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Issue #3 | September 2009
A Purposeful Life
When you dance, your purpose is not to get to
a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.
-Wayne
Dyer
What is a purposeful life?
How do you find and live your true, authentic purpose or calling in life?
There are many different ways to
answer this question. But I would like you to consider living a life that you
design – one that includes your own unique values, goals, passions and desires!
You may think you have this all figured out and I
hope you do! But to be sure, take a moment and reflect on your true values,
calling or purpose. Make sure you were the one who made those choices. Make sure
it wasn’t someone else like a family member, colleague or even someone that
inspired you. If it wasn’t you, you could be living the
appearance of a life purpose
or what I call an inherited purpose. You
grew up thinking that this was what will bring you happiness!
When you are living true to who you are as a
being, which is what you were born with, it is very different than living
according to an inherited purpose. When you notice the difference you will
have complete confidence in your true authentic purpose.
Tips to Uncovering Your
True Purpose or Calling:
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Recognize that this being existed when you were born. It is your essence.
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Think of moments in your life when your heart was fully alive, when you felt
unstoppable, content in the moment, full of energy. You had not a worry in
the world, you were relaxed and at peace. These are glimpses of your true
self, write down a list of these moments, beginning with your childhood.
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Notice all the values you were honoring in those moments. These are your
core values, your essence, what you came into this world with. They are not
what others have told you YOU are! You may have been planting a garden and
singing or spending time out doors being connected to the earth. Listen for
the essence involved with these values. Your true values will make you feel
alive and bring you excitement and it will feel familiar.
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List your top 10 values in order of importance. Some examples are: listening
to music, helping others, doing art, being with family, cooking, gardening,
honesty, integrity, adventure, authenticity, laughter, work, play.
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Look at your life as if you were at the end looking backwards and you lived
your life with purpose. You had no regrets, just contentment for how you
lived your life fully.
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Write down how it looked, what values you honored, what your essence was.
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Visualize your true purpose. What would the vision be if you had unlimited
time and money to create it?
Create a Life
Purpose Statement
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Fill in the blanks below and remember this is
a work in progress! You will always be adding or deleting areas of
your vision of your Life Purpose.
I am the ___________ that impacts other
by____________.
Examples:
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I am the
river that flows to others with admiration that allows them to be
powerful.
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I am the
light house that shines a path for everyone to see where they want to
go.
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I am the
soft lyrics that sooth the soul and awaken peoples’ spirit.
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I am the
wind beneath your wings that give you the ability to fly and be your
true authentic self. (This was my original life purpose statement.)
Read your Life Purpose Statement daily and
change it if the words are not engaging you and complete the correct
description. Make it a fun project that can take a day to months to create.
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Create a
collage that represents your Life Purpose Statement.
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Find a place
to that will remind you of your statement. Especially if your Inherited
Purpose starts to show up instead.
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Tell others
what your life purpose is and connect with people that will support you in
living the purpose.
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Help others to
start looking at what their true purpose is and support them.
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