I was asked by a client recently “How do I know what I’m supposed to do with my life?” Yup, this is the eternal question we humans all struggle with at some point in our lives. Sure, some know immediately, it falls on their lap when they’re not even looking for it. But most of us need a little help and guidance to define our purpose.
My best response to my clients is, like the quote says, “The Purpose in Life is to Live a Life with Purpose!”
Sure, it seems like a cop-out, but really, this is what it’s all about…living a life with purpose, whatever that may be for you.
We were all born with the gift of Free Will – the ability to choice one direction over another…but the power of this ability scares us all just a little.
You see, a person without purpose is a dangerous thing…they can fall into vices and abuses and addictions very easily; they’re taken in by radical religious beliefs, by false prophets, by evangelists of all types waiting at the turn of every corner or the click of any remote.
So you need a purpose, a reason for living and doing what you’re doing – humans need to have a direction or they get no where fast!
Ok, so your next question is:
How do I figure out what MY purpose is? What I should focus on? Well, I found a simple exercise online that you can do in about 30 min that will give you just that, a purpose you can focus on that you’ll be proud and driven to pursue…
Try these easy steps in finding your life's purpose
1. Take out a blank sheet of paper
2. Write on the top of it, “My #1 Purpose in Life”
3. Now, write down whatever your first idea is immediately, doesn’t matter how silly, goofy, outrageous, or far-fetched it is.
4. Now keep writing short, single line entries expressing your life’s purpose…until something makes you get emotional enough to cry.
I know, sounds silly, but get this, it can take 15min to an hour, but something will get you emotional…something deep inside you will well up and tell you, “Yup, this is it!” Cause there is no one in the world that can tell you your life’s purpose – it’s been hiding inside you behind a lot of noise, and chaos, and distraction – but this exercise will methodically get you past all that through the power of free-writing.
And here are some tips for getting this to work:
Okay now get a sheet of paper and get started! (and yes, you can do it on your computer of course). So what are you doin’ sitting around, get started, and let me know how it goes – I love comments!
Ref: Snagged this idea from Steve Pavlina’s blog and Internet Business Mastery guys Definite Major Purpose concept, and my own ideas mixed in. Always give credit where credit is due!
Sure, it seems like a cop-out, but really, this is what it’s all about…living a life with purpose, whatever that may be for you.
We were all born with the gift of Free Will – the ability to choice one direction over another…but the power of this ability scares us all just a little.
You see, a person without purpose is a dangerous thing…they can fall into vices and abuses and addictions very easily; they’re taken in by radical religious beliefs, by false prophets, by evangelists of all types waiting at the turn of every corner or the click of any remote.
So you need a purpose, a reason for living and doing what you’re doing – humans need to have a direction or they get no where fast!
Ok, so your next question is:
How do I figure out what MY purpose is? What I should focus on? Well, I found a simple exercise online that you can do in about 30 min that will give you just that, a purpose you can focus on that you’ll be proud and driven to pursue…
Try these easy steps in finding your life's purpose
1. Take out a blank sheet of paper
2. Write on the top of it, “My #1 Purpose in Life”
3. Now, write down whatever your first idea is immediately, doesn’t matter how silly, goofy, outrageous, or far-fetched it is.
4. Now keep writing short, single line entries expressing your life’s purpose…until something makes you get emotional enough to cry.
I know, sounds silly, but get this, it can take 15min to an hour, but something will get you emotional…something deep inside you will well up and tell you, “Yup, this is it!” Cause there is no one in the world that can tell you your life’s purpose – it’s been hiding inside you behind a lot of noise, and chaos, and distraction – but this exercise will methodically get you past all that through the power of free-writing.
And here are some tips for getting this to work:
- Plan to fill a few pages, cause you will
- When something stirs emotion in you but doesn’t make you cry, circle it or highlight it – it’s a piece of the answer but not all of it
- At some point, maybe 20-30min you’ll want to quit - don’t! This might be the most important exercise you’ll ever do, because the joy and drive you’ll get from knowing Your Purpose will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.
- Realize that some people find multiple purposes, but in most cases those are tied to something deeper, a single theme – that’s your true purpose
Okay now get a sheet of paper and get started! (and yes, you can do it on your computer of course). So what are you doin’ sitting around, get started, and let me know how it goes – I love comments!
Ref: Snagged this idea from Steve Pavlina’s blog and Internet Business Mastery guys Definite Major Purpose concept, and my own ideas mixed in. Always give credit where credit is due!
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