I recently heard an interesting statistic.
I read an article that was talking about the factors that were most likely to influence whether or not a man would die from his first heart attack.
Many factors were looked at including health, financial status, lifestyle etc. Found to be the most influential factor in determining whether or not a man would die of his first heart attack was something called “job dissatisfaction”. As startling as this statistic is in its own right, what interested me more was what came next.
The level of satisfaction a person obtained from their job was determined by two elements: The level of enjoyment a person obtained from their work and whether or not they felt a sense of PURPOSE in what they were doing.
It coincided almost exactly with the results of another survey I had read previously that talked about what it was that made people who described themselves as ‘happy’ feel that way; the most common factor was a sense of purpose to their lives.
There is no doubt that this thing called “purpose” plays an enormous role in the quality of our lives. So what is a “purpose”, what is it to feel that your life has one and most importantly how can we figure out what ours is so we can obtain the level of empowerment and fulfillment that coincides with our purposes discovery.
Very early on in my foray into personal growth I read a statement in a book on spirituality that read something like, “There is something you have to do, that no one else can do”. I believe that nothing in this universe exists without a reason. Think of the precision, the amazing detail, the intricate and complex science behind every cell of our being. Even the tiniest molecules have some role to play, some task to fulfill. There is literally nothing that exists that doesn’t have some purpose of being, some reason for its occurrence, some higher means for which it is intended. Humans are no different.
I remember how empowered I felt reading these words, thinking that there truly was something for me to do. Something that I HAD to do; something that if it were not done by me would never get done; some journey that I was destined to take and some mission I was destined to accomplish.
Recognizing that our lives have a distinct and individual purpose can have a powerful effect on our existence. There is a confidence that comes from knowing that you have been given a unique mission the knowledge of which can effect every area of your life; There is a sense of peace in knowing that whatever happens in our ever changing environment, there is something in us that is eternal; And more than anything there is a level of motivation, inspiration and empowerment to be gained knowing that every action we take is for an ultimate purpose for which we are destined.
So the big question then is how do we discover what this purpose is for us?
There are many techniques for doing this that have been laid out in countless personal development books. Here is one that I personally found very effective. I am paraphrasing here from a book called “The Success Principles” By Jack Canfield. (You can check it out in the book reviews section of this site if you want to learn more).
To start discovering your life’s purpose, ask yourself and write down the answers to these four questions:
1. List two of your unique personal qualities, such as enthusiasm and creativity
2. List one or two ways that you enjoy expressing these qualities when interacting with others. For example such as, to support and to inspire.
3. Assume the world is perfect right now. What does it look like? How is everyone interacting with everyone else? What does it feel like? Write a sentence, a statement, that describes the ultimate condition, the perfect world as you see it. For example everyone is freely expressing their own unique talents. Everyone is working in harmony. Everyone is expressing love.
4. Combine the answers to the previous questions into a statement: Eg: The purpose of my life is to use my enthusiasm and creativity to support and inspire others to freely express their talents in a harmonious unique way.
A purpose for your entire life is not always an easy thing to decipher. The most important thing is just to work out what feels right for you NOW. Don’t judge whether what you write is right or wrong, just get something down. You will expand your purpose as you learn more about yourself. Your purpose may have been different at different times of your life and it will continue to change and adapt in the years to come. There is however an underlying feeling; a sense of what it is you are meant for that will remain eternally.
Connecting with your ultimate life purpose is an ongoing experience as powerful as any development, or skill you can obtain. The way your life will change as a result of always knowing this one statement will be profound and magnificent.
Keep searching, keep expanding and keep living your life’s purpose: It’s what you were made to do.
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