Many spiritual teachers insist that when we express our desire to live purposefully and in joy, the Universe will reflect this in our experiences, often delivered in the most beautiful ways possible. Is it really that simple?

For those who have a rigid notion of what ‘living in purpose’ means, the life changes required can appear risky, scary and, at times, totally unrealistic.

Whether we seek escape from an unrewarding day job, long for a soul mate relationship or feel drawn to relocate to a new area, decisions must probably be made that will jeopardise our financial or emotional security and challenge the self imposed expectations resulting from social and familial conditioning. We may feel angry and trapped, experiencing resentment and bitterness towards life in general.

For others, however, it’s difficult to pinpoint what aspects of life need to change. There’s a simple sense of lack and we’re just not enjoying life to its full potential. This brings frustration and discontentments, making everything feel foggy and dull.

Strategies to break down our personal barriers to purposeful living can seem elusive and prove expensive – many on a long term quest to ‘live in purpose’ will admit to spending excessive amounts of cash on therapies, workshops and self-help books in the hope that the key to fulfilment is around the corner. For some, the journey feels endless – it’s one step forward and two steps back, and despite embracing the tough process of healing and change, a joyful, purposeful life seems as distant as ever.

From an Energy Healer’s perspective, clients for whom change seems elusive and who complain that their lives deliver disappointment almost always present with an unbalanced or blocked Higher Heart Chakra. In the majority of cases, the root of a Higher Heart issue is arguably the most significant personal barrier to ‘living in purpose’. While the Healer can offer the catalyst to render the client more open to change, an acknowledgement of personal responsibility and the determination to self-heal is essential in tackling this particular problem – low self esteem.

Low self esteem, whatever the cause, is linked to the everyday anxieties and irrational behaviours that hold us back from consciously bringing our dreams into reality and that keep our daily experiences ‘liveable’ rather than ‘loveable’. It keeps us separate from potentiality, asking us to expect failure and accept less in every scenario. It shrouds aspiration with guilt and clouds greatness with Ego, consistently nagging us into self sabotage and limitation.

With low self esteem, not only does ‘living in purpose’ seem like an unobtainable dream, it feels so far from reality we don’t believe we can ever truly experience it in the here and now. Emotional discomfort becomes the status quo and our negative beliefs about ourselves are reflected back in our life experiences – unfulfilling careers, abusive relationships and dysfunctional lifestyles are experienced by detached, numb individuals in a state of semi-consciousness.

In the worst cases, we become so detached from our aspirations that we can no longer recognise what our Soul yearns for, what makes us feel fulfilled and whole and what we really want from life. So it’s a vicious circle, and a downward spiral of fear and failure, and purpose is lost.

Making the conscious decision to ‘live in purpose’ is really only the first step to breaking the cycle. Seeking support from complementary therapies, such as Reiki and Seichem, from vibrational medicine, such as Homeopathy or Flower Remedies, or from the regular practice of Yoga or meditation can be helpful – achieving a clear, aligned energy anatomy is certainly important in terms of integrating body, mind and spirit.

However, understanding when and how low self esteem rears its ugly head is essential if we’re to learn the real life lessons from the karma it represents. Acknowledging each incident of low self esteem as a trigger that impairs the Higher Heart and seeing the resulting irrational, anxiety fuelled responses as the negative untruths they really are helps us access our true, authentic self. In this way, we naturally ease open and rebalance this important Chakra as we come to intuit what it is that really belongs in our lives.

As the authentic self is revealed and the balanced Higher Heart emerges, it becomes clear that there is no room for the limitations of low self esteem, that manifestation flows freely from positive intent and potentiality with choice is experienced in place of desperation and yearning. Life becomes joyful and exciting, every challenge represents an opportunity and free will becomes more aligned with the notions of Divine Timing and the Highest Good.

Living purposefully and in joy is not elusive, and certainly doesn’t belong in the dream world. And yes, the key is simple – unlock the Higher Heart and recognise the limitless path that lies ahead. Hold on tight to the ultimate high of the authentic self, and watch the personal demon that is low self esteem slink away and diminish, denied the nourishment provided by insecurities and limiting beliefs. Step into purpose with pride in this conscious choice – live the life you love, love the life you live.

Rhian Gibbings