We are all here on this planet for a purpose! It is our duty to find out what gifts we’ve been given and in some way, whether BIG or small, give them back.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” -Socrates
When we are inspired with great purpose everything around us will begin to work in our favor. This is a universal law. Wouldn’t it be perfect to wake up every day and be inspired by who you are and what you’re up to?
I would like to share six steps that can guide you to begin your journey to living life on purpose.
Step 1: In this moment, know you were not an accident and neither is your existence. There is meaning for your life in this universe. The first step is to know you’re here for a purpose—this is not the same as knowing what you’re suppose to do. Throughout the course of our lives what we do in life will change. Affirm your existence by writing it out, perhaps in a journal or a notebook Write something like, “I am here for a purpose and I intend to live from this place of awareness.” Take the energy and time to discover your what your divine gifts are if you already do not know what makes your heart sing…EXPLORE, EXPLORE, EXPLORE!
Step 2: Take every opportunity to be of service to the universe. Say a simple hello to a stranger, pick up a piece of trash in the street, pay the toll of the person in the car behind you or volunteer in your community. All of these acts of kindness are aligned with your purpose in life. Fall in love with what you are doing. Let this love come from the deep, inner dwelling of Spirit. Inspiration comes from being “in-spirit”. When you are aligned with your divine source being inspired comes very natural. Remember also, rewards multiply when we focus on giving rather than receiving. No matter what you do, if you put your heart into it and get your ego out of the way, the universe will handle all of the beautiful details and you will reap many rewards.
Step 3: Ignore naysayers. Inevitably, there will be people who think they know what your destiny is. They will even go so far as to talk you out of your purpose. ONLY YOU CAN KNOW. It is between you and your Divine source. It is your journey, no one else’s.
Step 4: Seek out others who are living with purpose. Study and duplicate what they’ve done. Take a moment to think about whom you most admire. Begin to research and study this person’s life. Find out how they were inspired or what motivated them to achieve all the things you admire. If this person is still alive, give them a call. People love to talk about their lives and how they achieved greatness.
And, start or join a Mastermind group!! This is one of the most powerful resources and tools you can use to align with your dreams and have people all around you to lovingly hold you accountable for what you say you want to create in your life. It is magical what begins to unfold.
Step 5: Act and live as if you are on purpose. Never let negative thoughts linger in your mind. We are what we think! Keep your intentions on what you wish to create in your life. Shift your perceptions from “what is wrong” to “what is right” in all life’s situations. Treat everything in your life from a long hold time on the telephone to the loss of a loved one to a loss of a job to your car breaking down as opportunities to move away from familiar circumstances into the direction of your purpose. FIND THE GIFTS IN ALL THINGS.
Step 6: Meditate or spend time alone before the start of your day. Meditation is probably one of the healthiest, safest, timeliest and most regenerative practices you can undertake. It energizes the mind and body to begin your day with a clear slate. I enjoy sitting and just observing my breath for the first five minutes. The second five minutes, I enjoy being in state of gratitude–thinking about all the things and people in my life I am grateful for. And the last five minutes I focus on forgiveness. In this state I release any anger and blame I have associated with myself or others.
There are several different types of meditation. I encourage you to get curious and seek out what is comfortable for you. At the end of this you have given yourself the gift of time and purpose. You may even want to state an intention out loud at the end of this practice. Such as, “Today I will remember to let go of judgment, non-judgment silences the mind.”
Every day our thoughts and feelings should be in alignment with our actions. When we begin our day with positive intentions our hearts are filled with gratitude and love. Our attitudes and energy fields are positive and we begin a beautiful new day with our purpose in mind.
“Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.”
-Viktor E. Frankl
These are wonderful, powerful suggestions. Acceptance of change, embracing positivity, being service-minded and understanding that you have a purpose — all of these things bring you into alignment with the universe and, ultimately, with who you really are. Sometimes you have to ‘fake it ’til you make it’ until your perceptions shift, but it can be done!
You simply can’t hide from your true self. As it happens so often…we are doing work or living a life that does not feel right. This is the universe taping us on the shoulder and telling us the we need to dig a little deeper to find our true path. Only then can we truly be happy…and when you rejoice, the world will rejoice with you.
Jennifer embodies the words she writes here. Take advantage of all of her insightful writing. She is a gift to us all!
I love this article. Well done!
I’m reading a book by Anne Lindbergh right now, the wife of the well known Charles Lindbergh. Part of what she discusses relates to your step 6, i.e., meditation or time alone. We need that time to listen within and recharge our own batteries. Only then can we be of true service to others, or be, as she puts it, the centered hub of a wheel. In that image the spokes of the wheel represent our giving to family, friends, work, other causes etc. Each person is the hub of their wheel. We must take time to ensure our hub is centered. The only way that will truly happen is if we give ourselves a bit of time to be on our own and listen to our own voice witout distraction.