Live On Purpose
Each man must look to himself to teach him the meaning of life. It is not something discovered: it is something moulded. Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
Purpose is often one of the issues that frequently comes up when I am working with clients. It comes in the form of a question: “How do I find my purpose?”
In these contentious times, many today are looking for meaning or purpose, something to ‘latch on to,’ something that makes sense with what they doing in their daily lives, at home and in the work place.
Inherently, there is no purpose in our lives – we have to find it ourselves. It’s important because meaning or purpose gives you courage, fires up your imagination and creates the energy you need to get out there every morning.
Very few of us are Mozarts. We’ve got to become explorers if we are to find our individual answers. Finding your purpose is not a one-off event. It’s a process of trial and error, a personal inquiry, continually searching until you find it. There is no specific timeline and it varies by individual. There is no simple answer. I wish I could say there is, but there isn’t.
It all starts with listening. In her book, In America, Susan Sontag wrote, “Each of us carries a room within ourselves, waiting to be furnished and peopled and, if you listen closely, you many need to silence everything in your own room, you can hear the sounds of that other room inside your head.”
Seeking silence involves finding a place and time when you can just sit, quietly, and have an honest talk with your conscience…. asking yourself a number of serious questions, such as:
- What do I really think is important in my life? Why?
- If my time was limited, would I keep doing what I am doing?
- If the answer is no, then why are you doing it?
- What have you done in your life that felt most meaningful when you did it? (It doesn’t need to be about work).
- What is that truly engages both your heart and mind?
These are just to you get started. Being honest with oneself takes courage and a willingness to take risks. Keep listening. Asking questions like these can open you up to your feelings and new ways of looking at things and ideas. Keep on reflecting, reading, studying, journaling….. constantly making notes to yourself.
Over time, you’ll arrive at something that captures your imagination, something that just feels right, and something you can make your life’s work.
When you find it, grab it! Then get crystal clear about what it is and what you have to do make it happen. Share your dream with those who love and support you. Figure out the financials. Then get to work.
Living on purpose is a game changer. It won’t always be easy and there will days when you wonder how in the world you are ever going to make it, but when you do, you’ll never look back.