An inner conviction to help others
Are you likely reading this article on a mobile device or computer with multiple applications open?
In fact, you’re probably thinking about the next thing on your to-do list or contemplating a host of other things, without actually being there.
We are all guilty of it. Gone are the days of being attentive to the task at hand, as our mind has become saturated with stimuli. We believe that if we don’t take care of a million things at once, we are not productive.
And sure, we blame technology for our blindness, but remember, behind every technological device there is a user who controls it.
For this reason, I don’t believe in the narrative that technology is to blame because we should be in control. When it becomes a weapon used against you, then it rules your life.
It is easy to deviate from what is meaningful and be dragged into the den of despair without being able to find your way out.
You can get distracted by petty circumstances vying for your attention if you don’t place a high value on what’s meaningful. Purposeful action arises with the intention and inner conviction to serve others or contribute to the world.
Author Victor J Strecher states in Life on purpose: how living for what matters most changes everything that a strong purpose is tied to your understanding of the world: “A great purpose in life stems from values that reflect an understanding of the world.”
You are guided to help the community or play a greater role in the lives of others because your purpose aligns with your core values.
For example, if you are affected by misconduct in the workplace, your mission might be to raise awareness of misconduct in the workplace. Personal experience prompts you to change the culture of inappropriate behavior. Your mission is aligned with your values and your intention to serve and alleviate the suffering of others.
Distracted from your purpose
I can identify with a mission that aligns with my values. I lost my father to illness decades ago. I remember in the years that followed I asked myself a simple question that led me to where I am today: “Why do some people get sick and others are healthy?”
I’ve been on a journey of discovery that spans a decade, learning why some people get sick while others thrive. I wrote a book on the subject and created a training program to support the book.
I learned many things along the way and helped countless people to heal and transform their lives, because they too were looking for answers.
“Purpose in life has to do with what we value most deeply, and life with purpose is concerned with whether we live for what matters most,” explains Victor J. Strecher.
Compliance is found through purposeful action, not by meeting deadlines or having your head sunk on the phone. These things distract you from your purpose and keep you entertained, neglecting what is important.
I have yet to meet someone who is not an app developer or a person involved in the tech industry who is really satisfied spending hours a day on their mobile device.
I do not mean to berate technology, but I highlight how much time is wasted on meaningless tasks that prevent it from taking action with a purpose. I realize that many people are scared to death to pursue their purpose, let alone realize that they have one.
Purpose and purposeful action can spring from the same intention that aligns with your core values. Stealing time on a mobile device is of no use to anyone other than the device manufacturer and the phone company whose profits it finances.
Motivational author and speaker Brendon Burchard says in High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become Like This: “Often times, the journey to greatness begins the moment our preferences for comfort and certainty are overridden by a greater purpose that requires challenge and contribution.”
Get out of your comfort zone and discover an intention that moves you in the smallest way. People believe that action with a purpose is aligned with a greater intention to change the world. It may or may not be. There is only one way to find out; take the first step.
Imagine your better future self
I was watching Ice T being interviewed about Jimmy Fallon recently and was drawn to a phrase that he lives with.
Said, “Don’t lead life, ride life.”
While it is a simple axiom, it underscores the need to flow with the currents of life. They are disappointed when it doesn’t go as planned and suffer the consequences.
“Don’t guide life, ride life.”
For Ride Life focus on action with a purpose because when you find something to move your boat, every minute becomes useful, even if you are struggling at the beginning. For every writer and artist who passes, being creative far outweighs working on a job they loathe.
“Without courage, the adventure to genius and greatness can never begin,” acknowledges author Sean Patrick in Awakening your inner genius.
I have coached many CEOs and senior executives over the years who say they regret not pursuing their passions or owning their own business. Instead, they are paid to pursue the mission of the company rather than focus on their own. However, they are tied to this way of life in order to support their families and live a certain lifestyle.
Let me be clear, I do not condemn corporate culture in any way. These people are brave and courageous, yet some (not all) reach a point in their lives where regret makes itself felt.
I am opposed to putting your life on hold and not taking bold risks due to limiting beliefs or social norms. These are traps for you to adapt and limit your potential.
Brendon Burchard says, “Be more intentional about who you want to become. See beyond your current circumstances. Imagine your future better self and start acting like that person today.”
My passion for writing, speaking in front of audiences, and training amazing people stemmed from a question after my father passed away. That question ignited a desire that led me on a quest and then became my calling. I often tell people that I would never have dreamed that this life existed.
I remember talking to Year 10 students (equivalent to Freshman – High School in the US) late last year about how to discover their passion and purpose. A student stood up and asked how he could find out what he is good at. My answer: “Fail often, learn fast, and never give up.”
Sports psychologist Stan Beecham’s message captures the essence of life’s narrative: “Being happy is not the purpose of your life. Being fully alive and awake is the purpose of your life. That includes the pain and struggle that is a critical and necessary component of human existence “.
Keep trying until you’ve exhausted all avenues.
I assure you that everything that inspires you has been purposely placed as the seed of potential within you, to serve the lives of others.
