Living & Working On Purpose

Back to School and Back to Life (On Purpose)

It's back to school time and in some ways it feels like back to life, though I have to admit this summer has been both full and fulfilling here at Life On Purpose Institute. Want to add spice to your summertime? Launch a new book and hire a great publicist to promote it.

For those who have been following my publishing adventures, you may recall the great review that was posted at Amazon.com from Dave Carpenter which then led to my being on his Exceptional Wisdom radio show. Well the interview was really more of an engaging dialogue and I feel was one of the most fun and worth listening to conversations I've had yet about the book and the whole idea of living on purpose.

The interview is now posted in the Exceptional Wisdom archives: http://exceptionalwisdomradio.com/bio_brad_swift.html

MY APOLOGY to those who were registered for BEING A MASTERFUL LIFE PURPOSE COACH for needing to cancel the teleclass, and the good news is that it's been rescheduled for this coming Wednesday, September 5th at 12 noon Eastern time. If you are either a life coach or considering becoming one, and feel that assisting people to clarify their life purpose and live true to it would be a rewarding contribution to the world, register at:

http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/telesamplers

Life On Purpose Podcast #3: The 6 Passages to an Inspired Life

In this third of our 3-part miniseries on the 6 Passages to an Inspired Life, we'll finish exploring the Life On Purpose Perspective that is a foundational part of Passage #2, and instrumental to making the mental shift so important to living on purpose. It will be helpful to have a copy of the one page handout that's available to download here:

Download LOP6PassagesHandout.doc

Life On Purpose Podcast #2: The 6 Passages to an Inspired Life

In this second of our 3-part miniseries on the 6 Passages to an Inspired Life, we'll begin to explore the Life On Purpose Perspective that is a foundational part of Passage #2, and instrumental to making the mental shift so important to living on purpose. It will be helpful to have a copy of the one page handout that's available to download here:

Download LOP6PassagesHandout.doc

The Author's Cloud: A Moment of Awe

My publicist recently turned me on to LibraryThing.com, so after having her email in my inbox for a few weeks, I decided to check it out. If you're into books like I am you may get hooked by it as I did. It's a slick web site where, once you create a free account, you can enter the books in your personal library. Believe me if that sounds tedious, it really isn't, because due to the magic of the internet, once you enter a title, it searches either Amazon.com or the Library of Congress, both pretty large databases, and almost invariably up pops the book.
In other words, book entry is quick and easy.

And as you add a book, it tells you how many other members have a copy of it in their library. So, of course, one of the first books I entered was my own -- Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life and was pleasantly surprised to find 3 other members own it. (Ok, so one of them turned out to be my VA, but that's ok.)

Then I discovered on one of the other member's page who has my book, The Author's Cloud. Now Jaden has been doing her work, having entered 499 authors, so when I clicked over to her Author's Cloud, there were all these photos of her authors. So, I figured, maybe I would be there, and I was! Surprise, surprise. And as I looked around my photo, I noticed just above me was a picture of Shakespeare, and right next to me was John Steinbeck, and just below me was Mark Twain and Las Tsu, and on that same row was Thoreau. Not half shabby company, huh?

And then a funny thing happened. I found myself moved, deeply moved by this moment in cyberspace. I had joined the ranks of these other authors who had dedicated countless hours of their own lives to sharing themselves through the written words. Oh, I don't know that I'll be remembered as long as any of these that I've shared with you, but then again, who knows. My career as an author is in many ways just beginning, and I don't know what this road has to offer.

But I thank the people who created the LibraryThing and for whomever had the ingenious idea to create the Author's Cloud feature.

Life On Purpose Podcast #1: The 6 Passages to an Inspired Life

I love the internet and the wonderful technologies that allow us to express our life purposes in so many varied ways. I confess, it's not always easy to keep up or to know which technologies to use and which to let pass by but when I listen to my own inner guidance, my connection to Life On Purpose's CEO (Cosmic Enlightened Officer), I'm seldom led astray.

So, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to my newest Purpose Project -- the Life On Purpose Podcast. Of course, since Podcasts starts with a "P" is was an obvious shoe-in that I'd eventually start one, right?

And with the steady growth of MP3 players, I believe it will be a great way for me to reach a larger part of the world, including young people just starting out in life. So, here's Podcast#1, where I explore with Lynn Thompson of the Living On Purpose radio show, the 6 passages of the Life On Purpose Process, which are also outlined in details in my new book, Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life. And I've made it downloadable so you can load it onto your MP3 player and listen to it at your convenience.

Blown Away by David Carpenter's Review

I was blown away this past Tuesday when I went to Amazon.com's website and found the following unsolicited review had been posted the day before:

The Little Book That Can Make a Big Difference, August 6, 2007
By David Carpenter (Atlanta, GA) -
(REAL NAME)

The incredible popularity of Rev. Rick Warren's book on the Purpose Driven Life is proof of just how many people understand the importance of "finding" one's life purpose. Until Brad Swift's thoughtful book, those searching for their life purpose were left with two general pieces of advice on how to find one's purpose: (1) listen to the divine spirit, or (2) watch for the purpose to somehow develop on the road of life. Both are sound approaches, but Swift has developed methodologies to help people zero in more quickly.

Rick Warren's book(s) did a great job of opening minds as to the importance of purpose. Brad Swift's book gives people specific tools to help discover one's purpose. If Brad's book becomes as well read as Warren's (my fervent hope) AND IF READERS DO HIS PRESCRIBED EXERCISES, this book could be a huge contributor to making the world a much better place.

You can read the rest of the review HERE.

(While you're there, if you've read the book, why not leave your own positive review?)

The small mind of my own Inherited Purpose says there's no way a book I wrote could come close to reaching the same sales figures as Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life, after all I don't have the network of churches he has, etc. etc. So what, my true self replies. Why not go for it? So I continue to go for it, and I'm asking for your assistance. Each book that's sold and read moves us one inch closer to a world on purpose. So, here's a bold and audacious request:

Choose your favorite bookstore in each neighborhood near you. Call the store and ask for the buyer. Tell her or him you want to choose a bookstore to refer friends to buy the book, Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life, but want to be sure they always have copies in stock—if she or he agrees to order 5 copies, you’ll refer friends living near their store exclusively to them. Be sure, though, to follow-up—about a week later. The sooner you do this, the sooner the book registers on computers as being in demand, thus stimulating more orders from affiliated stores.

I know. It's outrageous for me to ask you to do this, and I'm asking anyway. Even if just a few of you take this on, it will make a difference. The momentum for this book is building. I'll share another big breakthrough that's about to happen either later next week or in the next ezine.

You can even go to Barnes & Nobles web site and do a search for B&Ns in your area by just plugging in your zip go. The link to go to is HERE.

And it will give you the stores' contact info. Neat, huh?

LAST MINUTE UPDATE: When I shared Dave Carpenter's review with Carol Arnold, my publicist, she went to work to find out more about him, and how he'd discovered of the book. The long and short of it is that I'm now booked on Dave's "Exceptional Wisdom" radio show that airs at 5 pm on Tuesday, August 21st. You can learn more HERE.

MY OFF-PURPOSE PATTERNS AROUND MONEY AND FINANCE - The Saga Continues ...

... with Creating an On Purpose Pattern and a Purposeful Pact

Ok, I've been avoiding continuing this saga of my intended breakthrough around money and finance long enough. After all, we're already well into August, and I'd intended to be practicing a new On Purpose Pattern and Pact by now.

So, here's what I've come up with. The place I found to stand in creating a new pattern was right in the middle of my Divinely Inspired Life Purpose Statement: "a life of mindful abundance, balanced with simplicity." When I reflect on money and finance from there, here's the divinely inspired relationship to money I'm creating:

"Money is simply one form of the infinitely abundant resources available to all of us that is readily available to assist us in the expression and fulfillment of our live purpose."

And the On Purpose Pattern that I am making a Purposeful Pact to practice for the next 30 days is

1. When I first become conscious in the morning, I will lie in bed for no more than 10-minutes and while lying there I will give thanks for the opportunity to live a co-created and inspired life of purposeful, passionate, and playful service, a life of mindful abundance balanced with simplicity, and spiritual serenity. I will then 'count my blessings' of what I am grateful for, and then arise from bed.

(If you're wondering the reason behind this practice, I've noticed that in the past, I've indulged my Inherited Purpose by lying in bed worrying and coming from fear and lack.)

2. Throughout the day, whenever I feel the tightness in my chest that often accompanies the lack consciousness of the Inherited Purpose taking over, or I notice lack-based thoughts, I will strive to pivot through those thoughts and emotions within 10-minutes (max), and during that time will refrain from allowing any of that Inherited Purpose based 'stuff' from escaping from my mouth.

I do solemnly and joyfully swear to make every effort to keep this Purposeful Pact for the next 30-days, starting on August 10 and running through until September 9th. I also commit to sharing with my family and through my ezine and blog, my progress, my insights and any results I notice.

Ok, there you have it. Anyone care to join me in their own Purposeful Pact for the next 30-days. Of course, it doesn't have to be related to money. Pick something in your own life that you're ready to transform, and share it with me and the world RIGHT HERE.

Super Charge Your Life On Purpose Part #3

Ok, here are the last 5 suggestions for super charging your life on purpose by supercharging your Purpose Projects. And remember, you can learn more about Purpose Project including how to create powerful, passion filled ones, by picking up a copy of my newly released book, Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life.

9. Add in plenty of purposeful play. Purposeful playing has a combined spirit of intentionality and playful experimentation. The intentionality adds direction to your actions while the spirit of play and experimentation helps to keep you from getting bogged down by the details or by the need to produce a specific result or outcome. Let your creativity and imagination run free. Here are a couple ways to spark the playful, creative side of you.

Make a brainstorming list: Write down a list of at least 10 to 20 different ways you could move your project forward. Don't worry about how you'd do them or if they even make sense or not. Just let your imagination out of its pen for a while.

Take a break and play with a child: As you're playing observe how free most children are when they're playing. Notice how they often will make up a new rule or ignore an old one if it gets in the way of their fun. How could you bring this spirit of play to your project.

10. Be willing to push on your comfort zone from time to time. While I don't believe in the cultural belief of 'no pain / no gain' I do feel there are times that it's appropriate to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. As I often tell people, coaching is about stretching people, hopefully without causing them to pull a muscle. So, push on your comfort zone once in a while. Call that person you've been afraid to call. Make 5 unreasonable requests in one day just to see what will happen. Pull out all the stops for just one week for the pure joy of it.

11. Align with others with similar visions and values. There is power in numbers and there's supercharged power among people with similar visions and values. A powerful distinction to explore is the competition vs. cooperation. What would be possible for you if you gave up the notion or belief in competition and looked instead from the world of cooperation and collaboration? When you do, you'll start to attract powerful people with common interests with whom you can align. The technology of the Internet is making such alliances even more possible and powerful. With whom could you open a conversation with this week in the spirit of cooperation and mutual benefit?

12. Expand your existence systems. As your purposeful life grows, your structures for holding it all needs to grow as well. Often times I hear people talk about being over committed. It's a common 'glass ceiling belief' that can stop the most powerful person in their tracks. Often it's not that they are over committed, it's only that they've outgrown their existence system that they've put in place to hold their commitments. When you plate gets overly full, sure one direction to go is to cut back. Another option is to get a bigger plate. This means redesigning the support systems you have around you to be able to manage more commitments and projects. Consider this. What if Walt Disney had allowed himself to be stopped by the notion of being overly committed. How large do you think Disney would be today?

13. Create some controversy or mystique around the project. Controversy and mystique of the right kind can draw attention to your project. Be willing to think outside the box a bit. How could you draw the attention of the world to your Purpose Project? What's holding you back? Look for leverage points. It sometimes takes making just that one strategic phone call, or making that one social contact to pop something into gear. What could you do this week to add some spice of controversy and mystique to your project?

14. Act as though it’s already done and live backwards. Known as the "Merlin Effect" this can be a very powerful exercise. Picture yourself 3-5 years out into the future. You've been consistently working on your Purpose Project and you now have the results to show for it. What will your Purpose Project look like 5 years out? Really allow yourself to dream a bit. Let your imagination fly. Now, back yourself to the present, year by year until you're back to the present. You're almost certainly will come up with new ideas you could implement to move yourself forward.

Super Charge Your Life On Purpose Part #2

Ready for some more suggestions for supercharging your life on purpose through super charging your Purpose Projects? Great here's the next set:

(Oh, by the way, for more on Purpose Project including how to create powerful, passion filled ones, pick up a copy of my newly released book, Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life . Ok, now that I'm done with the shameless plug, let's proceed:

5. Focus more on what you want and release any thoughts of lack. The Universal Laws of Attraction and Deliberate or Purposeful Creation states that we attract that which we focus our attention and thoughts on. We also attract most powerfully what we think about with strong emotion and feeling. These laws that govern the universe are non-discriminating and nonjudgmental. If you’re focusing on what you don’t want and then apply a strong feeling like fear or lack, you will get what you don’t want.

So, with your Purpose Projects be sure you’re doing the ‘inner work’ of focusing on what you want to happen and to then infuse those thoughts with positive, powerful and purposeful emotions like love, gratitude, and contribution.

6. Identify one 'self-limiting belief' that's been holding you back and then release it. Create a new belief that will support your life purpose. This step is similar to #5 but more specific. A ‘self-limiting belief’ is simply something that you’ve been focusing on for so long that you now believe it to be true, and sure enough, in many cases it has become true BECAUSE you’ve created it this way by default. The first step, and sometimes the most challenging step, is to identify the belief.

This is sometimes challenging because the beliefs with the most shaping power in your life are often ‘transparent.’ You’re so certain that they are true -- that that’s simply the way life is -- that you don’t even think of them as a belief. So, look first at the ‘truths’ of life and begin to question those, especially the ones that leave you disempowered.

Are you really “not good enough,” or have you just been telling yourself that so long that it appears to be true? What new belief could you create that would empower you and that would be consistent with your true purpose in life?

7. Hang out with powerful people that are up to something. Our environment has a great influence on who we are and the room we have to be. This is especially true of the people we hang out with. If you’re hanging out with chronic complainers, cynics, or people who put you and others down, it’s time to ask yourself -- “Why?” Does this mean I’m suggesting you get rid of some of your friends? Yes! If you’re allowing them to drag you down and keeping you from being who your truly are.

As you’re doing this, use the Law of Attraction by beginning to focus on the type of people you do want in your life.

8. Keep your eye on your own growth and development. Which is another way of saying to remember that your Purpose Project isn't really about the results. You play the game like it's about the results but at the same time it's important to remember that it's really about your own growth and development in living true to your purpose. If a Purpose Project appears stuck, check in to see if you've become attached to the results. It can happen without you even noticing it, and it can sure be suppressive. If so, lighten up and put the purposeful play back in, which leads us to #9.

But you'll have to come back tomorrow for #9 - #14, and it'll be worth it if you do. In the meantime, take some ground by sharing what suggestions are resonating most strongly, and if you're not sure how to implement any of this into your life, ask away. I'm here to be of service.

Super Charge Your Life On Purpose by Super Charging Your Purpose Projects

One of the most powerful tools for living true to your purpose is Purpose Projects. Purpose Projects aren’t like any other kinds of projects you may have done in the past. You know the ones I mean. The 5th grade science project you failed to do until the last minute so you and your parents had to stay up all night working on it and even then it flopped. Or the endless number of projects that are forced down your throat at work.

No. Purpose Projects are fun and engaging because they come directly from your life purpose. And since one of the most most important criteria of a life purpose is that it excite and turn you on, then your Purpose Projects must do the same -- otherwise, they’re not a Purpose Project.

So, if you want to take living on purpose to the next level, create some Purpose Projects in your life. If you’ve already done this, and you want to take your life to the next level again, then supercharge your Purpose Projects.

Here are a few suggestions on how to do this:

1. Involve More People. If your Purpose Project isn’t moving forward with as much velocity as you would like, get more people involved in it. At last count there were some 6,068,210,060 on planet Earth. What do you mean, you can’t find anyone who wants to play with you? Increase the number of conversations you have each day about your Purpose Project and see what happens. Start by making a list of people you know that you haven’t talk to about your Purpose Project or that you haven’t talked to lately. Then set a target of how many new people you will talk to each week for the next month. Also, use Suggestions #2 as you do so.

2. Infuse your Purpose Project with Enthusiasm. The word ‘enthusiasm’ means the breath of God, so infuse your Purpose Projects with inspiration and exuberant energy. Enthusiasm is contagious. Unfortunately, many of us tend to wait to catch a case of it rather than going ahead and generating. You’re the source of the enthusiasm for your Purpose Projects.

3. Give up the need to be in control. Now, this doesn’t mean just drop everything your doing and watch it scatter to the four corners. It does mean letting up a bit on the reins of control that can stifle the most inspiring visionary project. While this sounds quite simple, it’s not always that easy, so here is a useful strategy for letting go.

Remember that your Purpose Project is not you nor is it your life purpose. This is true no matter how pure and ‘in the beam’ the project is. Most people who hold their Projects too tightly, are focusing too much on the results of the project and have forgotten that the real purpose behind creating the project in the first place was so they could live and express their life purpose.

4. Up the ante with your intentionality. Yes, there is a definite difference between control and intentionality. With control you’re most likely to be focusing on the results of the project while with intentionality your focus is on the experience and essence of the project. Another way of saying this is that you’re focusing on the essence of what your soul is wanting to experience.

For example, while the physical form of your project may be to create a healing and wellness retreat center (that’s the ultimate result you’re playing for), the reason your soul is wanting this is so that it/you can experience a serene, calm setting in nature. In this case, increase your intention to experience serenity, calmness and nature and you will attract more of what will ultimately lead to your retreat center OR something even better. Stay unattached to the form your project ultimately takes.

Stay tuned for the remaining 10 suggestions for super charging your life over the next few days. And in the meantime, let me know which of these makes the most sense to you and how you plan to use the suggestion to enhance your life, OR post your questions here as well. I'm here to be of service.