avatarJohn Cunningham

Summary

The web content discusses finding one's life purpose by either listening to one's environment and experiences or by actively creating a purpose through consistent contribution and reflection.

Abstract

The article "Live With Purpose" emphasizes the importance of discovering one's life purpose as a source of fulfillment and drive. It suggests two approaches to this discovery: first, by paying attention to natural talents and interests, and second, by proactively deciding on a contribution one wants to make and taking incremental steps towards that goal. The text highlights that purpose can be found in both leveraging one's innate abilities and overcoming personal challenges, as illustrated by the story of Louis Braille. It encourages readers to reflect on their unique strengths, experiences, and the joy they derive from various activities to identify their calling. The article also acknowledges that purpose can emerge from traumatic experiences, transforming pain into a mission to help others. For those who struggle to find their purpose, the article advises actively creating one by setting goals and making consistent efforts, even when progress seems slow. Regular reflection is recommended to adjust one's path and maintain momentum, with the understanding that every contribution is valuable and that dreams are the precursors to tangible achievements.

Opinions

  • The author believes that everyone has a unique contribution to make and that this contribution is a source of enduring wealth and satisfaction.
  • Natural talents and abilities are seen as indicators of one's potential calling and should be embraced rather than dismissed.
  • Hard work and dedication, similar to the work ethic of top athletes, are essential in transforming natural talents into exceptional achievements.
  • Overcoming traumatic experiences can lead to a profound sense of purpose, as evidenced by historical figures like Louis Braille.
  • The article suggests that generalists, who have a broad range of knowledge, can offer unique perspectives and bridge gaps between different fields.
  • It is posited that serendipitous experiences and suggestions from others can open doors to new areas of interest and purpose.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of listening to one's inner desires to contribute and nurturing those desires, whether they arise spontaneously or are deliberately cultivated.
  • The article encourages the creation of one's own purpose through consistent action and reflection, recognizing that progress may be incremental and sometimes imperceptible.
  • Reflecting on past experiences where one made a difference is recommended as a way to clarify and reinforce one's sense of purpose.
  • The author quotes James Allen, reinforcing the idea that dreams and visions are the starting points of great achievements.

Live With Purpose

2 ways to discover what your contribution is meant to be

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.

Carl Jung

For most of us, finding purpose makes life worth living. It creates wealth that can never be taken away. Living with purpose gives us a reason to get out of bed every morning and leaves us feeling content as we lay our heads down on our pillows each night. Though, many of us find it difficult to focus in on what we are meant to contribute in our lifetimes. Finding purpose is something important, and you can discover yours by listening for your calling or creating yourself.

Listen to Your Environment

What were you born to do? Finding purpose from what comes naturally and in areas which you excel at puts you a step ahead. You may feel the need to deny these skills and abilities because they make you stand out from your peers. Don’t! You were born to be special. Your natural talents are actually just a starting point. They give you opportunities to move beyond the norm and achieve unbelievable success if you are bold enough to embrace that.

Many times in sports the best players not only have the most ability but also the strongest work ethic. They are the ones who show up early and stay late. These players work with private coaches during the off season to get 1% better, knowing that those gains move them from great to all-stars and Hall of Fame level careers. If you are willing to put in the work, you can do that too.

What comes easy for you? There are things you do easily, and often dismissed as not a big deal, that are difficult for others to accomplish. Consider how you can use those abilities to make a difference in your life and the lives of others. Find steps to expand and develop these talents.

What do you like to do? Consider some things you like to do and how you can make an impact through those. Maybe you are like me, a generalist as opposed to a specialist. I dabble in many areas from music to neuroscience with just a sliver of knowledge in a variety of areas. This joy for education helps me to understand situations and people in novel ways that few others see. I can then transfer information I’ve taken from one source and apply it to another. Helping bridge gaps for others.

While traumatic experiences create memories that you would rather forget, you have survived a traumatic experience. As you are pondering why me? Consider what you can do to find a sense of purpose that takes you out of that and into an opportunity to help others who may find themselves in similar situations to your own. Your horrific experience is not the end of your life, just a chapter of it. Now discover what comes next and unlock the amazing powers that have been growing inside of you, waiting for the opportunity to be utilized.

Such was the case with Louis Braille, who lost his sight at the age of three. Frustrated by the lack of written knowledge available to those that could not see, he invented the Braille writing system by the age of 15. Despite the system not being utilized in his lifetime, he continued to perfect it for uses in music, science and mathematics, textbooks, popular writing and correspondence. His system is still used around the world today as the de facto international written communication standard for the blind.

You may be like Louis Braille, finding the strength and purpose in your life through survival. Look those life altering experiences in the face. Then find the courage to make a difference in your life and the lives of others. If you are finding it difficult to surmount those experiences, take a deep breath and do what you can to put the past behind you. What’s done is done, it’s history. Focus on today, and how you can build yourself a brighter tomorrow.

If you have been fortunate enough to find talent and purpose through a serendipitous experience, such as a friend’s suggestion to try a new activity, or perhaps you stumbled on a fresh idea that has meaning for you in a video, article, or class take the time to deeply explore these opportunities and the life changing effect success in one of these areas could have for you. This is how I got started in writing. A friend suggested I try writing for an audience, and it has given me a way to share my ideas and experiences with more people than I could have ever imagined. It’s possible that you are being guided towards a life changing contribution.

Above all, listen. Regardless of how it got there, a desire to contribute is sprouting inside of you, and it is up to you to discover and nurture that.

Create Your Own Purpose

If you have difficulty finding purpose in your life through listening to your environment and past experiences, you can manufacture it. Consider how you want to contribute and go for it. Take action every day or week, no matter how small. As you make progress, you will gain momentum. That force will help you through the slow times when you feel like your contributions are insignificant and a waste of time. They are neither. Sometimes the steps and success are visible and rewarding, and other times it’s just a grind.

As you work to make contributions, take some time to get the bird’s-eye view. Stop and reflect on your journey. That will help you understand the next few steps forward. Don’t be afraid to readjust your methods and goals. With the clearer vision you have after you have gotten down the road a bit, you can chart more effective future steps.

The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.

James Allen

Reacquaint yourself with those experiences where you felt you had made a difference, even in the smallest of ways. Then focus on how you can continue to have an impact by taking action one step at a time. In these ways, your life will have a conscious purpose.

Keep up with my writing and other projects — Sign up here

Purpose
Lifehacks
Value Creation
Contribution
Make A Difference
Recommended from ReadMedium