Before you begin your next project, treat yourself to a centering guided meditation with this two-minute focus on Akimboo.com
by Denise Salem
Have you ever asked, 'Why in the world am I here"? Do you know what gives your life purpose and meaning?
If you don’t have a clue, don't be surprised. I feel purposeless when I can't figure out what I want to do with the week ahead of me, let alone the rest of my life.
When I'm not sure where I'm going, I often find it helps to reframe my question to: What am I passionate about? What work makes me lose track of time when I'm involved?
If you’re on a quest to find the calling that makes you look forward to getting up each morning, it will take work. It requires deep self-examination and more pesky questions, but finding your purpose is well worth the payoff for moving into a meaningful and healthy life.
There's an upside to the work of purpose finding: the answers you’re seeking are already inside you. You simply need to cultivate what’s begging to be unleashed!
Why Is My Purpose Important?
According to the Blue Zones Project, a national well-being initiative, knowing your life’s purpose can add up to seven years to your life because:
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Your purpose provides motivation behind everything you do
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Your purpose allows you to draw upon your energy and potential
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Numerous health benefits arise from knowing your purpose, including mental sharpness, increased well-being and realizing a sense of power and hope
In my personal work with our community’s Blue Zones Project, I learned the process of purpose is always evolving, and sometimes results in surprising, delightful and unexpected discoveries.
Prior to my Blue Zones Project involvement, I had no idea I would come to love helping people find their purpose. I had other ideas about my own calling, and none of them panned out. But, once I started witnessing the “light bulb” moments among the purpose groups I facilitated, I saw how connecting to purpose empowers so many parts of our lives.
Your Role In This Journey
The journey toward connecting with purpose can be approached by
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asking yourself challenging questions
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being honest when searching for the answers
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considering new ideas and ways of thinking that may surface as the result of the process
If you’re determined to find greater purpose in life, you’ve reached the beginning of your journey right here. It’s time to take your seat at the table. Let the unfolding begin.
And expect the unexpected.
Denise Salem is the author of The Dancing Bowl, and facilitates groups in guided Zen-style meditation sits. She can be reached at 712-255-8061, 712-259-5931, or dsalem@cableone.net.