Discovering Your Purpose, It’s an Inside Job!

Do you really know who you are, what you want out of life, or even where you would like to be five years, ten years, or even twenty years from now? I know that seems like a lot to think about but these are all valid questions. Have you ever taken a moment to really reflect on where you are right now? Sometimes it is so scary to do so because you don’t want to be disappointed or face the fact that you are not where you would want or need to be in life. Well, in order to become prepared for what this world has to offer you personally, you must first have a purpose and know what to do with it. Purpose gives meaning to your life. In many ways, your purpose is the meaning of your life. So it must be understood that the meaning of life differs from person to person, from day to day and from hour to hour. We were all put here on this earth to carry out different tasks, jobs, and duties. So, what matters most is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment and the impact on the world that it makes. Therefore, one must take into consideration that life without purpose proposes certain hardships and lack luster outcomes. With that thought in mind, you must ask yourself the question of whether or not you have discovered your purpose and what difference you make in this world today.

At the age of twenty-eight, I read a book that describes the importance of having a purpose in life. It was called The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I had had only been out of my doctoral program for about two years and was practicing at that time. I had been employed by someone else since I had completed my education.

From day to day, my goal was, as it still is today, to serve my patients to the best of my ability to get them better in every way possible. I grew tired and weary at times because those that I worked for and with seemed to have no expression like that or even any point of purpose other than making money. This made me really unhappy in my work environment. Now, I never strayed away from my daily goal but I began to take into account what I had read in the book about having a purpose in life. There were questions set up in such a way that I really had to take a look at my life and discover in the depths of my being what type of mark did I really want to make in this world. So, I took an inventory of myself and asked myself one of the main questions that Rick Warren asked in his book. This question was the one that stood out the most to me and spoke to my spirit…“What on Earth am I here for?” After replaying that question in my mind over and over again, all I could do was sit there in the deepest moment of thought I had ever experienced in my life. This proposed the best sense of well-being for me because it opened my eyes to who I am and who I am destined to be. That was how my journey to becoming the BEST began and how I discovered my purpose.

The first step in discovering your purpose is having a goal for what you want to accomplish in your life. Now, of course, money is not everything, but it has been proven that people who have goals and a purpose in life are more likely to be more successful than people who do not. Also, one must never think that there isn’t anything such as an impossible goal. Goals put you in a causal position rather than a victim position. That is good for your psychological well-being. It will make you feel as though you can achieve anything your heart desires. Goals set with a purposeful intention have an almost magical quality. It can imbue us with extraordinary ability and restore hope. It can make us almost superhuman and bring an extraordinary sense of bliss. Goals help to set the pace for the whole journey. Goals are beyond important. They are vital. In order to figure out your goals, you must get yourself a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Look for something that fires you up, that you think is needed, that you feel is important, and that you can do something about. If someone has no purpose at all, a small goal is a big improvement. But you must be aware that there comes a time when a full-on mission is called for as a context for your life. Make it a regular practice to ask yourself what you want right now. What is your goal here in this situation? What are you after? What are you aiming for? Be clear always and consciously be aware of what your purpose is this very moment. It promotes an effective, fulfilling and healthy life. And most of all, it will make you more productive. When your attention becomes fixed on what you don’t want, turn your attention to your goals and what you do want. Then just watch your sense of purpose begin to grow even stronger.

The next step towards discovering in your purpose is having motivation. Naturally, a person may think to themselves, “I need motivation to achieve my goals, but where can I get it?” Motivation to succeed in anything is not always something easy to achieve. It is something in life that does not come without sacrifice or struggle. When we overcome these difficulties, it shows our true desire, dedication and will to ultimately be the best at whatever we are faced with in this world. Work motivation and even the motivation to succeed in life are two of the most important feelings people must feel at some point in their lives in order to be successful and prosperous. Everyone will come to a point where they can begin to lose focus but it is at that point when the motivation of the individual plays a major role. Motivation can be defined as “the psychological function that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal.” Several times in life, one may decide to embark on a business endeavor or face a difficult task such as completing a dissertation for graduation or even set a fitness goal such as losing thirty pounds. The key element for success in all of these tasks is having endless motivation. One must always look inside and find the deepest sense of drive to maintain that motivation and then move forward with his or her eyes set on the victory.

The third way to discover your purpose is to have a vision and a plan. Deciding to start a new life is something that many people cannot fathom or even imagine. Being permanently placed at one position in life will never bring complete bliss or joy unless you are happy with being second fiddle to the next person. If that is not your position of choice, you must have a plan. Intelligence is not enough. One can possess all the knowledge in the world but knowledge without wisdom creates nothing but an educated fool. You should change your thinking and things around you daily to be sure that you can maintain your focus. Going to the gym, practicing meditation, or even eating a healthy meal should ultimately be like waking up in the morning. These sorts of outlets afford you an opportunity to keep your mind clear and your vision sharp. There will always be obstacles placed in your path but when you have a plan and a vision, your laser like focus provides a dynamic sense of discernment and answers as to how you can stay on track. It takes perseverance and hard work to follow a plan and attain what it is that you desire in your vision. At the beginning and end of the day, you must realize that it all rest in your hands. The choice you make daily must have faith and desire behind it, because without that, there is nothing more than an empty promise. Start today by creating a dream board with a time line of when you plan to attain your goals and dreams. Do not wait any longer. Be the best you can be and know what you have in your heart, mind, and hands are your tools for your success. Never let your plan or vision become stale or outdated. Your vision and plan should be just as important and as valuable as you being blessed to see the sun rise and set every day. As long as you remember that your best and brightest days are still ahead of you, you will always be driven to attain your vision, master your plan and move in your purpose.

In conclusion, the value of knowing your purpose in life will enable you to become more efficient, to achieve your dreams, and to move forward in this world with a plan and a vision that will change your life and other lives forever. You must be prepared to use quick, resolute and effective thinking because there will always be a challenge present to create difficulties. We are prone to let our mental senses become invaded by outside influences but you must keep your eyes on your vision, plan and goals thus not allowing your purpose in this world to be disrupted. It is physically and psychologically healthy for a human being to have a strong sense of purpose. Please, never find yourself wondering whether or not you are fulfilling your purpose. Every day in life is a pledge to yourself and God. So, with that thought in mind, you must know that you have to be strong in the moment and always finish what has begun. There isn’t one “right” purpose which you must find and follow. Remove that kind of mystical thinking from your thoughts now and forever! But you must remember that any constructive purpose is better than no purpose at all. The important thing is that you love the purpose and have a good level of accomplishment along the way. Start right now with the assumption that there is a purpose which strongly compels you or strongly interests you, and commit yourself to finding it and carrying it out to the best of your ability. A high quality purpose is concrete, challenging, and achievable. As long as you keep your purposes strong and clear, simple and heartfelt, you will find the most powerful source of self-generated happiness that exists in this world.