Each of us is born with a life purpose. With a purpose, everything in life seems to fall into place. To be “on purpose” means you’re doing what you love to do, doing what you’re good at and accomplishing what’s important to you. When you truly are on purpose, the people, resources, and opportunities you need naturally gravitate toward you. The world benefits, too, because when you act in alignment with your true life purpose, all of your actions automatically serve others.
Your inner guidance system is your joy
You were born with an inner guidance system that tells you when you are on or off purpose by the amount of joy you are experiencing. The things that bring you the greatest joy are in alignment with your purpose.
Three approaches to clarifying your purpose:
- Make a list of the times you have felt most joyful and alive. What are the common elements of these experiences? Can you figure out a way to make a living doing these things?
- Take time to complete the following life purpose exercise:
- List two of your unique personal qualities.
- List one or two ways you enjoy expressing those qualities when interacting with others.
- Assume the world is perfect right now. What does this world look like? How is everyone interacting with everyone else? What does it feel like? Write your answer as a statement, in the present tense, describing the ultimate condition, the perfect world as you see it and feel it.
- Combine the three prior subdivisions of this paragraph into a single statement. Example: My purpose is to use my creativity and enthusiasm to support and inspire others to freely express their talents in a harmonious and loving way.
- Set aside some time for quiet reflection — time for a period of meditation. After you become relaxed and enter into a state of deep self-love and peacefulness, ask yourself, What is my purpose for living? or What is my unique role in the universe?
Staying on purpose
Once you have determined and written down your life purpose, read it every day, preferably in the morning. If you are artistic or strongly visual by nature, you may want to draw or paint a symbol or picture that represents your life purpose and then hang it somewhere where you will see it every day. This will keep you focused on your purpose.
* Source: The Success Principles by Jack Canfield