In search of purpose

Last week, I shared a little about purpose. This week and next, we will go more into “how” to find and be on your purpose.

Remember, your purpose and how you fulfill it is absolutely unique to you. It's also important to remember that your purpose can (and does) evolve over time, as you mature, learn and experience life. As your priorities shift, your purpose may shift too.

So think about what your purpose is NOW – this day, this month, this year.

Exploring deeply into your purpose requires you to notice your internal questions.

Did you know your brain answers every single question it hears? Try it – when someone asks a question, watch how your brain jumps to attention and tries to find an answer – even when the question isn’t directed to you. Needless to say, you want to be so careful of the people you allow around yourself, because you will be directly influenced by their ongoing dialog… and questions.

So surround yourself with people who build you up, people who believe in you.

Even more important are the questions you ask yourself.

Your own endless internal questions are creating story after story . . . drama after drama . . . as your brain jumps to attention to come up with answers.

It’s critical that you only talk to yourself with beliefs that matter. Don’t bring doubt to your table.

Tony Robbins once said, “The quality of your life is a direct reflection of the quality of questions you are asking yourself.” This is also true of the questions you are asking of the world, or you are hearing.

Negative thoughts and statements shut down your brain; when you ask a positive question, it unlocks the part of your brain that problem-solves. Your brain starts to look for solutions automatically.

If you desire a better quality of life, one aligned with your purpose, it starts with the quality of questions you ask.

It is easy to upgrade your questions and even little tweaks can enable huge shifts. Words hold power, so let’s jump into the “how.”

Find a journal, carve out a little sacred time to begin your exploration. This week, under the beautiful full moon, perhaps with your favorite drink early in the morning or before bed, take some time to begin your exploration with the following questions:

1. Your purpose takes into consideration your unique talents, gifts and passions. To find your unique gifts/talents, ask yourself:

• What are your unique talents and gifts?

• What comes easy to you? What are you good at?

• When you were a child, what were you told you were good at?

• Where are you most effective?

• What is your unique talent?

• What are you passionate about?

• What do you do in your life where time loses its hold on you?

2. Looking at your life:

• What makes you feel fulfilled?

• What activities would you pay to do?

• If you didn’t have to please or worry about anyone else, what would you do?

• If money was no concern, how would you spend your time? Where would you be? With whom?

• What work would you love to do if you had all the money and time you needed already, or all the work paid the same?

• What make you feel complete?

• What if you were doing what you were born to do on a daily basis? What would it feel like? How would you fell when you woke up in the morning?

• What would it mean to you to be on purpose?

Enjoy! Next post we'll dive even deeper into the quality questions.

Until then just observe…. the questions inside, the questions swirling around outside, and how busy the mind is to answer. Notice who builds you up and believes in you. Allow all the observations to go to paper if possible, with little or no judgement.