Rebecca Henry Luksich: “Cultivating Purpose”

Several years ago I was working at a job that didn’t seem to have much purpose. As I was sitting around feeling sorry for myself, someone approached me and told me that I didn’t know who I really was. This started me thinking more deeply about this question: Was I my job, my debts, or my fears? My actions were saying that this was all I believed myself to be, yet there was an inner knowing that there was so much more I did not know.

At the Center for Purposeful Living, we learn about becoming a “totally responsible person.” It has been so powerful to experience freedom by using what was learned from this course and taking responsibility for thoughts, emotions and money. In the past, I had used credit cards and transferred the balance from one card to another to avoid finance charges. I did many things to try and maneuver around doing what needs to be done, like taking responsibility and being accountable for all the money that comes in and out of my life. Thanks to what has been learned at the Center, there is a genuine confidence that has come from changing old habits and transforming them into positive character traits.

During the year-long program, students have the opportunity to become more aware of our many layers of emotional/personality “stuff” that we have been carrying around. Once we gain awareness, we can then consciously choose what we want to do.

For example, there was a strong personal belief that I was not a salesperson and was definitely not the type to make sales calls. When I received an offer to do this very job for California Fresh Catering, much tension was experienced and I really had to look at that belief and question it. Once I began to see more clearly, there was a realization that this is why we are here at the Center—to CHANGE and GROW. This experience was one of many opportunities to put purpose into action, so I decided to join the CFC marketing team and make sales calls. The result was so much different than I ever could have imagined—and so successful! This experience was an opportunity to reverse the flow from myself and focus on the customer and their needs and goals.

When we serve others we find purpose. We cultivate purpose by acting with intention and doing things as an offering, a service to others. To be able to give, without attachments and with a sense of love for humanity—that is something we can strive for. We can increase our capacity to serve little by little each day.