Question: I believe very much in the idea of each of us having a unique purpose. My question is: Do you think, i.e does Judaism teach, that our unique purpose is knowable, and if so, how could one discover what it is? I feel that knowing more clearly why I’m here would help direct me tremendously.

Answer: Believe it or not, you know your mission; you may be avoiding it, but you know it. On a micro level your mission is playing out on a moment-to-moment basis where you are aware of what you are being called upon (nudged by your soul) to do. The tricky part is listening carefully and developing the discipline through Mussar (Character development) to give absolute priority to the rumblings of the soul. The only one who hasn’t got a clue as to what is the right thing to do is the one who hasn’t learned. And for him the prescription is then clear: Learn.

As for your larger life mission, you actually know that, too. You know what your natural strengths are and what the world around you needs. Bravery is what is needed, again, developed through Mussar, to step up to the challenge that this combination (your abilities and the needs of the world around you) call you to. There is no escape. As you move forward in life, the challenge will knock on your door with increasing persistence and your denial of the call will only force you to get better and better earplugs (music, depression, drugs, distractions, etc.) to avoid the call of the knock.

Blessings,
Ephraim