Accomplish Goals & Realize Dreams: Living on Purpose (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this series we went over the seven steps of a process that can help us accomplish our goals and realize our dreams. In part 2 we'll talk about living our life on purpose. There is nothing more important in life than to live with a sense of purpose. There is nothing more exhilarating than to see how God has given us the gifts and experiences to live our calling. Only when we tie our goals and activities to our purpose and values do we have a chance to make a profound impact. Let's explore what is involved in discovering our purpose.

There are books and seminars and year long coaching relationships dedicated to finding one's purpose, so I will barely do justice to this topic in a short post. At least we can begin thinking about it through a list of principles, ideas, and resources I have come up with over many years. Let's begin...

I believe that God created each one of us with a combination of gifts, experiences, and passions that is unique. Just like there are no two people that are identical, not even twins, each person has a special contribution to make to the world.

The most essential thing we need to discover this sense of purpose is time set aside to reflect, time in silence to do introspection. We already know everything we need to know to identify and express our purpose, but we need time to think and to feel, we need time to listen to God's whisper and to notice the stirrings in our soul.

Our life purpose is not a job description, that would be constraining God to a box.

In "The Power of Purpose" Richard Leider mentions that he interviewed many elderly people and asked them what they would have done differently in their life. Most of them said that they wish they would have been more reflective, more courageous, and more clear about their purpose.

Discovering one's purpose is not a set of sequential steps that yield an answer. Instead it is like a mosaic that slowly builds, and with each action the picture becomes clearer. I'll mention below a number of possible actions that one can take, but again please know they are just pieces of the mosaic.

It is important to know what our character strengths are. Martin Seligman, creator of Positive Psychology and one of my teachers did a lot of research on happiness. He found that the happiest people are those that know and use their strengths on a daily basis for a cause bigger than themselves. After registering for free at the Authentic Happiness website you can take the VIA signature strengths survey that will help you understand your top five strengths. I'm a certified Authentic Happiness Coach so I can help you if you have questions.

My character strengths are: spirituality, perspective, appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, and curiosity.

It's good to sit in a quiet place and examine life with a journal. Just answer questions like: where do I come from, why am I here, where am I going, describe a moment in your life where you thought you were at your best, if you could devote your life to serve others and still have the money and lifestyle you need, what would you do, is there a secret passion in your life, something that is too exciting to do? There are many other great questions that start helping us bring forth what we already know in our heart. we need to create a sacred space, a time of silence for this.

Are there 3 to 5 principles that you use to guide your life? For example, I always say: All is one (all people are interdependent and we are one with the communion of saints and God), All is sacred (we are all divine, we must respect the dignity of all people, all our actions are sacred, etc....), All is whole, and All is love. These principles guide most of my life.

What needs in the world move you the most? Poverty? The environment? war? abortion? education?

Eventually, perhaps with the objective help of a coach, spiritual director, therapist, or close friend, you start to put together a mission statement for you. You will change it and re-write it many times. However, over time the changes will be less and you will be able to see yourself and your gifts in it.

My mission is to help people unleash their divine potential to live happier, healthier, and more meaningful lives. I do this through my Catholic spirituality, leadership, and coaching.

I hope and pray that this can help some of you. If others have done some of this before, I'd love to hear about it. God bless!

Technorati Tags: Accomplish Goals, Happiness, Purpose

Comments

[Ed aka Broken Wings aka Godsdragon]

Hello Hector. Como estas man?
Hope all is well with you. I really like your blog, I was not even aware you are in the ministry! God bless you my friend! The harvest is plentiful butr the workers are few...saith our Good Book, the Bible...
I would love to be able to exchange blog links with you. I particularly have a spanish speaking blog I titled: Asi Es La Vuda, that I would like to include you in, We at 43Things also started a Positive things Blog that could include you and your thoughts... Anyway, I know you are a busy man, I did social work for the best part of my career life, so, I know it is long hours and go go go at times without much financial rewards, only the spiritual ones we receive when we work for Christ.
(I myself am in the category of not mentionning my root faith until I know for sure it will be well received, and I also keep my mindf open to other spiritual venues for life and living and healing, I hope that does not offend you)
Anyway, I am rambling now. Peace, God bless you and keep in touch.
Dios te Bendiga.

[Hector]

Hi Ed! How great to see you here! Please come visit every now and then. I'll look you up so that we can exchange links and I'll be more than happy to contribute to your blogs.

Regarding this, "I myself am in the category of not mentionning my root faith until I know for sure it will be well received, and I also keep my mind open to other spiritual venues for life and living and healing, I hope that does not offend you" Few things offend me. I am respectful of other Christian denominations and of other religions. I find that the best way for me to contribute to the interfaith or ecumenical dialog is by being the best Catholic I can be, while treating others with dignity and honor. I'm glad you came by...

[Lisa]

I like both parts (1&2). Thanks for sharing these great thoughts.

[Steve Bogner]

I took the signature strengths survey; my 5 strengths were:

- Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith
- Fairness, equity, and justice
- Appreciation of beauty and excellence
- Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness
- Curiosity and interest in the world

I'll be spending more time on that Authentic Happiness web site - looks like there are some good tools there. And, I'm looking forward to your additional thoughts in this series!

[Hector]

Lisa and Steve, I'm glad you got something out of the post. Steve, we share 3 out of 5 strengths, out of a total of 24! It is important to arrange your life to use as many of the strengths daily as possible. Please let me know if you have questions about other tests there, I'm trained in a number of them...