Life task: What is it & how it can help you navigate life...
Have you gone through the book "Meditations for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman? If yes, congratulations! If not, let me share a pivotal concept from the book that I've picked up- "Life task".
Now, what is a Life task?
Well, it has a few characteristics to it.
First of all, your life task is something that is demanded of you at this point of your life; the specific circumstances in which you find yourself. Let me stress upon it. SOMETHING that is demanded of YOU at this point of YOUR life, not anybody else's. So, if your are feeling stuck, try to understand, what is the thing that needs attention in your life, now, at this particular point? May be it's your job that is eating away your energy. In that case, it is time to find different career options. And if you feel that you do not have sufficient skills to start an alternative career, then your life task could be to develop new skillset, to make your talents improved enough for the market.
Second, your life task would be connected to your innate qualities. Walking on the path of your life task would be difficult, but that difficulty would be "good difficulty". It would be something that in the long-run, instead of those tiny Dopamine spikes, will give you a sense of satisfaction, a sense of fulfillment that you can savor for a long time. So, if you are good at writing, may be your life task could be to start writing a book or blogs, as I am doing right now. However, may be, you are not good at technology, but realizing its importance in recent times, your life task could be to enroll into a course to learn Computer Science. This could help you finding a direction to channelize your innate quality.
Third, it is a matter of your intuition. Have you ever paid attention to that little voice that sometimes tries to talk to you when you and the rest of your world is silent? Listen carefully. May be it is telling you that your career isn't what you've signed for. Or, may be something is fishy about your partner. During a lazy afternoon, when you are sipping tea while watching sunset, some ideas might pop in your mind. Do give those your attention. It is your gut feeling telling you something and it's highly possible that your gut is giving you a signal towards your current life task.
Historically, when we feel stuck in life, the society gives it a tag of "destiny". But the problem with the concept of "destiny" is that we find ourselves powerless before it, given it's God-like charisma. We surrender ourselves before life as if we have nothing in our arsenal to defend ourselves. On the other hand, "life task" gives us a choice- to choose from our likings and responsibilities, and then move forward in life with our new-found wisdom.
Oliver starts this chapter with a quote by James Hollis, "Going was dying, and staying was dying. When we get to junctures like that, we had better choose the dying that enlarges rather than the one that keeps us stuck." So, next time you find yourself stuck, rather than focusing only on living, focus on your life task and find your life again.
