a crowded sidewalk — I start to feel rage-y for no particular reason. So I’ve recently begun the process of consciously coping with that. For me, that often means going to be alone for a moment. Sometimes a public toilet is your only place of refuge and that’s totally fine! I’ll just do some deep belly breaths and maybe a few stretches or self-massage. It just helps me to get back into my body and feel centered enough to get back out there and better deal with those people who’s sense of personal space is a lot different from mine.


10 Quick Self-Care Practice Ideas

Feeling inspired? Here are ten quick self-care practice ideas that you can use while out and on the go:

  • Sit in some direct sunlight.
  • Give yourself a mini-massage. If the thought of touching yourself for “no reason” feels weird, give yourself and excuse and use some moisturizer!
  • Spend five minutes watching the clouds pass by.
  • Have a mini-meditation.
  • Add mindfulness to a regularly occurring event, like drinking a cup of tea. Notice your motions and really sink into the sensations.
  • Take some deep belly breaths or do some alternate-nostril breathing, yogi-style.
  • Do some EFT.
  • Get moving! Take a quick walk around the block or do some stretches.
  • Do a Chi head massage. I do this one all the time! Just give the top of your head some gentle knocks, down each side around the crown. It helps to clear any fuzzy thoughts and it feels weirdly good!
  • Listen to something with a high-vibe like Tibetan Buddhist bowls or chanting. Keep it on your phone so you always have it!





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Why You Need A Self-Care Practice + 10 On-The-Go Ideas

Why You Need A Self-Care Practice + 10 On-The-Go Ideas

3 Ways To Support Your Divine Purpose

by: Jenn

Spiritual seekers, entrepreneurs, and creative/artistic types all typically have something fundamental in common: a Divine Purpose – a deep inner need to create something specific in their life.

It goes by many other names (True Calling, Life Purpose etc.) but it’s really all the same thing. (I like to call it divine because – hello! – we are.)

No matter the name, Divine Purpose is something we should all be striving to find, if we haven’t found it already.



So today I’m going to go through what it is and how to work with it.


What Is Your Divine Purpose?



Your Divine Purpose is the reason that you’re here in this life. It exists outside of religious background or dogma.

There is a way of existing without it but somewhere in the back of our mind we always know it’s missing.

If you don’t have it, you’ll know it from that nagging feeling that keeps you up at night wondering what’s missing.

Divine Purpose is your personal life mission. It’s intense passion, spark and drive. It’s your big “a-ha” moment personified and poured out into every aspect of life.

It may or may not have something to do with what you do for a living right now(though in my experience the two tend to merge over time).


How Do You Find Your Divine Purpose? 4 Questions To Get You Started



Finding your Divine Purpose usually involves quite a bit of soul-searching (although some lucky types seem to come to this Earth just knowing – lucky them!).

It takes some clear-cutting of the trees that have grown inside of us to find it. That means re-acquainting yourself with the inner you and asking him/her some questions.

Finding your Divine Purpose is not a one-day affair. But everyone needs to start somewhere. So if you’re into beginning the search, here are a few questions to get you started:

    • What gets you really fired up?
    • What inspires you to do what you do? I mean truly – behind any accolades, the adoration of others.
    • What are you drawn to over and over again?

    • We’re ultimately looking for that elusive thing that sets your heart on fire, which exists without the approval of others.

    Hold on to it. It’s special and it’s yours alone.


    How Can You Honor Your Divine Purpose?



    Of course, finding your Divine Purpose is only the beginning of the story. We must also put in work to keep focused on it.

    It’s all too easy to become distracted by the noise of modern life.

    Entertainment, social media and consumer culture (along with more obvious elements like drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling etc.) can become distractions from our inner reality. Why not numb ourselves with the drama of others rather than focus on our inner self, on questions we’re uncomfortable asking?

    That means realizing that while we’re human and we all have guilty pleasures, no you don’t really have to keep up with the Kardashians.

    (But it’s cool on occasion.)

    Divine purpose is something we must actively choose to incorporate into our life, into our fiber of being.

    When we honor our Divine Purpose, we honor ourselves.

    So with that in mind, here are a few ideas that you can incorporate into your regular routine.


    3 Ways to Support Your Divine Purpose


    How To Support Your Divine Purpose Method #1:

    Meditation



    Setting aside time to stop and clear the cobwebs is hands-down the best way to focus on your inner self.

    It’s also great for decreasing stress, increasing attention spans and raising overall levels of happiness but who’s counting?

    Lots of people shy away from meditation because it’s hard or they think they can’t do it. But meditation is a true practice, not a perfect state of being that only special people can attain. Everyone who meditates is confronted by their own unwanted thoughts; learning to confront them is – in a way – the entire point. The idea that someone can set a timer and go completely blank is unrealistic.

    If you’re new to meditation, try starting off with short five or ten minute segments. You can work your way up after you’ve made it a regular thing. (Or don’t! Even short meditations are beneficial.)

    The point of meditation is to really switch our over-active monkey brain off. We can’t hear our inner voice or reflect on the important things in our life when we’re busy being distracted by social media every fifteen minutes (*cough* note to self).

    Quiet reflection and meditation allow the gates to our inner self to open. It puts us in touch with our intuition and with our true being (which is not the mental chatter we hear inside our head). The act of getting quiet with ourselves is an important way of honoring our Divine Purpose.


    How To Support Your Divine Purpose Method #2:

    Sacred Space


    If you’re lucky enough to work with your Divine Purpose in your professional life, then it’s time to really honor that. Create a sacred working space designed to let your inner self flourish. That means making your workspace free of unnecessary distractions and including of some sort of touchstone to help keep you on track.

    How sacred is your working space? If you’re like most people, your desk is rarely kept in tip-top shape. I know many people claim to feel calmed by the mess but remember that your brain is still monitoring every little object around you. So it’s critical to stop everywhere to analyze what’s actually there.

    Does it make you happy to work there? If not, how can you improve it? Does it reflect your Divine Purpose (even in small ways)? If not, can you add in something that does? Even something small like a photo or candle will do.

    (It’s also important to note here that it’s highly likely that you can find a way to honor your Divine Purpose in whatever job you have currently! Attitude and focus are the only two crucial ingredients. Plus when you put your heart into your interactions – even in the smallest of ways – you’d be surprised at how quickly the circumstances around you can begin to change!)


    How To Support Your Divine Purpose Method #3:

    Mini-Rituals


    Ritual is just a way of tying our intentions to our actions. It’s a way of making things become real. Plus they’re highly flexible; rituals can be as simple or complex as you deem necessary. For everyday rituals, I would recommend going small and easy. Think: charging a crystal with a specific purpose or making an offering to the deity or element of your choosing.

    I’m a lover of ritual and, as a home-based business owner, I make good use of them. Every afternoon I burn a tealight in my Himalayan salt candle holder and light some incense (even just cheap incense) with a specific intention in mind. I usually hold the intention for inspiration and focus but it shifts depending on the day. But somedays it goes deeper and is more aimed at the heart of what I do (rather than on the methods). It’s important to make checking in and honoring that part of you regularly.



    I hope this post serves you on your journey to your Divine Purpose! Please share it if you found it useful.

    Jenn Stevens The Aligned Life



    PS Looking for more? You might also want to check out this post about surviving and thriving after a breakup or this one about how to find your happy.



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