“If you’re alive, there’s a purpose for your life.” - Rick Warren
What do you want the epitaph on your tombstone to say when you die? Many would be satisfied, if not relieved, if their epitaph proclaimed, “I Survived.”
Others, perhaps you, want more out of life than just going through the motions, day after day, and simply surviving.
To live a life of purpose, and on purpose, empowers you to be whatever you want to be and to do whatever you want to do. When your life’s purpose is powered by passion, you are able to stay on course even when you experience obstacles and setbacks. Purpose is the engine that moves you forward in life; passion is the fuel for the engine.
There are five important fundamentals for living a life of purpose:
1. Purpose is a choice. In Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life
Instead, to live with purpose and passion is indeed a choice. You can choose if you want to succumb to the wants, needs and wishes of others, or choose, for yourself, what you want out of your life.
You get the choose what to do, who to do it with, and legacy you will leave when your time on this earth is over. In your quiet moments when you are alone with your thoughts and listen to what your inner wisdom is telling you, you will clearly hear your passion calling you to action. It’s your choice to respond.
2. Show your passion about your purpose. Enthusiasm and positive energy are contagious. Share your purpose and passion with others. Don’t be afraid you will be criticized for letting others know your hopes and dreams.
You never now when your optimism is just want someone else’s need to find hope for their life. Set the example; be the example – this is part of the responsibility of accepting a life of purpose and passion.
3. Be flexible. Keep an open mind as you live a life of passion. Life is not static; it changes everyday as people and circumstances change around you. Learn to adapt and to adjust to the ebb and flow of life.
Don’t allow your commitment to purpose to be a set of blinders that keeps you from seeing what’s changing around you. It’s normal and reasonable to expect to make adjustments on your journey. These adjustments are not failures, but rather a tweaking to ensure you continue to grow and mature into your purpose.
4. Help others find their passion, too. The expression “the more we give, the more we get” is the guiding principle here. Put your needs aside and don’t be concerned with what others can do for you. If your focus is to help them discover their life’s purpose, your life will automatically be enriched. This is just how it works.
When you focus on what you can do for someone else, without considering what you will get out of it, you will be rewarded in ways you never expected. Be there for others; find ways to fill others up with encouragement.
5. Choose to live with purpose, powered by passion, each day. Just as resolving to have a specific purpose for your life is a choice, so is choosing to life with purpose each day. By doing so, you are better able to navigate through the potholes life sometimes puts in front of us.
Allow your purpose to be your compass to help you navigate around these potholes. Be a person of choice and do not allow others to dictate conditions or limitations for you.
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April 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 am
“5. Choose to live with purpose, powered by passion, each day.”
That’s really powerful. It’s so easy to just let a day slip by, with no real progress or contribution made. Thank you for that reminder.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:05 am
Nice post Alex
I echo your points about listening to your heart and spirit to be the guiding forces in your life in fulfilling who you are meant to be and what you are here to do. Being in contribution (service) to others in helping them succeed is an important way we support others in fulfilling their purpose. Offering love to others opens up our flow to receive (and share) gifts and miracles.
Cheers,
Lorraine
http://www.powerfull-living.biz
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:56 am
If anybody is unsure of the value of living a life with purpose and passion they should go and check clear up rates of people with serious illnesses. People that have a real passionate reason to live are infintely more likely to make full recoveries. Find out what drives you and what motivates you and then go after it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:22 am
Maria - Number 5 speaks to me, too. It is good to know we do have a choice to live on purpose each day.
Lorraine - agreed, we are all in this thing called “life” together.
Tim - Well said!
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I read “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren this past summer and I completed the 40 Day Plan with the questions and meditations.
It was absolutely wonderful, and very appropriate for me as I’m a Christian. However, you do not need to be a Christian to benefit from this terrific resource.
I highly recommend it!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Wow, Tim. I absolutely agree with you! While reading and hearing stories of people who managed to recover from terminal cancer, I observed that like what you’ve said, that they were full of life and forward looking! Their desire to live on is so burning that it really resembles a volcano!
Alex, I love your point about helping people find their passion. I always have this notion about giving before receiving and your point clearly illustrates that… thank you!
Cheers,
Ellesse
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Hello Alex,
I really like what you said here in your summary “Allow your purpose to be your compass to help you navigate around these potholes. Be a person of choice and do not allow others to dictate conditions or limitations for you.”
Ever since I’ve found a purpose, what I need to do just seems to fall into place. It’s great to feel Alive, for a change!!
With much thanks and appreciation,
Evelyn
April 4th, 2008 at 5:46 am
When a catastrophic illness occurred, I thought my useful days were over - that I was destined to dwindle away in a hospital bed in my home.
I have made a monumental recovery and I’m so grateful for every day and the precious gift of life.
Strangely enough, it was the movie “Toy Story” that really got me involved in the world again. After realizing that I would only be able to operate at a fraction of my prior capacity, I kind of shut down my dreams about making a difference in the world. I was damaged physically, so I thought my usefulness (except to my immediate family) was over. Then I saw “Toy Story”.
You may remember that when the monster kid who damaged dolls and toys was under attack by the main characters, the toys he had hatefully reconstructed and thrown into a corner united forces to help in overthrowing him. They were an important part of the army of toys who stopped the monster kid.
A light went off in my head! I realized that I wasn’t 100%, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t do SOMETHING worthwhile. My attitude changed to looking outward at the world again. Strangely enough, this change in attitude helped me get stronger and stronger.
It truly is important to have a purpose and it’s so much better if we strive for service beyond the four walls of our own little world.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Brennan - thanks so much for sharing a piece of your story.
April 5th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Great post Alex,
Reading a New Earth, is reinforcing this for me.
I particularly relate to 4 & 5.
Helping others find their real purpose is so rewarding, being that inspiration that helps one move forward.
And “Choose to live with purpose, powered by passion, each day.” Wow what a world that would be if we all remembered that each day.
Thanks for your inspiring writing, so much of hat you write resonates for me.
Will what you do today make your Heart Sing?
Suzie
April 6th, 2008 at 6:50 am
[…] Committed to a Cause Ten symptoms of having vision beyond yourself How to Live a Life of Purpose […]
April 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Hi, I like your statement here..
“You never now when your optimism is just want someone else’s need to find hope for their life.”
I am very inspired by a quote from Marianne Williamson, saying that when we shine, we will let others to shine as well. It might be something similar on your point, on helping other people to shine.
I recently read the explanation of living a life driven by self-actualization on Wikipedia (part of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs). And I find a lot of great insights there, I shared it in the following article, also quoted by Jeff.
Ten symptoms of having vision beyond yourself
Let’s live a life for a purpose.
Cheers,
Robert
April 7th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
It’s funny.. I have Rick’s book on my bed as I read this with the intent to start it as my next great read
Optimism, enthusiasm - positive energy is indeed very contagious. I am sometimes pleasantly surprised by the feedback and the positive energy people radiate towards me when I share with them things that I am deeply passionate about
Upon your intro you mentioned that some would be happy with “I survived” on their tombstone.. but merely reading that made me very sad.
thank you for your excellent list of tips. I am particularly taking special heed to Be Flexible bc it’s easy for me to forget that I can’t plan it all perfectly.. and that’s the actual beauty of it all
April 10th, 2008 at 9:34 am
[…] How to Live a Life of Purpose, by Alex at The Next 45 Years When your life’s purpose is powered by passion, you are able to […]