3 Steps to Defining Your Life Purpose
One way to truly know yourself and experience fulfilment is to get in touch with your Life Purpose. With the frenetic pace of life, business and career pressures, it can be easy to be distracted and start living a life that isn’t aligned with your purpose in life. Have you ever felt miserable and as if your life is going nowhere, or not in the direction you thought it would?
Your Life Purpose works hand-in-hand with your values and, the two combined, give you the unwavering belief in what you stand for and ensures you live your life by design, not someone else’s making – you are happier and fulfilled when doing what’s most important to you AND expressing it in every part of your life.
Richard Lieder, who wrote ‘The Power of Purpose’ said it best:
“Purpose is the conscious choice of what, where, and how to make a positive contribution to our world. It is the theme, quality or passion we choose to center our lives around.”
Here are 3 steps to defining your Life Purpose:
1) No-one can define your life purpose for you. Your life purpose is something within you which firstly begins in deciding that YOU matter – YOU are unique and different from everyone else and YOU are special. For 15 minutes each morning, take some time out to sit in a room free of distractions. Look upon this time as an opportunity to sit quietly and concentrate on just being in the moment. Observe your breath and let your mind empty itself of trying to sort out the day’s problems. Instead, focus on you and experience a comfort within yourself. This may not come naturally at first and you may find your mind filling with your ‘to do list’. When you do, stop, concentrate on an object in the room or the nice scenery outside and clear your mind.
2) To find out what matters to you and define your life purpose, it requires delving into your life from various angles to discover any matching themes. Block out an hour in your diary, then find a nice quiet spot to answer these questions. In doing so, listen to your inner intuition – the little voice inside you. What does it immediately say to you? Write it down and forget about making the words or sentences perfect. Just jot down what comes to your mind.
- What do you love doing in your spare time or when working?
- What activities are you currently doing that you enjoy?
- What do you naturally do well?
- What are your 10 greatest successes throughout your life so far? (Note: this isn’t what someone else thinks, this is what YOU think)
- What causes do you feel passionate about?
- What are the 10 most important lessons you have learned in life?
- What things do people normally ask your help for?
- If money was not an issue, what daydream would you be fulfilling right now?
- Imagine you are writing your own eulogy. What things do you want to be remembered for at the end of your life?
- Picture yourself at 80 or 90 years old. You are happy, content with life, and feeling very blessed at everything life has gifted to you. Your mind wanders to your family, your friends and other relationships and you give a happy sigh… your heart skips a beat remembering everything you have achieved in your life. Reflecting on everything your life has been made up of over the last 80/90 years, what matters to you most?
- How would your life be different today if you knew it was impossible to fail?
3) Once you have answered your questions it is time to look for the common themes that have emerged. What patterns do you see? What seems to matter the most to you? If you are unsure of what the patterns are or what they mean, then consider asking a family member, friend or coach to help you in defining the themes.
Once you have defined your life purpose, don’t let it sit in your head. Next step is to write your Mission Statement. By writing down your own personal mission statement that is your life purpose, you are giving yourself permission to live by your life purpose and providing a tangible reminder each day of who you are and how you are living your life by your own design.
A Mission Statement is made of three parts.
1) Your talents and values – this is the essence of who you are
2) What you wish to accomplish and what contributions you believe you bring to the world – yourself and others
3) Quantifying your life purpose – the measurable results you wish to achieve by living out your life purpose – i.e. how will you know when you are truly living your life purpose?
When writing your life purpose use positive words and eliminate such things as “I should”. There are no ‘shoulds’ in a life purpose… your purpose is made of ‘I will”. Express yourself in the present tense, even if you may not necessarily be living all aspects of your life purpose in the present tense, at this point in time.
For brainstorming purposes, this is a great site to view what other folks have come up with for their personal mission statement:
http://www.missionstatements.com/personal_mission_statements.html
Once you have written your Mission Statement that clearly expresses your Life Purpose, don’t hide it in a draw. Display it proudly on your wall where you can see it everyday. If you wanted to take it one step further – and why not? 
– then consider getting your Mission Statement designed and printed, then framed. The design could encapsulate in a visual way how you live your life purpose.
I just love what George Bernard Shaw has to say about a purpose:
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty 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.”
Are you waiting for the world to make you happy, or are you going to design your own purpose and mission in life to make yourself happy?
Working with a coach can assist you in uncovering your true potential and accelerate your success. Get a free introductory session to learn more.
7 Ways to Accept Yourself for Who You Are
Accepting yourself and your situation in life can be a difficult task. Do you tend to be more accepting of others’ mistakes than your own? If so, you’re being too hard on yourself!
Those people aren’t better than you! You were created with a unique set of talents that no one else has. Plus, everyone makes mistakes. We’re only human!
Becoming more accepting of yourself and loving yourself for the fine person that you really are can lead you to greater happiness and a more fulfilling life.
Here are some excellent techniques you can use to help you better accept yourself:
1. Focus on your positive qualities. Even though self-improvement is a good thing, it’s important that you identify and focus on your positive qualities, rather than concentrating on the qualities you feel negatively about.
- Maintaining this positive focus will not only help you better accept yourself, but it’ll also make it easier for you to attain your goals by utilizing your talents to boost yourself forward.
2. Consciously prevent negative thinking patterns. Negative thinking can really snowball fast if you don’t get ahead of it. It’s okay to be in a bad mood every once in awhile and have some negative thoughts; it happens to everyone. The trick is in learning how to push those negative thoughts aside and replace them with something positive.
- Replace your negative thoughts about yourself with affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that affirm your positive qualities and help bring out the best in you. You can find affirmations in bookstores and on websites, or you can write your own. You can also download some positive affirmations and self-reflections on my site:
- I Am The Body In Motion That Stays in Motion
- Giving To Others Makes Me Rich
- If you believe in yourself, you can do it. It’s really that simple.
3. Accept your imperfections. Another part of being human is having some imperfections. Instead of dwelling on the things you can’t change, accept them for what they are. Making the best of your life starts with accepting your imperfections.
4. Use positive self-talk. Positive self-talk can help you achieve great things and change the way you think about yourself. Make it a point to give sincere compliments to yourself.
- Compliment yourself for the good things about your looks, your positive qualities, and every time you do something right. Do this each and every day until it becomes a habit.
- Recommended reading: “What To Say When You Talk To Yourself” by Shad Helmstetter:
5. Disregard what other people might think about your decisions. You’ll never make everyone else happy. If you try, you’ll soon discover that, not only will other people still be unhappy, but you’ll also be exhausted and unhappy yourself.
- Make your own decisions according to your priorities and be confident that you’ve done what is right for you.
6. Avoid worrying. Worrying will never help your situation. Rather than wasting your time by being engulfed in fear, take action to do what you can to make the situation better. If there’s nothing you can do to change it, focus on moving forward in other ways.
7. Try your best and accept that you’ve done what you could. Do your best every day and be proud of yourself for your efforts. Let go of any negative thoughts, such as being angry with yourself for not being able to accomplish an impossible feat.
- Even when you haven’t done your best, find a way to forgive yourself. Move on and commit to trying harder next time.
In changing the way you think about yourself, you’ll also change the way you see the world. Every day opens up new opportunities for you, and by utilizing positive thinking, you can make a real difference!
Reprogramming Your Brain To Conquer Any Goal
Do you feel like you are always talking yourself out of success? As soon as you start to set goals for yourself, do you suddenly have nagging thoughts about how you aren’t up to the task or how you simply aren’t qualified to carry it through?
If you have ever experienced either situation, you need to change the way you respond to your inner dialogue. Instead of obeying your negative commands, you can use positive self-talk to counter the negativity and overcome nearly all anxious thoughts.
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Setting Goals and Sticking to Them with Positive Self-Talk
Are you initially filled with excitement when you first set goals for yourself? Are these thoughts then followed by self-doubt and self-defeating thoughts that stop you in your tracks before you even get started?
It can be difficult to make the most of your life when you are constantly talking yourself out of being a success. It can be frustrating and discouraging to have these thoughts constantly plaguing you. Many of us, in fact, don’t even realize we have them! All we know is that we don’t have the confidence to stick to our plans and reach our goals.
But there’s another way!
Positive self-talk is an effective way to set goals and ensure that you stick to them, even if you have never been able to do this before. The way this works is that you decide what goal is important to you, and then you plan the logistics of how you are going to attain this goal. When self-doubt starts kicking in, you will respond with affirmations that prove your success without surrendering to the negative pressure. Since you’re reading this article, it’s clear that you’re no quitter and you’re certainly not a failure, so start believing in yourself!
Re-Programming Your Brain
Affirmations are essentially positive statements that re-program your mind for the positive. The moment you have a self-defeating thought you’d be able to counter the negative with a motivating statement. An example of a positive affirmation is: “I am worthy of great success,” or “I am in the winner’s circle.” What this does is replace negativity with thoughts that will help you move toward your goals instead of further away from them.
Positive self-talk is easier to implement than you might think. You may not be aware of the severity of the negative dialogue currently within your mind. However, once you begin with positive self-talk, you will suddenly realize that you are self-sabotaging the goals you set for yourself from the minute that you make them. This process can open your eyes to exactly how much this inner conversation has been interfering with your life. You’ll feel hopeful that you can now set goals and surpass them.
Through positive self-talk you will be able easily set long and short-term goals for yourself. And when you use affirmations, you’ll have accessible tools to help you push yourself further than ever before. Learning to quiet negativity with positive thoughts is a great move toward setting and attaining future goals with ease.
Circumstances don’t make, but REVEAL you!
Circumstances do not make the man, but reveal him. James Allen.
Truer words have never been spoken. Throughout the ages seemingly great men and great women have been exposed as less than noble, less than genuine and even less than human when faced with challenging circumstances. The reverse is also true – Men and woman who seemed ordinary and average when thrust into the most difficult situations have risen to extraordinary heights of character, leadership and excellence.
Watching this great “revealing” is the stuff history and legends are made of. Observing a person in a challenging situation or circumstance will manifest much about who they are deep, deep inside and what they will likely do in the future. What you are at your core is your center of strength and that ability to do what is right, under pressure or even when no one is looking, is the core of your personal integrity.
Anything that lacks integrity is unstable, as any engineer will tell you. A bridge or skyscraper that has structural integrity simply does what it was built to do. It isn’t necessarily perfect. It could have flaws. But, under stress, pressure and repeated use, it does what it was built to do. Even in extreme circumstances it will do what it was designed to do. If, on the other hand, a structure does not have structural integrity, it will at some point fail, as was the case with the world’s first jet airliner, the British-made de Havilland Comet.
When the Comet was introduced in 1949, the future seemed bright for jet travel and the Comet was the undisputed, front-and-center leader – until three Comets unexpectedly disintegrated in flight, killing all aboard. The planes were grounded as puzzled engineers worked feverishly to understand why they had operated flawlessly at first, only to break apart later in midair. The engineers set up a fuselage in a large pool and pumped water in and out, simulating the effects of repeated cabin pressurization. At first, the experiment revealed nothing, nothing at all. But over time the pressurized circumstances yielded a startling discovery. The repeated stress caused small, microscopic cracks to form around the rectangular windows, cracks that would eventually widened into gaping holes. The planes could not withstand repeated pressure. They lacked structural integrity and the pressurized circumstances revealed what the Comet was at it’s core – a bright shiny pretender that was not secure or safe.
You and I live in a world filled with pressure and pressure filled circumstances – pressure to accomplish, pressure to get ahead, pressure to be smarter than we are, pressure to conform, pressure to be popular, pressure to appear successful, pressure to earn large incomes. None of us are perfect. We all have flaws for sure. How, then, under repeated pressure, can we avoid allowing small cracks in our integrity to form? How can we be sure that our character is structurally sound? How can we stay true to our core regardless of setting or circumstance?
Ultimately this is an exercise of not only looking in the mirror, but looking deep into our hearts and souls and asking uncomfortable questions of ourselves. When you find yourself in challenging circumstances what are you learning about yourself? Do you like what is being revealed? If not, why not? And while we cannot control those around us during difficult time, and it can be devastatingly disappointing to watch false friends or self-serving leaders crumble and reveal their true stripes and identity at such times, ultimately it comes down to ensuring that your own structural integrity reveals your greatness to the world.
© 2010 E.D.G.E. (http://edge.ilearningglobal.tv)
The Empty Suitcase Project
Please take a moment to view this short video about The Empty Suitcase Project, by Jeremy Manongdo, to help out the kids in Tanzania.
Truly inspirational! Read more
Who You Are Makes A Difference
Many years ago I was honoured to be presented with a blue ribbon that read “Who I Am Makes A Difference”.
Today, some 15 years later, that same blue ribbon has a pride of place on my office bookshelf, and, whenever I feel I am not making ENOUGH of a difference, or things aren’t moving quick enough where I don’t feel I’m able to help as many folks as I would like… all I have to do is glance over at that ribbon to know that even if I only make an impact on one life that day, who I am makes a difference.
A graphical ribbon that was sent to me via email, I never knew the story behind the ribbon. And then the other day, as I was watching a short video on Daily Success Stream, there it was! Funny how our lives can come full circle, huh?
So I was introduced to the beautiful soul of Helice ‘Sparky’ Bridges who spiralled off a whole movement and touched thousands upon thousands of lives.
I want you to know today that who you are DOES make a difference. Please accept this blue ribbon from me. Please print, cut it out and stick it somewhere that you can see it everyday. And while you’re at it, why not print and cut out a few and pass on to people who have made a difference in YOUR life?
YOU are special! Thank you for being you.
Playing Your Own Movie
It’s true that if you want something to happen, you have to believe it first.
I also believe that in order for your belief to be 100% fool-proof, one must master the art of self-movie making! If you find it hard to visualise, don’t worry; if practised every day it becomes easier – as with anything!
I heard an athlete say she “pictures” herself winning. She plays the movie over and over in her mind, day after day. To her, she has already won; she just needs to “re-enact” her movie.
When you tell your brain something often enough it will believe it! Self belief is the key!
But, unfortunately, this can also work in the reverse. Putting yourself down, feeding yourself negative chatter or being exposed to ongoing negativity can be awfully damaging to that special person – YOU.
Today, right now, why not start on your journey of being a positive self-movie maker. Just think what you could achieve! How your day can be!
Now that’s something to smile about 
Desiderata
When I was born, my beautiful Mum put together my “baby book” and every now and then I get it out of the closet, dust it off and spend a fun hour going through it! Right at the front she included the Desiderata; amazing words of wisdom…
~ Desiderata ~
by Max Ehrmann
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is, many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here. And whether or not that it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.
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A big hug and thank you to my Mum for sharing words of wisdom and nurturing and guiding me to be the person I am today. I love you heaps
Your Brain Believes What You Feed It
What you think and feel can change the whole outcome of your life. A pretty powerful statement, isn’t it? Particularly when you relate it to your business.
So let us think about that for a minute.
Your brain believes whatever you feed it. It knows no better. It wholeheartedly accepts what you think, what images you hold, and what movies you play out in your mind. It doesn’t matter whether they are good or bad – positive or negative. Your brain accepts what you give it, trusts your judgement, and then kicks into gear!
Here’s a good exercise to see what I mean.
On a clear night when there’s a full moon and you’re ready to crash in bed, I want you to go and stand at your back door. You’ll see the outside world bathed in light and I want you to momentarily close your eyes and imagine it’s nearing dawn.
REALLY HANG ON TO THAT THOUGHT AND FEEL IT!
Because it does, somewhat, look that way. So it’s really the start of a wonderful day! And when your eyes are shut, you may be thinking about what you might be doing that day… you know, perhaps going for a picnic, thinking about the clients or prospects you need to contact in the afternoon, picking up the kids from school at a different time – whatever it is that you might be doing the next day!
Open your eyes. Look again at the light outside… you can actually believe that you will see the sun coming up soon and hear the birds chirping. I bet your bottom dollar you will feel wide awake and invigorated… ready to start the day! Why? Because you put those IMAGES in your mind, those THOUGHTS, and your brain believed it. So it triggered off all the “normal” things you might feel in the morning.
Another one…
Can you remember those really horrible days you have – where nothing seems to be going right? Everyone seems grumpy – including you – and the whole world seems out to get you! You can IMMEDIATELY reverse those feelings. How? I want you to sit back in your chair, put a smile on your face and remember the last thing you laughed about. Was it the movie you watched last night? Something someone said that left an indelible imprint on your mind? LAUGH! And even if you feel stupid, keep on laughing. Thing is, it will turn into a real genuine laugh, simply because it seems so ridiculous (although your mind doesn’t know that!) :)
You will feel your heart lift and, more importantly, feel so wonderful and good that you have eradicated all those bad feelings you were having. I encourage you to do it now, even if you’re not feeling grumpy or bad! Start laughing… think in your mind, oh my goodness, this is just so funny, and keep on laughing. You’ll soon be belly laughing and feeling really wonderful That’s the power of the mind.
So what makes you feel really good?
I mean – the real deep down feeling of satisfaction, contentment, and peace. Think about it. Because it’s those things which you can draw upon in your mind to lift and propel you toward greater things. For instance, you may find great contentment and a feeling of peace by lying down in a paddock of daisies and staring at the clouds.
Whatever it is that motivates and works for you, think about it constantly. Let your brain feed itself on those thoughts and images.
Just as a top athlete plays a movie over and over in their mind of winning, you too can play your own movie of having the biggest and best business, grasping within your hands everything you ever wished and hoped for – but only if you believe in it, and only if you feed those thoughts and images to your brain.
For it knows no better. It trusts in your judgement. And when you feed your brain something for long enough it will ultimately believe it, but more importantly, YOU will start to believe it and LIVE it. And when that happens, whatever you think and believe in transcends into something real.
Remember: what you think, what you feel and what you dream, is who you are and what you will become.
Seize life! Everything that you desire is yours
“I always knew that someday I would once again feel the grass under my feet and walk in the sunshine a free man.” Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom.
Article by Tara West © 2009
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Turning Dreams Into Reality
Can you remember when, as a child, you would lie on the grass, stare up to the clouds and dream? What happened to your dreams from your youth? Did they slip away on the wind, forgotten?
Some of us today think dreams are silly, that they won’t come true. Then others say that they don’t have a dream at all. However, most of the wonderful events in our lives, both past and present, have resulted out of dreams.
“I have a dream!” Martin Luther King exclaimed. He went on to change a nation. Henry Ford dreamt that a motor car could be affordable for everyone. Thomas Edison dreamed of a light globe that could be operated by electricity. Before he succeeded he failed more than ten thousand times. The Wright brothers dreamt of a flying machine. The evidence is around us today.
The secret to their success was BELIEF and PERSEVERANCE.
Your dream may not be as big as that of Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers, or even a child’s. Nevertheless, what you have now is important to YOU and can be accomplished if you have the desire to do so.
D on’t be afraid to commit to your dream.
R ecord your dreams on paper.
E njoy the small successes along the way.
A motivating factor is picturing the dream in your mind.
M ake sure everyone knows your dream – you’ll want to succeed!
S ee things as a learning experience – never as a failure.
Never be misled by another’s perception of your dreams. When Marconi was discovering how to transmit sound through the airwaves, friends took him to a psychopathic hospital to be examined! He didn’t let this distract him. He believed in what he was doing.
What is your dream? Write it down and pin it where you can see it every day! If, the first time round, you don’t succeed, never think of it as a failure and stop. It is merely a stepping stone to success – a learning experience.
There is a French Proverb: “It is by believing in roses that one brings them to bloom.” Prove to yourself that your rose can bloom too.
Article by Tara West © 1994
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