The Purpose of Life

"The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it. The meaning of life is to give your gift away." 

                                                                      -David Biscott

Happy New Year!

 It’s that time of year again where we turn our attention to soul-searching and goal setting. If you're inspired by the quote above, you're not alone. Many of us want to feel a greater sense of purpose driving us forward each day. It’s a wonderful feeling, but it can be surprisingly hard to discover, much less develop and give away.

 According to Anthony Robbins, two things prevent people from finding their purpose: Predictability, which helps us stay comfortable but can keep us in unfulfilling jobs and relationships, and limiting beliefs, which are stories we tell ourselves about our capabilities. 

 For instance, a woman might be brilliant at math but stuck in an accounting job she doesn't enjoy. The security of her job prevents her from moving on. She tells herself she can't do any other job anyway and doesn't have time (limiting beliefs).

 Not everyone experiences "purpose" the same way. The accountant could feel passionate about serving corporate clients, or she could feel a need to help low-income micro-businesses. Or perhaps she can contribute more as the CFO of a political campaign, or maybe as a math teacher helping kids. One of those will inspire her more than the others.

 Of course, there's a practical side to all this. You must make money. The adage "Do what you love, and the money will follow" isn't always accurate. You need to discover your gift, then develop it in a direction that helps you earn a living by doing something that others will value. The trick is to find environments that fill you with excitement, then explore your gift in those contexts. Focus outward, not just on what you love, but on what the world would value getting from you. 

 Wishing you a year filled with passion and purpose...Happy New Year!