People search and search for the meaning to life. We wonder why we were put on this earth. Often we suppose that our purpose is different from the purpose of other people.

Here’s the thing. We were all born to learn through experience. As Deepak Chopra says, “Your purpose in life is to help creation to expand and grow.”

What individuates us is our learning path: the specific lessons we need to learn, the ways that we get our lessons, how we react to our growth challenges, how often we notice our expansion opportunities.

There are no inconsequential moments in life. The potential for expansion is present in each second. I think that this both paralyzes and inspires us.

On the paralysis side, we think “What am I suppose to do now?” This I-should-be-doing-something concern automatically takes us out of just BEING. We’ve been trained to believe that we accomplish big things only through action. We live up to our purpose and potential by doing specific important things.

Yes, action is important to moving forward in our various cultures on this planet. Yet, consider this: when you are fully BEING, you are fully aware and awareness is naturally expanding. Simple awareness enables you to access deeper subconscious levels, tap into intuition, expand your emotional register and can inspire spiritual awakening. All this is invisible but incredibly powerful! Often the invisible energy you generate in a few concentrated seconds or a couple mindful minutes is much more effective at moving you forward than visible action.

Yesterday I practiced being. My husband and step daughter took a long drive from Seattle out through one of the Cascade mountain passes here in the Northwest. It was soooooo gorgeous! The perfect day to BE.

We had our little dog so I rolled down the window so he could smell the crisp fall air and in doing so I appreciated the breeze, fragrant with pine in the mountains and then sage as we traveled to the dryer east.

At one point, my stepdaughter complained that she couldn’t enjoy the beauty from the car…she had to get out into the scenery to enjoy it! Yet, as I smiled in the shimmering sunlight that shone through the golden yellow and fiery red leaves I felt totally at peace. Nothing was needed; nothing more needed to be done to make the moment “special.” In a way, her suggestion that we needed to get out of the car felt like complicating a perfect moment that was quite simply heavenly already.

Yes, being outside would change the experience, but make it more meaningful? No. It was only her mind that defined being outside as being more expansive. Perhaps her young restless body was sending that message, too. Maybe that’s a benefit of being older: you appreciate stillness more, you’ve experienced the benefits of just sitting in quiet wonder.

As you go about your day, be aware of the moments that are present opportunities for energetic growth and expansion through being. Then when you do act, act with focus and intention. Your effectiveness will expand. Noticing when you shift your energies from inner to outer focus greatly empowers you. You’ll feel all the minutes, hours and days of your life more fully and joyfully.