What Do I Want from Life, or What Does Life Want from Me?

In Western culture, much emphasis is placed on setting personal goals, uncovering our passions, and determining what we want out of life. There’s certainly no harm in that. Yet, sometimes, we get so caught up in this pursuit that we overlook a key question that’s essential to our success: What does life want from me?

Discovering Your Unique Purpose:

Think of humanity as a vast puzzle, with you as one of its individual pieces. This piece fits perfectly into the overall image, bearing a distinct pattern that only makes sense when connected to the surrounding pieces.

As you work on this puzzle, you’re asking, “Where does this piece belong in the bigger picture?” The piece can’t find its place or embrace its uniqueness without recognizing its connection to the whole.

When people focus on the question, “What do I want from life?” they’re exploring their inner design, talents, and gifts they were born with. But this question only covers part of the journey. Even if we know our individual strengths, we may still try to force our uniqueness into spaces where it doesn’t belong. No matter how much effort we put in, it just doesn’t flow with the broader picture. This happens because we focus solely on “Who am I?” while neglecting the equally vital question, “Who am I within the larger whole?”

A Simple Exercise:

Try this: ask yourself, “What do I want from life?” As you think about it, notice how your energy flows outward. You are projecting this desire onto the world, expecting it to respond. You feel in charge of the outcome.

Now, shift to the question, “What does life want from me?” Observe how the energy now moves towards you from the world. Life, or the universe, is the one asking something of you. How does it feel? Exciting? Or perhaps a bit uncertain, anxious, maybe even frightening? You may feel less in control.

To embrace this fully, you need to trust that life’s forces are on your side, always guiding and supporting you, knowing more about the bigger picture than you can see alone.

Shaping Our Relationship with the World:

Our understanding of life begins with our family, the first world we encounter. At this stage, we’re unaware of the broader world beyond the walls of home. Over time, our perception of the world expands — to include our school, community, and eventually the entire globe. Some people even come to identify as “citizens of the world.”

The family unit is where we form our initial understanding of life. During this period, our brain builds neural pathways at lightning speed, working to grasp how the world operates and how we fit in. Here, we learn whether the world feels like a safe, trustworthy place, or if we must remain guarded, expecting challenges.

Navigating with Trust:

When asking, “What does life want from me?” your response will largely reflect your foundational beliefs about the world. If your early experiences taught you that life is supportive, this question might bring feelings of excitement and adventure, filled with openness to whatever comes your way. Even if you don’t yet know what life desires from you, you trust it will become clear in time.

On the other hand, if your early lessons were rooted in distrust or fear, you might feel anxious or uneasy asking what life expects of you. You may have learned that life doesn’t always have your back, making it harder to find your place in the bigger picture. This sense of disconnection often manifests as feelings of lack of fulfillment, burnout, or a general sense of being lost.

Each person has a unique role within the whole. The entirety of life relies on your distinct contribution. It’s crucial that we connect to our true Self, one that’s always in sync with the larger picture, by letting go of old and limiting beliefs. The beauty of the whole depends on it.

If you’d like to delve deeper into the relationship between your true Self and the world, I encourage you to explore my book, You Are the Dream of the Universe. Uncover the hidden patterns that shape how you relate to others and the world. Release negative emotions and beliefs that no longer serve you by engaging with 25 transformative exercises. Reconnect with your deeper Self and experience life through this revolutionary lens.