In one-on-one session, one of my clients asked:
“What should I do? What is my purpose?”
When you’re an introvert, these question can give you sleepless nights.
You keep on searching. Seeking. But you will find nothing.
You seek a map, a formula, a set of instructions. But life is not a machine, and you’re not cogs to be fitted.
You are a unique phenomenon. And for each unique phenomenon, there is a unique path.
In the Bhagwat Gita, there a concept called Swadharma. It means following one’s own duty or path in life.
But what is this duty?
Swadharma is not some duty imposed upon you by society, by scriptures, or by parents. No. If it is imposed, it becomes a burden, a chain around your neck. And how can you blossom in chains?
Swadharma arises from within you. It’s your design by life. Anything that flows out of you spontaneously without any force and it gives you joy and peace. This is your Swadharma.
It is the expression of your deepest nature.
You’ve been asking yourself the wrong question.
Stop asking “What is my purpose?”
Ask: “What is my deepest nature?”
What is your nature?
Are you a giver? Then give, with totality, with joy, and you will know fulfilment.
Are you a creator? Then create, pour your being into it, and the universe will dance with you.
Are you a seeker of truth? Then seek, relentlessly, with passion, and the doors will open.
The world tells you, “Be like him! Be like her! Compete! Succeed!” And in this race, you lose yourself.
You try to wear clothes that don’t fit, to sing songs that aren’t yours. This creates anxiety, suffering, a deep unease in the soul.
And the Bhagavad Gita, in its ancient wisdom, declares:
“Better is one’s own duty (swadharma), though imperfect, than the duty of another well performed.”
Why?
Because when you perform another’s duty, even perfectly, it is a perfect misery.
It is not yours. It is a performance, not an expression. You become a hollow shell. You suffer everyday. Because it’s like a cow trying to hunt a deer.
But when you perform your own swadharma, even imperfectly, there is a certain grace, a certain joy, a certain peace that radiates from your being.
The imperfection itself becomes beautiful, because it is AUTHENTIC.
So, how do you find this Swadharma?
You don’t search for it in books or gurus. No.
You simply need to be silent.
1. First, drop the noise.
The world is full of chatter, of opinions, of expectations. Let them fall away.
2. Close your eyes.
Not just physically, but metaphorically. Close them to the external circus. Stop paying attention to everything.
3. Listen to your inner whisper.
There is a subtle voice within you, a silent calling. It speaks not in words, but in feelings, it pulls you towards certain things and away from others. Pay attention to that voice.
4. Experiment, but without expectation.
Try things. Don’t cling to outcomes. See what brings you alive. See what makes time disappear. See what feels like play, even when it’s work.
5. Observe your restlessness.
What makes you uneasy? What makes you feel like you are betraying yourself? This restlessness is a sign that you are straying from your path.
6. Observe your joy.
What fills you with a deep, inexplicable joy, even if it seems illogical to others? That joy is pointing to your truth.
7. Observe your peace.
What makes your mind calm. Makes you feel fulfilled. You feel a stillness that cannot be explained. That, my friend, is your biggest sign.
And finally,
Swadharma is not a destination, but a journey, a continuous unfolding.
It’s the art of living in harmony with your true self. And when you live in harmony with yourself, you are in harmony with the universe.
Then every action becomes a meditation, and your life becomes a masterpiece.
Just be. Listen. And the universe will reveal your unique song.
It is already within you, waiting to be sung. To learn more about how to re-connect with your authentic self, read my BOOK.
Stay blessed,
Karun