Manipulating our Purpose
There’s a moment—maybe you’ve felt it—when you’re doing something that should feel meaningful, but there’s this hollow echo inside. You’re going through the motions of purpose, saying the right words, even feeling genuinely moved sometimes, but somewhere deep down, you know you’re performing. Even for yourself.
We like to think manipulation comes from the outside, that we’re victims of other people’s agendas. But the most sophisticated manipulation often comes from within—when we twist our own sense of purpose to serve needs we’re afraid to acknowledge directly.
Turning our wounds into our Mission
You know the story—”My struggles enable me to help others who are struggling.”
Sometimes this is beautifully true. Sometimes our deepest wounds do become the source of our greatest gifts to the world. But sometimes—and this is where it gets tricky—we manipulate this narrative to avoid healing. We believe that by recognising our wounds they somehow magically heal – and therefore we don’t need to address them.
I’ve watched people spend decades “helping others heal” while their own inner landscape remains a battlefield. Their wounds become their service to a higher cause rather than recognising they are serving our fear of change.
Ego leading Service
Often we talk about making a difference when in reality we really want to feel special. We speak about sharing our gifts when we really want to be recognised by others. This doesn’t make us feel whole, especially if others criticise rather than praise.
We settle into a role and then perform it. We genuinely care about the work whilst at the same time sensing we are avoiding looking at who we might actually be if we are willing to see ourselves without judgment.
Addressing our wounds removes the need to feel special. It empowers us to be real. It provides solid ground upon which to stand. John’s Teachings each month offer insights wisdom and understanding helping us to come home to self.