Are You Doing What You Want?

Are you doing what you want in your life?

Are you listening to your inner pilot light – that ‘still, small voice’ inside of you?

Do you even know what you really want to be doing?

Each of these important questions could be used as a koan for your meditation practice right now.

“We rarely offer ourselves the time and space to consider: ‘Am I doing what I most want to be doing with my life? Do I even know what that is?’ The noise in our heads and all around us drowns out the ‘still, small voice’ inside. We are so busy doing ‘something’ that we rarely take a moment to look deeply and check in with our deepest desires.

Volition is a tremendous source of energy. But not all volition comes from the heart. If your volition is only to make enormous amounts of money or to have the biggest number of Twitter followers, that may not lead you to a satisfying life.”

—Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh from Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise

So what kinds of activities can lead you to a satisfying life?

Here are a few ideas:

1. Working diligently on your life’s purpose, if you have one and know what it is.
2. Begin a daily meditation practice and meditate on what you really want to do.
3. Volunteer to work in a community hospital, school, or other community service.
4. Spend time with sick and / or elderly people and bring them your full attention and joy.
5. Go for a walk in nature and enjoy the wonders of life.

What will you choose?

Books by Thich Nhat Hanh

Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise by Thich Nhat Hanh The Zen master and one of the world’s most beloved teachers returns with a concise, practical guide to understanding and developing our most powerful inner resource—silence—to help us find happiness, purpose, and peace. Many people embark on a seemingly futile search for happiness, runn… Buy Now on Amazon!