“Without a clear sense of purpose, all of the organizational tools in the world won’t bring you meaning. They will help you live more efficiently; they may even reduce some dissatisfaction; but to actively add value to your life, you must know your purpose clearly and measurably move into it more fully on a daily basis.” The 7 Minute Solution, p. 71 by Allyson Lewis
Do you know your purpose? When you wake up in the morning, do you know where you want the day to go and why? Or, are you just getting things done? If the latter is true then you may be lacking the one absolutely non-negotiable key to a life of greater meaning–knowing your purpose.
Going through life without a purpose is a bit like hopping in a car and heading out on a journey with no destination. You can cover a whole lot of ground at much expense and never get anywhere you would like to go. You will constantly have a nagging sense of, “Isn’t there more to traveling than just covering ground?”
When you pile on more organizational tools and you still don’t know your purpose, it’s like getting a better, faster car for the journey. You are more comfortable. You are covering more ground, but you still really aren’t headed anywhere. So if you are wanting more from life, start by getting clear on where you are going.
Your purpose statement doesn’t have to be complicated. It simply needs to be true to who you are and it must involve serving. Allyson Lewis wrote hers for the first time in just 7 minutes. When she awoke to her purpose, a whole new world of possibilities emerged and her life was forever changed. That purpose statement became the foundation for writing and coaching that helped hundreds of other people find meaning and purpose.
Your purpose may be even simpler than that and just as valuable. When I was in my early 20′s, I volunteered as a youth leader in my church. I unwittingly did something very bright. One day I jotted down my purpose in that youth ministry. I simply wrote this, “My purpose is to love these kids so that someday they will know God loved them.” Now some 25 years later, I still get an occasional note from someone in that group letting me know how special they felt because of me. They tell me stories of struggles they were going through that were bearable because someone was there for them.
So what are you waiting for? Why not find out your purpose right now? Fill out the Discovering Purpose Worksheet from the Member Tools area of The7MinuteLife.com and start transforming your activity into meaning today.
