Many beginners approach meditation with rather narrow notions of what it is supposed to achieve and how it is to do so. Yet when you meditate, the last thing you want is to clutter your practice with expectations of reaching a specific goal - whatever that goal may be. Not only are you very likely to stumble over these homemade obstacles, but you will also deny yourself those very opportunities that can arise unexpectedly through meditation.

However, as a member of Western culture (like myself), you don't usually do something "without purpose". In fact, to tell you that there was no purpose in meditation would be an insult to your very motivation to meditate in the first place.

In this dilemma, let me offer you my view of why you might wish to meditate - besides the obvious benefits such as stress reduction and increased focus. To me, meditation is a path directly to reconnecting with your self: your inner voice or your intuition if you will. Note that this purpose does not limit your practice. On the contrary, it encourages exploration of anything that comes to you during meditation.
Here lies the secret to a goal that does not hinder your development. It is a different philosophy not only about meditation, but about life in general.

What is your purpose in life?

In answering this question, you may think at first of concrete projects that will somehow become your legacy. This could be an achievement through which you will be remembered by mankind, or it could be something a little smaller, though no less valuable, such as raising your children. The trouble lies not in finding projects that we know are good: the difficulty is to know whether they really coincide with who we truly are.

In my opinion, our quest in life is not for measurable contributions to the world at large. These will come naturally as you take on the real challenge: to get to know yourself.

Unfortunately, our modern societies and the struggle for survival are not conducive to hearing ourselves amidst the noise and bustle of artificial distractions. In fact, many people don’t even want to listen - facing ourselves and learning about who we really are is the toughest thing for anyone to do. It is much more convenient to simply continue to bury our heads in the sand. However, the pessure of the consequences will inadvertently bear down on us.
How many people at one point in their lives realize suddenly that no success has been able to bring them peace and happiness? How many wake up to a life empty of meaning after they have allowed themselves to be crushed underneath outside demands.

Reconnecting with yourself through meditation
On our journey toward hearing your inner voice once more and following your intuition, meditation can be a wonderful path to explore. It will assist you in slowing down and turning your attention inward. This is a process of calming your ever-anxious mind, but not ever of silencing it. Your breath will guide you into the rich and beautiful inner world of yourself. There is much to see, and hear, and feel in this world, and everything that you notice is a valuable lesson. Step by step, your meditation practice will help you become more familiar with who you are. Only when you have truly recognized your personal source of being will you be able to make the contributions to the world that you were born to make.