Stop trying to ‘find your purpose.’

Purpose is not something you need to find.

Instead, move from stages 3-4 (in the four stages of consciousness) and purpose will find you.

The Four Stages of Consciousness

1) Victim Consciousness

In Victim Consciousness, one lives at the mercy of external forces.

Here, we let life happen to us—falling for the delusion that outside circumstances define our lives, worth, and identity.

Those caught in this pattern often feel powerless, believing their story has already been written by their past, their environment, or their limitations. While some mockingly label these people as passive characters in the game of life (NPC’s), this perspective lacks compassion and understanding.

The truth is, this state of consciousness is a natural response to trauma, societal conditioning, and poor habits of self-regulation.

Victim Consciousness is not a permanent sentence—it's a starting point for growth.

My hope is that those impacted by this level of consciousness can recognize their own power to change. With the right tools and support, anyone can rewrite their story to include personal agency.

2) Ego Consciousness

In Ego Consciousness, people are guided by self-involved values.

I don't mean ego in the traditional sense of arrogance. I'm referring to ego as psychology defines it: our sense of identity—the "I" that separates us from the world.

At this stage, people have evolved beyond victim consciousness. They've discovered their power to shape reality rather than just react to it. While this represents growth, it can become its own kind of prison.

The ego is essential for survival and development—it helps us build boundaries, pursue goals, and navigate relationships. Yet this same force can limit our evolution when we become trapped in its narrow perspective.

People operating from ego consciousness see the world through a single lens: "What's in it for me?"

Every relationship, achievement, and experience becomes fuel for self-validation. While this doesn't always manifest destructively, it invariably leads to seeing life as a means to personal ends.

Think of it like wearing colored glasses—everything takes on the tint of self-interest. Success, relationships, even spiritual practices become tools for ego gratification rather than paths to genuine connection and growth.

3) Initiation Consciousness

Most people exist in Initiation Consciousness.

They're self-aware, reasonably content, and genuinely want to contribute to the world. They've moved beyond pure ego gratification and seek meaningful ways to serve their community.

But here's the paradox: their intense drive to "find their purpose" often becomes the very thing that holds them back.

"Why can't I find my purpose?" they ask, unknowingly slipping back into victim consciousness.

As a therapist, I witness this daily—the cultural obsession with purpose becoming a burden that breeds resentment and cynicism.

The Bottleneck: 

The entire premise of "finding your purpose" is fundamentally flawed. The very act of searching implies lack, creating a scarcity mindset that traps people in perfectionism and indecision.

This is the critical juncture where people either:

• Spiral back to lower consciousness levels, or

• Develop the resources to breakthrough to stage 4

The Path Forward:

1. Stop viewing purpose as something to achieve

2. Honor the deep longing in your heart

3. Develop tools for emotional release and self-intimacy

As you heal and become whole, something remarkable occurs: your individuality strengthens while your connection to the collective deepens.

This is where Universal Love finds you—and with it, your natural sense of mission emerges (without seeking).

4) Mission Consciousness

Mission Consciousness is guided by Universal Love.

I'm not claiming to know the "mission"—I'm not a guru or spiritual authority. But look closely at human civilization and you'll see a pattern: everything builds upon what came before.

Study any field—art, science, technology, music, philosophy, psychology—and you'll discover an evolutionary chain. Each breakthrough stands on the shoulders of previous insights. Consciousness follows this same pattern of growth.

As we evolve, consciousness expands. It becomes more inclusive, more nuanced, more interconnected. This progression raises a fascinating question: What drives this evolution?

The answer lies in the same force that drives your personal transformation.

Universal Love

This force yearns to work through you, but first requires a clear channel—your heart.

The path isn't about accumulating more self-awareness (a function of mind). It's about deepening intimacy with your true self, which naturally awakens:

• Joy that bubbles without reason

• Energy that flows without effort

• Curiosity that sparks without seeking

• Creativity that emerges without force

• Service that arises without obligation

• Connection that unfolds without striving

This is true purpose.

It's not a career path or life mission—it's a feeling, which everyone is ultimately seeking. We chase perfect jobs, relationships, and ways to serve, believing they'll illuminate a higher path.

But here's the revelation: the feeling isn’t just the destination—its the path itself.

And when you heal, you naturally embody it.

And when you embody it, Universal Love flows through you—expressing itself in ways both subtle and profound.

You don't need to know what you're doing with the rest of your life.

You don't need to figure out your "purpose."

What you need is to heal, open your heart, and discover your innate wholeness.

Yes, the journey can be intimidating—even brutal at times. But I promise you it's worth every step.

I'm walking this path too, because Universal Love knows no hierarchy.

Let's journey together.

With love and healing,

Brian Maierhofer (Professional Human)