Living Intentionally Through Divine Purpose
In Hebrew, Chayah (חַיָּה) literally translates as “life,” yet spiritually it signifies something deeper—living intentionally, vibrantly, and purposefully. At this fourth level of the soul, Chayah embodies conscious alignment with our unique divine purpose, expressed through devotion to the mitzvot (commandments) and active, faithful service to God and humanity. While all creatures possess life and even fulfill God’s will in their own way, the distinctly human aspect of Chayah involves intentional awareness and dedicated embrace of the Creator’s specific calling on our lives—using our God-given talents and skills to positively impact our families, workplaces, and communities.
The Bible acknowledges that all creatures inherently fulfill their Creator’s design:
“The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.” (Psalm 104:21)
“All creatures look to You to give them their food at the proper time.” (Psalm 104:27)
“Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths… wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds… Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted.” (Psalm 148:7-13)
These verses illustrate how animals instinctively fulfill God’s divine purposes simply by existing according to their nature. Yet, the human dimension of Chayah calls us beyond instinctive obedience; it compels us toward conscious, purposeful action and deliberate devotion to God’s will and commands.
Biblical Examples of Purposeful Living
Scripture vividly depicts individuals who intentionally aligned their unique gifts and experiences to fulfill divine missions:
Abraham, through unwavering emunah (faith), consciously left his homeland to pursue God’s promise, becoming a blessing to all humanity (Genesis 12:1–4).
Joseph, gifted with prophetic and managerial wisdom, intentionally maintained integrity throughout trials, ultimately saving countless lives during famine (Genesis 50:20).
Moses, although initially reluctant, purposefully aligned himself with God’s call, faithfully leading Israel from slavery and dedicating his life to teaching and nurturing God’s people (Exodus 3–4).
Queen Esther, understanding her position as divinely purposeful, intentionally risked her life to save her people (Esther 4:14).
King David embraced Chayah by using his poetic talents and leadership abilities to intentionally shepherd Israel, inspiring generations through the Psalms (Psalm 23; 1 Samuel 16).
Each biblical example teaches us that purpose-driven living means intentionally aligning personal gifts, experiences, and actions with God’s divine calling, faithfully serving humanity.
Personal Reflection: From NASA Scientist to Purposeful Holistic Healer
My own journey toward Chayah began far from where I stand today. As a Computer Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, I was outwardly successful yet inwardly disconnected from deeper purpose. My turning point emerged through personal health crises—first debilitating migraines, and later severe hypothyroidism—both rooted deeply in emotional and spiritual misalignment. Facing intense suffering and pain that defied conventional medical understanding, I earnestly turned to God through prayer and deep trust (emunah) that He would guide me to the knowledge necessary for genuine healing amidst conflicting medical and holistic opinions. I realized that my ailments weren’t merely physical—they were symptoms of emotional stress, spiritual confusion, and a lack of intentional purpose.
Through continued prayer, marriage coaching, life coaching, and deep holistic study rooted in biblical principles, I recognized clearly that true healing required intentionally devoting myself to my God-given purpose. Rather than returning to NASA, I intentionally redirected my skills—technology, research, and analytical abilities—into founding Arukah.com in 2009, developing resources such as the Arukah Search Engine to provide trustworthy information amidst widespread misinformation in health.
My family, raised holistically without pharmaceuticals or conventional medical interventions, flourished as a living testament to purposeful living through divine alignment and intentional service. Every role I embraced—as mother, teacher, healer, and entrepreneur—became an intentional mitzvah, fulfilling God’s purpose and serving those within my immediate sphere of influence.
Embracing the Mitzvot as Intentional Acts of Service
Chayah calls us to consciously fulfill mitzvot not merely as obligations, but as intentional acts of devoted service to God and humanity. Through alignment with divine commandments, we actively fulfill our sacred purpose, turning routine daily actions into expressions of love, compassion, and spiritual vitality. The prophet Micah encapsulates Chayah beautifully:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
These words reflect the true essence of Chayah—purposefully serving through intentional acts of justice, compassion, and humility, embracing God’s commands as pathways to spiritual fulfillment.
Purpose, Authenticity and the Wellness Vision
Chayah asks: what is my life for? Modern teachers have found what the sages knew, that purpose is medicine.
Dr. Gabor Maté (Chapter 5) teaches that many people lose themselves in childhood, trading authenticity for attachment: they become who others needed them to be. Living a life of purpose begins with recovering the authentic self: your real gifts, longings and convictions, not just your duties. A purpose built only on other people’s expectations becomes another source of hidden stress. A purpose that springs from who you truly are gives energy instead of draining it.
Dr. Michael Arloski, whose coaching method you will meet in Part IV, starts every coaching relationship with a wellness vision: a picture, in the client’s own words, of the life they want to live and why it matters to them. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Goals and habits come later. The vision comes first, because people change for reasons they care about, not for reasons someone else gives them. A client who wants to lower her blood sugar “because the doctor said so” struggles; the same client who wants to be strong enough to carry her grandchildren and dance at their weddings finds the energy to change.
The psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, who survived the Nazi death camps, saw this in its starkest form. In Man’s Search for Meaning he wrote that the prisoners who held on to a reason to live, a loved one to return to or a work to finish, were the ones most able to endure. Research since then has linked a strong sense of purpose in life with longer life, better sleep and a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia.
Coaching the chayah
At the level of chayah, a coach helps a client discover and live their purpose, without handing them one. Questions such as these open the door:
- When do you feel most alive?
- What did you love doing as a child, before anyone told you what you should be?
- What breaks your heart in the world? What would you love to fix?
- If your health were fully restored, what would you do with it?
- What gifts do other people see in you that you tend to brush aside?
- What is one small act of service you could do this week that fits who you really are?
A purpose doesn’t have to be grand. Every role I have held, as mother, teacher, healer and entrepreneur, became a mitzvah when I did it with intention. A coach helps a client find that intention in the life they already have, and take the next step toward the life they were made for.
Holistic Wellness Through Intentional Purpose
My experiences confirmed the profound link between purposeful living and holistic health. Intentionally aligning myself with mitzvot and faithfully serving within my immediate sphere—family, students, community—brought authentic, lasting healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Living purposefully involves discernment through constant prayer, ongoing spiritual study, and sincere trust (emunah) in God’s guidance. This intentional living transforms every aspect of our lives into meaningful service, aligning our unique talents and skills with our divinely appointed mission.
Through the Arukah Method™, my sincere prayer is that you embrace your unique Chayah, purposefully serving God and humanity, and becoming an instrument of holistic healing to everyone your life touches. May you fulfill the sacred calling for which you were fearfully and wonderfully created.