A Purpose Given Is A Purpose Worth Living

These days there’s a mad rush to be purpose driven and I wholeheartly agree, it is better to be purpose driven than going in reverse or stuck in neutral. However, why would I be content to be just purpose driven and not living my life’s purpose on purpose? I believe the real reason most people are okay with being just purpose driven is because they don’t know how to identify their real purpose for existing or what purpose means when it relates to individuals. If you’re reading this article, this is the day that was created for you to begin living your life with a purpose on purpose.

The (buzz) word purpose can be substituted for a number of words, some of which could be reason, intention, intent, use, idea, objective, aim, function or determination. In my opinion, a purpose is the reason why you exist to fulfill a specific task that only you can fulfill at a specific time and season here on the earth. A purpose should not, but often times are confused with a person’s call. Purpose and call are different. A call is a particular business, occupation, profession or trade. Once again, purpose is your intended reason for being. Most people live out their lives fulfilling their call, not their purpose. They have prepared themselves for a chosen field or profession. Since they do not know their purpose, they work in that field unhappy for many years and retire. They never venture out to find out what makes them happy. I’ve finally mentioned the operative word---HAPPY, not just purpose!

Although happiness is evident when you are fulfilling your purpose, there are several other key VIRTUES that will accompany happiness. First, how do we begin to find what our purpose is in life? Why are we here? Like everything else in life, finding your purpose, begins with finding and understanding of who you are. Understanding one’s self is a process that most people neglect or choose not to go through. Understanding who you are as well as self-examination and evaluation is the beginning of identifying your purpose. It is important you get a mental picture of what you look like living your purpose now. I believe one of the most powerful forces in the universe is love and another is our ability to choose our own thoughts. A single action is derived from a thought. One of my favorite sayings is, “The me I see, is the me I’ll be.” In other words, I must begin to see myself as I want to be and not as I am. Once you can mentally see yourself living your purpose, those very images and thoughts you have about yourself will began to draw the desired thought patterns and behavior into your life that will produce what you desire.

Determining to change your way of thinking about yourself is paramount if you want to find your purpose. Another important area for identifying your purpose is discovering the spiritual part of you. You must become spiritually centered and develop a spiritual relationship with God. Some people don’t believe that there is a God, but just because the belief exists, does not mean that the belief is truth and nor does it mean that God does not exist. Research has suggested that people who have engaged and nurtured a personal relationship with God live healthier, happier, successful and longer lives than those who do not. It is out of the spiritual you that you will determine and establish your moral and value system. Your own beliefs of right and wrong and live your life according to those very beliefs without compromising them for anyone. And as you continue on the path to living your purpose, don’t forget to mentally see yourself purpose living.

At this point of discovery you will start to identify your passion if you don’t already know. What is it that gives you a burning desire to fulfill or complete in life? If you are driven with passion to do certain things and you are really focused on these things as well as get great fulfillment and enjoyment in doing them, then you may have identified your purpose. However, most have not arrived to this place unless they understand the importance of relationships and serving others.

Along with developing relationships and serving others, you must also master the art of effective communications and setting boundaries. Learning how to effectively communicate in all of your relationships will enable you to successfully set boundaries. Setting boundaries will bring and give you the respect you need to have long, successful and lasting relationships. These same boundaries will also help you in accepting and respecting the boundaries of others.

Once you are confident in your relationships with boundaries, you are now ready to re-evaluate and establish your goals. A goal can be the same as a purpose, but try looking at goals as an outline of achievements to your path. Let goals be nothing more than categories and sub-categories of the outline in which you have created. With this same outline, now you can begin to road map your success of accomplishing these goals step by step.

Finally, finding your purpose in life is not a secret, nor is it a complicated task. It does however require a commitment and dedication on your part to transform yourself from the inside out from a purpose given into a life with a purpose that you’re living.