Are You Living Your Life Purpose?

I’m sure you’ve heard the question many times and perhaps you are still pondering the answer! I am often asked by women “how do I figure out my purpose?” Is there a process? Is there a formula? Am I supposed to just know what ’it’ is? And how can I make money at it?

“Every individual has a place to fill in the world, and is important, in some respect, whether he chooses to be or not.” – Nathanial Hawthorne, 1804-1864

I know that I am blessed because, from a very young age, one thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to be a teacher. While I didn’t go to university and actually progress into that specific career choice, my work in the past 30 years has been that of facilitator, trainer, coach and speaker – that’s as good as being at the front of a classroom, as far as I am concerned.

There were many times, however, on my life journey that I was employed and in various J.O.B.S. – and just going along, day in and day out. Once I had a taste of self-employment though, I was off to the races – but that journey, too, has had many bumps along the way.

So many people go through life unhappy with their careers and their lifestyle because they have never found the answer to that life purpose question. Instead – they have ’settled’. When you do understand the purpose for your life, you will enter into the greatest joy, peace and place possible.

One of the reasons that many women are ’stuck’ when it comes to this question is because of past conditioning – living life to someone else’s expectations. In the work I do with my clients, here are some of the typical questions I ask of them – they may help you uncover your own life purpose – and get unstuck.

1. What is one thing that really excites you – that you could do all day long without being paid?

What are some things that you do that actually make your toes curl with absolute joy? Take note, for a few days, and keep a list – for me, when I was in a particular J.O.B. a few years ago, I put a happy face beside the items that really made me happy – and it became quite clear that I needed to get back to the work that I so loved.

2. What is your natural talent?

For me, I realized that it is public speaking . Now you’ve got to understand that when I tell my mother about any new speaking engagement, she cracks right up. Apparently, in elementary school, I was so very shy that she had to literally drag me out from under a chair to get me to go to school. Go figure! Well that changed quickly as I grew into my adult years – for which I am grateful because I not only have the ability, now, to touch many, many lives – but I get paid very well for doing so. What comes to you naturally and how can you turn that into a business?

3. What thoughts or dreams are impossible to get out of your mind?

When I was working at that J.O.B., I gave it my all – I really did – heart, body, mind, spirit and soul – but I wasn’t sleeping at night. While, for the most part, the job was a great fit for me and I knew that I was, in fact, still making a difference – it wasn’t where I belonged. What is keeping you awake at night?

4. What are you prepared to commit to – no matter what? Being an entrepreneur , and having your own business, is no easy feat.

Certainly there are great benefits to it – flexible hours, being your own boss, charging what you’re worth and so on. There is also the ’down side’ to it – flexible hours, being your own boss and charging what you’re worth – yes sirreee – it’s the same list! I am serious about this. Many women in business struggle, financially, because they do not have the discipline to manage the flexible hours, they feel extremely lonely being their own boss and they have tremendous fear about charging what they’re worth – many feel like a fraud.

5. Where/how have you helped people?

Sometimes the answer is staring you right in the face – you may have been ’coaching’ people all your life, and didn’t realize that’s what ’it’ was. Consider having a conversation with some of your good friends – you know, the ones who come to you all the time because of your creativity , your problem-solving, your hospitality – whatever ’that’ is. Ask them some questions about the outcomes/results that you have provided. Your answer may be right there.

“Take calculated risks. This is quite different from being rash.”– George S. Patton

Once you have become clear on your purpose, have identified a way to make a business out of it (or, you’re already in that business) then it is essential to have the processes and systems in place to make it viable – so that you can make money. It’s one thing to be living your purpose – but you’re not running a charity !
The critical ’next steps’ are to create the systems, processes, and procedures necessary so that your business runs like a lean, mean machine. This, my friends, is where many women give up – throw in the towel – because they are exhausted and they are not making any money. They are ’three feet from gold’!

CONCLUSION

It really IS possible to live your purpose, have a thriving and successful business doing so and touch lives around the world. To be successful, you must know what transformation you offer, be clear about your niche market (or, who needs you out there), charge what you’re worth and stay focused on your talent. This is the formula for living your best life!

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

1. Schedule time to work through the questions above.
2. Talk to your family and friends and identify your unique talents.
3. Make a decision to live your life purpose – start a business and/or grow your business.

Put some of these basics in place and I guarantee you will not only grow personally, but your business practices will also improve. When you develop new skills, you are developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life, and the business, you truly want. You will be much more comfortable and successful in the overall scheme of things.