Awakening to life’s fragility: Finding purpose and flourishing

When I was 26, I was in a head-on collision that nearly ended my life. Just a few years later, at 30, my beloved father died unexpectedly. These two profound events made me acutely aware of life’s fragility.

Every living thing has an innate drive to flourish, to realize its fullest potential. I’m reminded of this every time I work in my garden. I feel no qualms about clipping dead flowers to make room for new growth, but when my clippers accidentally snip a new bud, I feel an almost physical pain. I can’t help but whisper, “I’m sorry.”

A Fear of Dying Unfulfilled

I once read an article by Charles Tart, the founder of Transpersonal Psychology, in which he admitted that from his “ordinary self,” he sometimes experiences a fear of death. While I can relate to that fear, I’ve come to realize that my greatest fear isn’t death itself.

What I fear most is dying before I’ve fully flourished. Before I’ve shared the unique gifts I’m meant to contribute to this world. Before I’ve realized the deepest parts of who I am.

This sense of unfulfilled potential is something I often explore in my work with creativity and metaphor. When we connect with the “third space” of aesthetic and transformative possibilities, we tap into the part of ourselves that is yearning to bloom. Every workshop or session I lead is an invitation for people to uncover their gifts and express them fully—because I truly believe this is what we’re all here to do.

A World Awakened

In an awakened world, every living thing would be fully self-expressed, bursting with beauty, and sharing its unique gift. That’s the vision I hold. It’s a world where no one dies with their song still inside them, where the budding potential in every person has the space to blossom.

So, let’s ask ourselves: What is waiting to bloom within me? What gifts am I meant to bring to the world? These questions aren’t just about personal fulfillment—they’re about making the world richer, more vibrant, and more alive.

A Reminder to Flourish

Whether you’re tending a flower bed or exploring your inner landscape, remember that every living thing—including you—deserves to flourish. Life is fragile, yes, but it’s also brimming with possibility. Let’s not wait to bloom.