Am I on the right path? Is this what I’m supposed to be doing with my career and life? I ask myself these questions often, particularly when faced with challenges. But how do we know when we’re aligned with our life’s purpose and what the universe wants to create through us and when we’re just following an egoic desire?

In Module 4 of Eckhart Tolle’s Conscious Manifestation course, he answers these questions and offers practical suggestions to recognize when we’re on the right path and when we’re being led by ego.

Signs the ego is in charge

Eckhart says the best way to know if a goal is ego motivated, is to look at how focused we are on the outcome. If we believe that our lives will be better and we’ll finally be happy and fulfilled when we reach the goal, then it is derived from the ego.

Let’s look at some of the areas that seem to trouble us the most.

Careers

“What do I want to be when I grow up?” is a question many of us are still asking ourselves late in life. Adolescents begin feeling the stress to decide on a career in middle school, with the pressure steadily increasing through high school.

Many of us don’t know what we want to do. And we find ourselves working in jobs or pursuing degrees that only bring us stress and unhappiness. But how do we know what career is best suited for us? Eckhart offers some simple guidelines to know if what you’re currently doing or pursuing is in alignment with your highest purpose.

Know your intention

If our intention is only to make a lot of money — we can do that. The universe is abundant and gives us what we ask for. It doesn’t judge whether we’re right or wrong, so egos can manifest too. We only need to look around us and at history to see what egos are capable of manifesting. But there’s a price for egoic manifestation, of course. Often that price is making ourselves and many others miserable in pursuit of the goal.

Is it worth having a large income, a big house, and an expensive car when we come home every day too exhausted and stressed to be present with our family? Or we spend our day criticizing our employees or co-workers to make us feel better about ourselves, which only causes more stress and dysfunction.

Eckhart teaches that if the activity to reach our goals isn’t enjoyable, that’s a huge clue we’re on the wrong path. He gives the example of wanting to be a famous pianist. If we don’t enjoy practicing the piano several hours a day, then the pursuit is ego motivated and will never bring us lasting fulfillment. It’s completely pointless to pursue a goal if doing so takes away the enjoyment of life.

Be aware of altruistically disguised ego motivations.

In a recent podcast with Marie Forleo, Gary Zukov, author of the phenomenal international bestseller, The Seat of the Soul, and his latest book, Universal Human, talks about how the ego can mask itself as a good intention. He gives the following example:

Parents: We want our child to go to the best schools.

Gary: Why do you want your child to attend the best schools?

Parents: Because we want him to have the best education.

That sounds like a good intention doesn’t it?

But if prodded deeper into the real intention behind their desire, other motives become clear.

Gary: Why is it important for your child to have the best education?

Parents: Because our friend’s kids are going to the best schools and we don’t him to be left out. (And to take it a step further than Zukov’s example) We want our son to have a successful career so he’ll be happy and won’t have to worry about money like we did.

That still doesn’t sound bad, does it? But having a successful career and making a lot of money doesn’t guarantee a good life. Look around. Is that true in your experience? I’ve been just as miserable when I had plenty of money and success as I was when I was broke and in between jobs.

Does that mean achieving nice things and going to the best schools are bad? No, it doesn’t, says Zukov. When you want your child to get the best education because you want him to be exposed to diverse teachings that will help him develop his own talents and interests, then that’s not ego motivated. And — most importantly — you’re not attached to the outcome of your child becoming your idea of important and successful. Instead, you’re focused on developing your own sense of inner purpose, so you can help lead him to his.

Life Purpose

Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing right now, is exactly where you’re meant to be.

Eckhart Tolle

There are no mistakes in the universe. Our lives are a journey to learn and uncover the essence of who we really are.

Eckhart teaches that there may be periods in our lives when it’s more important to know ourselves as a higher being than it is to achieve something. We may decide to disengage from “doing” and just enjoy “being”. That could mean downsizing or doing simple work to support ourselves.

It doesn’t mean neglecting our responsibilities or living off of someone else. We still do what we need to survive, but we’re not trying to become anything.

This philosophy goes against everything I’ve been taught, but now I can understand it a bit more. I’m not ready to give up all my possessions and go live in a commune or a cave in Tibet, but I do actually enjoy just being. I enjoy getting up in the morning and getting out in nature, practicing yoga, and meditating. And I enjoy simply listening to the call of the birds, the wind blowing through the trees, and the melody of wind chimes. I enjoy just being. Which is new for me — and really, really awesome.

Whatever you’re doing now, do it fully

When we dwell in the present moment and are open to life, opportunities will come to us, says Eckhart. If you’re a waitress waiting for your big break in the music industry, give your full attention to the job you’re doing now. When you live in the present moment and enjoy simply being, universal power flows through you and affects those around you. The very job you don’t want to be doing could lead to your big break.

Start with the obvious

If you feel called to do something but you don’t know what to do, start with the most obvious. What gives you the most sense of aliveness and joy? Go into that field and find out if it resonates with you. You don’t have to hit a home run on the first pitch. That is exactly what I’m doing now with this blog.

I knew it was past time for me to give up my leadership role and control of our business (releasing control has been — and continues to be — one of my biggest challenges.) Taking a backseat to the business was step one, but I really didn’t know what direction I wanted to go. Then, about a year ago, well into my spiritual awakening, I had a vision of a book. It just came to me. I saw the title, the design of the book cover, and even the publisher. And I saw it helping others. At that moment I knew my purpose was to help people stop suffering and awaken to their authentic Self.

Challenges

The book wasn’t ready to be written, but I needed to get onto the field. This blog is me stepping up to the plate. I don’t know when or if the book will be written and I don’t need to know. I do know that writing is hard. My ego doesn’t like being vulnerable and writing exposes a little more of my Inner Being with every word. Eckhart teaches not to make a challenge an enemy. I recognize that allowing myself to be vulnerable is a challenge and also part of the journey — wherever that may lead.

The point is when you have a call to do something — act on it. It doesn’t have to be completely laid out with a fixed goal in sight. Sometimes we just need to get on the field and take a swing.

(By the way, I’m going tandem skydiving next weekend! It may be a bit extreme, but it should be an ultimate lesson in releasing control . . .)

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