The Reason We Get Stuck When Seeking A Meaningful Life.
From birth until death, we have a life force energy that flows through us and animates our physical body. This spiritual energy is forever seeking expression through us.
This life force energy propels us to grow and evolve like our nails are continually growing. As Wayne Dyer said when I heard him at a live event just before he died, “You cannot stop your nails from growing. You can tell them to ‘stop,’ but of course, they won’t.”
This same energy fuels us to create and express ourselves using our personality to bring our souls’ purpose into physical manifestation.
We all create meaning differently depending on what our soul needs to evolve.
As long as we live in alignment with what our soul needs and make decisions that align with our inner wisdom, we will have a sense that we are flourishing in our lives. Our life force energy will flow! We’ll feel a sense of vitality and feel comfortable in our own skin.
If we stifle or constrict our life force energy OR let outer influences determine how we live or what should be meaningful, we end up feeling inner turmoil.
This inner turmoil is often a symptom that we’re stuck in creating meaning in our lives and that our life force energy is blocked.
For me, this blocked energy felt like what I called soul hunger. My soul was hungry for me to live a more meaningful life, so it withdrew energy from how I lived. Soul hunger was a gift because it awakened me to a deeper connection with my soul. With this sense of blocked energy or soul hunger, it’s helpful to ask, Is This Depression Or Am I Experiencing A Spiritual Awakening?
Just as our nails grow, our sense of what brings meaning to our lives is also meant to grow and evolve.
Let me give you a couple of examples:
Parents derive great meaning from raising their children. They have a channel for their life force energy: their children. The children grow up and leave home. Where do they channel their energy now? How do they create meaning? They are stuck because they don’t know how to create meaning in this new season of their life!
There is the business person who puts all their time and energy into being successful and making money to be financially secure. The majority of their life force energy is focused on achieving this. After many years, they achieve their goal. Now, where do they channel their energy? How do they create a meaningful life? They are stuck because they don’t know how to create meaning in the new season of their life!
What happens when we are stuck?
Feeling stuck is often a powerful sign and an invitation to live differently.
It’s the universe tapping us on the shoulder and saying, “It’s time to grow, and that means letting go of your existing way of being so that you can usher in a new way.”
For the parent who has put their energy into their children, they are now meant to channel it someplace else, requiring that they create meaning in a new way.
For the business person that has achieved financial security, they are now meant to channel their energy into other things that bring meaning.
The challenge for many is that we get stuck because we can’t envision what this new life is supposed to look like.
But feeling stuck is not the problem. The problem is that we don’t know how to get unstuck, so this life force energy that is meant to flow is blocked!
And living with our life force energy being blocked isn’t just uncomfortable; it impacts our physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Challenges in creating a meaningful life.
Although there are many reasons why we get stuck, one of the biggest ones is that the masculine way of creating meaning only works to a certain point.
The masculine way of creating meaning comes from the perspective that we must figure it all out before we even start. We need to set the goal and then have the path clearly defined.
We put pressure on ourselves to know what brings us meaning. And then, when we know it, we can create it.
For example, when I was 18, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. When I was five, I had a mystical experience that planted the seed of nursing in me. It was part of my soul’s plan for me to be a nurse. With that in mind, I had a clear vision of the steps I needed to take to get there. After four years of University, I achieved my goal. The masculine way of creating meaning worked because I knew nursing would be meaningful.
The feminine way of creating meaning comes from a completely different perspective. The feminine way of creating is a creative process of moving forward without having it all figured out. It is a process that flows from our inner world and manifests in our outer world.
It is a journey of following the breadcrumbs and course-correcting based on our inner guidance. It is not linear and feels like a journey into the unknown without a map or final destination.
I have also become familiar with this way of creating meaning in my life. It is completely different from when I had it all figured out and wanted to be a nurse. These past years have been a meandering journey of trial and error.
I have been living the feminine way of creating because that has been required to uncover what feels deeply meaningful during this season.
The challenge for many of us is that society values the masculine way of creating over the feminine way of creating.
We know the masculine way and often don’t even see another way.
So, when our soul has saturated itself with the masculine way of creating and needs us to grow and explore the feminine way of creating, it is the road less travelled.
It’s a journey into the unknown that feels uncomfortable because we don’t have it all figured out. And, when we’re being perfectly honest, we don’t like the unknown or discomfort!
I am on a parallel road with you for all of you who are less travelled. And if you’re not on the road yet, but are feeling the inner life force energy stirring something in you, perhaps it’s your time.
Although there is a lot of uncertainty, one thing I know for sure- the road less travelled is a deeply meaningful adventure.
If you feel inspired, please leave a comment below. Our community would love to hear from you!
Hi Super article…very inspiring god bless.
I’m so glad you found the article inspiring. Love, Bev.
Thank you, Maam for this wonderful article.
I am experiencing the DARK NIGHT phrase of soul awakening. I am 18 years old and it’s quite frightening and suffering to me. I have completed high school recently. Now, I have decided 3 years, to go to law school for financial freedom. But now I am quite confused about trusting my soul. I don’t dare to take the road less taken (spiritual life ) . I am doubtful about its uncertainty or unknown path. Also, It is a bit tough to convince my orthodox Indian family. They don’t believe in my spiritual awakening.
Pls guide my path, Maam
Thank you. I
Yes, the dark night of the soul is a confusing and challenging process for many! I hear you saying that you’re trying to dance between financial freedom and the spiritual path. I have been inspired by people who have held both at the same time. For example, Oprah has both financial freedom AND has been drawn by the deeper calling of her soul to be of service. In the process of being of service, she achieved this freedom which has further enabled her to be of service. When the soul awakens we feel called to be of service and we can use our vocation (for you it may be as a lawyer) to contribute to something bigger. How can you use your gifts as a lawyer to help others one day? I have also found financial freedom to be a big gift to following my spiritual calling and being of service. I can sense you’re a bright light and although others may not understand, they’re are many of us who do!! Much love, Bev.
My adult children have spread their wings and since then I have been floundering. It’s been 7 years. Like you when I had direction and a goal for Nursing I felt alive. When I had the kids at home I felt alive. Driven. Motivated. Now I’m trying so many things to find something that resonates with my soul. Though my husband believes I’m depressed. I believe I’m on a quest to rejuvenate my soul and replenish what I’ve been missing. It’s nice to know that someone out there understands this. It’s now my goal to continue exploring, learning and growing and know that I’m alright if I need to do that. Thanks for your article.
Hi Pattie,
Thanks so much for sharing with us here! I’m SO thrilled that this article has given you the permission and courage to continue exploring what feels meaningful and energizing at this time in your life. I can really relate to what you’re saying, as can many others who read this. You said that you plan to continue exploring, learning and growing and that is exactly what your soul is inviting you to do. I love how you described that “I’m on a quest to rejuvenate my soul” – so beautiful!!! Enjoy the journey and I’m grateful to be on it with you! Love, Bev.
I am so happy to have found you and your writing! After what felt like a near-death experience with my soul, I decided to follow my curiosity and intuition and not focus on outcomes and it feels so good and freeing and exciting but also so scary as I have no idea where I am headed. And it’s really hard to explain to people. Reading about the feminine approach to creating meaning is incredibly comforting – I may not know where I am headed but at least I am not alone! Thank you for sharing your story and insights!
Hi Jess,
I’m SO glad that my writing found you! I love how you described that it’s both scary AND freeing at the same time. Learning how to be with both of these energies at the same time is what the spiritual path is inviting us to. You are definitely not alone! Thank you for sharing with us here. Love, Bev.
I so agree with your words Bev! Such a lovely summary of this topic! I think that even this summary is a great help to those who don’t know “what’s going on” with them and having an idea what to expect is already moving them one step forward in their own journey.
Marketa, thank you so very much for your kind feedback. Knowing that this post may in some small way help people see their situation in a different way, means a great deal to me.
Wonderful piece ? thank you for this really well written wisdom.
Your welcome Sophie, and thank YOU for the thoughtful comment.