At this point in the series, we have spent some time defining what we really want in life, which is vital to understanding what our Life Purpose is. And remember, you don’t have to be grandiose about it! You can see your purpose as being the best grandmother on the planet, or you can decide at mid-life that you’re ready to start a business and make it happen.
The thing about living a purposeful life is first and foremost not comparing it to what other women are doing. We are unique, we are individuals — and no two of us are exactly alike! We all have a reason for being here, but trying to match that to anyone else’s lifestyle, experience or endeavor just takes us away from our core being, our inner voice — our own truth.
When we observe what others are about, it can inspire us and encourage us. Too often, however, by comparing ourselves to others, we get the notion we come up short. If we keep it to appreciation of what they are doing, and can admire them for being true to themselves, then we can move into the realm of self-awareness — making sure what we do is a right fit for us.
So, the first practical step is: do a self-assessment, ask really good questions, go back to the “what do you want, what are you willing to give up to get it” exercise and decide the direction you feel most fulfilled about. Then set some meaningful goals and strategies to go there.
My Higher Purpose Statement is: I believe we are here to love ourselves, each other and our lives, master the business of life and turn our lead into gold.
Those are a few examples of how I keep Purpose a part of my daily life. Now let’s see what some other ways might be.
Once again, do some soul searching to understand the why of the situation. And the best way to do that is to clarify what your higher purpose is in having a job in the first place! Are you there for the paycheck? Are you there because it fit your criteria of ideal job when you took it on? Are you marking time until something better comes along?
In my years of study with various teachers, one of the most important lessons I learned was how to link daily tasks to higher purpose. You can master that skill! Make a list of things you do, especially things you feel you have to do daily. On the right side of the page, put a column headed by what you understand your higher purpose to be.
Then take each task and figure out how to link it to that purpose and write it in the column on the right. You may be amazed at what you come up with! Here is an example of linking that might spark you to do this exercise:
What I’m building on here is the concept that Life is an Inside Job. What you believe about yourself and others and the degree of self-direction from a sense of higher purpose you have make a dramatic difference in how you live that life. More on this later….
>READ: HOW WOMEN ARE LIVING PURPOSEFUL LIVES
>READ: WHAT (REALLY) GOES INTO LIFE OVER 50: DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT