Do You Have a Life Purpose?

This questions comes up a lot.  Many books have been written about it and many leaders remind us we need to have a purpose and to know it!  It almost seems like a demand (to me).  "You must find your purpose in life.  What is your purpose?" 
I spent a lot of years wanting to find my purpose. I remember when I was 17 wanting to go to a third world country as a volunteer. I had that inner drive to make a difference in the world.   Of course, that didn't happen.  Instead, I created a family.....today, I realize this is one of the highest "callings" and purpose one can have. 
Yet, that ideal of having a high purpose has followed me through the years.  I think I may have been searching for a high and mighty "calling".  Equal to "I have to do something big and important".  Of course, carrying this thought around has made me feel like I'm not there yet, (wherever that means) and that I'm not doing enough or making enough of a difference.  Do you feel this way too?
Precisely today I read a quote on Facebook reminding us to find our purpose.  This time I saw this from a different and more loving perspective. 
I see my purpose now equal to bringing something of meaning and value to wherever I am and to what I do.  If I can assist someone to feel good about themselves in some way, I feel I've fulfilled a worthy purpose. 
At work I'm cooperative, objective and balanced.  I do my best to bring solutions and not create problems. 
I do my best to be conscious of how I treat those in my life so they feel important and respected.
I find I bring light and energy to my family, my friends, coaching clients and to the groups I belong to. 
I really do make a difference and this is a high enough of a purpose.  Just because it's not "big" doesn't mean it lacks value.  Life really is about the details. 

Child Abuse: Healing the Past

My mentor and I were having a phone conversation a few days ago and we touched on the subject of child abuse and molestation. 
I believe there's a part of our emotional self that remains at the age we were molested or abused, until somewhere in our lives we decide to heal that part of us.  We somehow continue reenacting these unresolved issues in our relationships with other people.
It's unfortunate that many people go through their lives, all the way into adulthood and many even into old age, never telling anyone or even themselves that they carry this pain around.  They suffer and many times create suffering for those they love because of unresolved childhood issues.
It takes a lot of self love and courage to do this work; we need to lovingly face our shame and release any guilt we may hold (from the false belief that we were responsible for the abuse). 
Some may acknowledge that they've been abused and go through life blaming and accusing the one who did this to them.  They are filled with resentment, anger and frustration.  These may then turn into depression and anxiety.  But they don't take the step further to free themselves of these toxic feelings.  Forgiving ourselves and the molester or abuser is an important step in healing.

Once we decide we want to heal, it's best to experience this process with the support of a counselor or a life coach.  It can be extremely scary to go back to that event in our lives, and we may want someone to hold our emotional space while we go through this.  But the rewards are priceless.