There are many things that I am passionate about in this life, sports, goats, and shoes, just to name a few. But, there is nothing that I am as passionate about as living a life of purpose and helping others to live a life true to their own purpose.
So what is Purpose? The dictionary defines purpose as "the reason for which something is done or created or which something exists." That sounds pretty serious doesn't it, I mean is it really necessary to know what our purpose is, can't we just go through our lives each day without having some idealistic thoughts about the meaning of life? The answer to that question is yes & no.
I would say that it is a fair assumption to estimate that ninety-five percent of the world is going about their day-to-day lives without purpose. They are merely existing. They get up each morning, get ready for their day, and then trudge through it without any real direction or passion (there's that word again). However, that means that there is five percent of the world's population that gets up, excited for what the day holds, with a clear sense of direction and meaning. They know what they have to do that day, why they need to do it, and they have a burning desire to do it.
So the question is, what makes the difference between those two groups of people? What magic trick has the five percenters performed that they know what their purpose is, and will it really make that big of a difference in their lives? The answer is an unequivocal "YES"! Research shows that the five percenters are usually in the top five percent of income producers. They have also been shown to have the most career and relationship satisfaction. They are just overall happier, healthier, and more successful people.
So how do we begin to live our own lives of purpose then? Well, let's look at the definition of purpose once again. It is "the reason for which something is done or created or which something exists." So in order to define our purpose, we need to determine our reasons. Why are we here? Why were we created?
Purpose is something different to everyone, and it doesn't mean that you have to reach some perceived pinnacle of success. It means that you are living in alignment with your true self. Your purpose can be to create a billion-dollar make-up company, or it can be to teach Sunday school at your local church. It can be to become the CEO of a huge company, or it can mean volunteering for a local animal rescue.
Your purpose is determined by the passion that you feel deep within your soul. It is the thing that you think about and your heart races, the thing that sometimes keeps you up at night. The thing that if money was no object you would be doing. That ladies and gentlemen, is your Purpose.
So how do you find your purpose? Well, here are a few things you can do:
- Go back and read my Blog last week on Vision. Understanding what your Vision Statement would say will help you understand what your Purpose is. It will remind you what your core values are so that you can live a life in alignment with yourself.
- Listen to your intuition. Your subconscious will usually send you subtle messages when you are moving in the direction you are supposed to be living, and your subconscious will know that direction long before your conscious mind ever clues in.
- Think about the times when you have experienced the greatest joy in your life. What were you doing? What were you doing that time just seemed to fly by.
- Use the resources available to you. There are questionnaires and quizzes you can find online that can spark your imagination. Check out www.thepassiontest.com if you are looking for some help, and if you are looking to not only find out what your purpose is but define your plan on how you can live that life, then find a Life Coach. Find someone who can help you develop the plan to get there, and help you work the plan.
I speak to others about the value of purpose now, because I know how it can change lives and I know that purpose has not only changed my life but it has saved my life. Regardless of what your purpose is, big or small, the important thing is that you are able to look at your life and say that you are living the life that you were created to live, and that is what Purpose is all about.
If you are looking for help in finding your purpose please don't hesitate to reach out, I would love to support you, because after all, that's what my Purpose is!
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