New Year’s is just around the corner, and many of us are turning our mind to what we want to create for the next year. That’s why I’ve decided to share another excerpt from my book Inspired Action about getting clear on your purpose and direction. Today, I’m sharing Chapter 2: Show Me the Energy… which I also like to call “Your Purpose should light you up!”
Often after our holiday downtime we have just enough space to step back and do some major reflection. We start asking ourselves the big questions about what do we want in our lives for this upcoming year. That’s why I want to give you some juice to ensure that your work in this upcoming year really “fires you up!”
Are you ready for some big questions? Here you go… Inspired Action Chapter 2: Show Me the Energy.
Show Me the Energy
Thinking about your purpose and putting it into action should enliven you. It should bring forward a sense of dedication, excitement, and joy. The energy that emerges from your being when you live and act on purpose is authentic and noticeable. If you are not feeling fired up and excited when you think about or take action on your purpose, then further reflection might be required.
Below are several questions designed to help you get that energy flowing.
Is My Purpose Big Enough?
Too frequently we set our sights too low out of fear, hesitation, or what our rational mind calls “being realistic.” But allowing these obstacles to influence our definition of our purpose stifles our authentic sense of ambition and achievement. We unwittingly restrict or cap our energy flow because of our fears. For instance, we might fear the possibility of overreaching and failing. Or we might fear that achieving our goals will so completely change our lives that we will no longer recognize ourselves or remain connected to our roots.
Whatever your particular fear, you can unleash the energy of purpose by making the goal big enough to magnetize your enthusiasm to achieve it. This energy will help you summon the courage to face your fears and to take risks. Ray Bradbury offered some words of wisdom on this topic: “Living at risk is jumping off a cliff and building your wings on the way down.” Your purpose will be big enough to propel you off that cliff. It forces you to trust that you will learn how to build your wings as you fall.
Is My Purpose Focused Enough?
We human beings relate to our world through stories. When you think about your purpose, are you clear on who or what will benefit from your commitment to it? Imagine the stories. If you can’t envision the interpersonal or tangible benefit that will result from living your purpose, then it’s time to get more specific and focused. With whom are you working (if anyone), and toward what end?
For instance, what type of suffering are you trying to ease? What accomplishment are you trying to make possible? The problem with a purpose that’s too general is that it’s hard to get passionate about something that doesn’t speak specifically to you and shows you the lived benefit or outcome for the world around you.
Is My Purpose Action-Oriented Enough?
An authentic sense of purpose draws us forward. It defines our path through life and, like a beacon, guides us in how to act and where to go. While some purposes are focused on an overall way of being in the world, even those purposes correlate to certain actions that are congruent with that way of being and certain actions that are not.
If your purpose doesn’t clearly lead you to the actions you will take to live in alignment with it, then you might want to shift your understanding of it—or the language you use to express it—until those actions become clear. Living fully on purpose provides you with a clear guide or benchmark for your actions that will propel you into manifesting them.
Am I Experiencing Resistance?
Resistance is a fearsome beast that may raise its powerful head and try to demoralize you or distract you from your important work. If the energy around your purpose is feeling stifled, and you are comfortable with your answers to the previous three questions, resistance is likely the culprit.
Steven Pressfield, in his book The War of Art, provides an excellent overview of the many ways that resistance can keep you from your purpose. We explore how to dissolve and overcome resistance more thoroughly in Chapter 3: Dissolving Resistance, but for now you should know that, as Pressfield says, “Resistance will point to True North.” In other words, “The more scared we are of the work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”
Next Actions
- Set aside some time (for instance, a half hour per day for the next week, or a half day on Friday or Sunday) to reflect on, research, and meditate about your purpose. Grab a notebook or your journal and just free write about the ideas, issues, and possibilities that arise when you think about your purpose.
- Find someone who shares your purpose or is at least playing on a similar field, and schedule time to talk with him or her about your ideas, visions, and understanding of what could be possible. Whether it’s a phone call, coffee, or dinner, sharing with another person may help you to deepen or clarify your commitment to your purpose.
- Draw pictures or create a collage of your purpose in action or manifestation. What would the outcome look like?
- Write a eulogy for your life from the perspective of its end. Imagine who would be giving it and what he/she/they would say. What have been your accomplishments and achievements? How did your sense of purpose define your legacy?
