![\"\"](\"http:\/\/plannerperfect.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_5518-1.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Live your life purpose.<\/p>\n
Simple. But also the hardest assignment we have on this earth. <\/span><\/p>\n For those of us that are mothers or who spend most of our time caring for others, there\u2019s a common question: Is motherhood a woman\u2019s purpose in life? <\/span><\/p>\n Yes and no. At least that\u2019s how I see it.<\/span><\/p>\n Motherhood can be all consuming. Our children need us around the clock. It\u2019s our responsibility to teach them how to be good, loving people, how to share, how to spell their name and how to wipe their butts. How could our essential role and presence that will shape their lives forever not be our purpose?<\/span><\/p>\n It is. But it\u2019s also not all there is.<\/span><\/p>\n See, I have this suspicion that we were all born with some gift, some \u201cthing\u201d that makes us unique – and that \u201cthing\u201d fills our empty cups when a toddler tantrum empties it faster than we can say, \u201cdoes anyone want a toddler free of charge?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve known many women who\u2019s children grew up and left and they looked around and thought, \u201cNow what?\u201d and then a darker question – \u201cWho am I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Once the kids are on their own, it\u2019s not too late to ask these deeply important questions – but what if we asked them before we had children? What if we used our gifts and served this world while raising a family at the same time? We are more than mothers and wives and a free taxi service who makes a mean casserole. That inner part of us, the gift, needs to be of service – because if it\u2019s forced to lay dormant, it will surely make us suffer. And that inner suffering blocks us from truly loving those around us. What good is serving your beloveds, if there\u2019s a reservoir of resentment boiling inside because your soul has been so neglected?<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m not an oracle, but I suspect our dormant gifts rise to the surface when we\u2019re spraying Shout on muddy knee stains as a feeling of emptiness washes upon us. <\/span><\/p>\n Surely there\u2019s more to life than this? We ask. There is, our gift says. So then what?<\/span><\/p>\n To begin fulfilling my purpose I first had to believe I was given certain gifts so that I could love and serve others with them. Loving and serving others with our gifts, in my mind, is living our life\u2019s purpose. What are your gifts? What feels natural to you? Mine isn\u2019t math, patience or wearing high heels, in case you were wondering.<\/span><\/p>\n Write them down. Surprise yourself. Don\u2019t let fear or a low self-esteem take your pen. Be honest about your gifts. It\u2019s important.<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t assume a natural gift is the same as being a master. Although I may be naturally good at a few things, I\u2019ve mastered nothing. Mastering requires sharpening your gifts. Practice. Sweat. Bruises. Lots of them. Mastering takes a lifetime. The process can fulfill you, possess you or oppress you. Or you can ignore your gifts completely. All of those choices are yours to make.<\/span><\/p>\n Love. As this month\u2019s word, that\u2019s what it means to me. Serving others with my gifts. But in order to do that, I must know it. To be the best mom, wife, or neighbor, then our gifts must be free – practiced and enjoyed. Serving and loving and nurturing ourselves and loved ones.<\/span><\/p>\n