Unlocking the Power of Purpose
Tuesday October 8, 2013
"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” - Patanjali
A lifetime of personally resisting instructions to “take a moment and do this exercise” makes me slightly nervous about the following request. Even so, I know of no more powerful personal exercise than to take a moment to ask yourself:
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Why am I here?
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What is my purpose for living?
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What is my purpose for working?
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What is my purpose in my family?
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What is my purpose in my community?
Some people like to close their eyes and dream or pray for the answer. Others find that to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and “just start writing” works for them. Some people get their best results to these magic questions in conversation with a special friend or family member or by going for a walk in a favorite spot in nature.
Your purpose, vision and values drive your decisions, your goals and anything you want to accomplish. Your purpose specifically gives meaning to your actions and it is meaning that moves us to excellence. You won’t need external motivation if you discover and act in alignment with your personal purpose.
One of my favorite quotes comes from British playwright George Bernard Shaw:
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a great one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
Sir George doesn’t mince words, does he? I love the imagery of “being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a great one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap ...”
It is through discovering and living from a deep sense of purpose that miracles get created by average people. I was fortunate to begin the discovery of my essential life purpose at age 30, and it changed my life forever.
We can each choose to be “a force of nature” so begin to wake up to your life purpose. Do it now …. and then be willing to continue to ask these questions for the rest of your life:
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What is my purpose?
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Am I living consistent with my purpose?
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Am I surrounding myself with the people, environments and support I need to live my purpose?
Discovering your life purpose and living it will change your life for the better and help give meaning to your journey.
"What meat doth Caesar eat that he hath grown so great?"
Caesar was not great because of what he ate, he ate
the same as everyone else. The difference lay within."
- Source unknown
(images from Wikipedia)
Robert White
Robert White is a Speaker, Author, Leadership Trainer and Executive Mentor who teaches the art and science of mastering executive challenges. He specializes in integrating a heart centered, result-oriented and transformational leadership approach to being effective. His experience includes founding and leading companies doing high-impact experiential learning events with over one million graduates.
Robert’s culture change work has been praised by corporations like JPMorganChase, Progressive Insurance, Duke Energy and The American Cancer Society.
Additionally top business experts and authors Ken Blanchard, Jimmy Calano, Kathy Gardarian, and Robert Wright, plus thousands of training and mentoring clients, have endorsed his professional knowledge and skills.
Robert authored the best-seller “Living an Extraordinary Life” available in English and Mandarin. He is a contributing author to “Being Fuller” a compilation from students of Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller and “One World, One People,” a photo journal of mankind’s journey to oneness.
Today you’ll find him speaking at conferences, hosting masterminds, mentoring today’s emerging business leaders and teaching everything he knows about fostering entrepreneurial success and building an entrepreneurial mindset in established, growth-oriented companies.
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