Living & Working On Purpose

CREATING YOUR LIFE ON PURPOSE: Part 2

"With creators, their creations are like their children. They bring the creations into maturity so the creations can live.... The reason you would create anything is because you love it enough to see it exist."
Robert Fritz -- The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative
Force in Your Own Life

We ended the last article with the observation that just like there is a structure and system for the problem solving orientation (a problem occurs, which you either react to, respond to or some combination), there's also a structure and system to creating.

So, let's see what that structure is, so we can at least have the choice whether to create our lives or simply react and/or respond to the circumstances of our lives.

By the way, if you've been reading Purposeful Pondering Ezine for a while, or if you've read the book, LIFE ON PURPOSE: Six Passages to an Inspired Life, you are probably already acquainted with the structure. I'll give you a hint -- it's in Passage #1.

What is it? It's the __ __ __

The GAP. Now, while Fritz doesn't use that name, the structure he describes is the same. Here's how he outlines it:

1. Conceive of the results you want to create. (I refer to this as the Visionary Reality)

2. Know what currently exists (Your Current Reality)

3. Take action

You see, creators start at the end -- with a Visionary Reality of what they intend to create. It's really hard to create anything until you know what it is you want to create. I know that sounds so obvious but I can't begin to tell you how many people I've worked with that really don't know what kind of life they want to create.

I have to admit there have been plenty of times in my own life that I wasn't all that clear. Maybe even clueless. How about you?

Yet, that is where creators start, by getting clear what they want to create.

Ok, so how clear does the vision need to be?

Crystal clear is nice...but not always required. I've often been asked when I first founded Life On Purpose Institute did I have a clear and detailed business plan or did it just kind of grow organically. My reply -- Yes, both. I did have a pretty clear picture of what it would look like and at the same time like many of our creations; it's taken on a life of its own.

And so can your creations, including your created life.

Next time, we'll look at steps 2 and 3. In the meantime, I invite you to try this:

Step into the future. Don't worry about how far into the future. But imagine in this future you've known your life purpose long enough and you've allowed it to shape your daily life long enough that your life is clearly a reflection of that purpose. You've been creating your life long enough that you can honestly say that you're living on purpose.

What is your life like?

What is the experience of living a life that is true to your core values, that exemplifies your vision for what is possible, that reflects who you truly are, and is bound together by Universal Love?

What work do you do in this future that is consistent with your purpose?

What are your relationships now like?

What ways are you expressing your life purpose in your community?

How do you express your purpose at play?

And don't worry if your first cut at this isn't all that clear. "In the creative process the degree of clarity is not the standard of measurement to use," writes Fritz. "As long as you would recognize the result if you created it, it is adequately clear."

Have fun with this... Because creating is our natural gift and it's meant to be FUN.

Creating Your Life or Reacting/Responding to the Circumstances

“When you are solving a problem, you are taking action to have something go away; the problem. When you are creating, you are taking action to have something come into being; the creation. Notice that the intentions of these actions are opposite... Most of us have been raised in a tradition of problem solving and have little real exposure to the creative process.” Robert Fritz from the Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life

As Robert Fritz points out in this opening quote, there's an important distinction between creating our lives, and problem solving through our lives. It's one of those distinctions the absence of which leads to much struggle and suffering.

Many people, I'd even say most people, aren't creating their life but are instead dealing in one way or another with the circumstances of life. You could say there are two orientations that we can come to about life:

Reactive/Responsive Orientation where life is made up of a constant flow of circumstances that we either react to or respond to. These circumstances usually occur as problems we, and we either become good as solving or responding to them, or we’re constantly thrown by them so we react.

Many of us have become very good problem solvers. However, no matter how good we may become at responding to the circumstances/problems, we're still stuck with the problems being the primary force shaping our life.

But there is another possibility, shifting to a Creating Orientation where life is an ongoing opportunity to create what’s next. And just like there is a structure and system for problem solving, there's a structure and system to creating.

And we'll explore it more fully in our next installment. In the meantime, I invite you to 'purposefully ponder' these questions with ruthless honesty:

1. Am I creating my life or dancing (effectively or ineffectively) with the circumstances of life?

2. What would become possible in my life if I committed to creating my life?

3. What role might knowing my life purpose play in making this shift from dancing with the circumstances to creating my life?

If you want to get a jump start on this last question, join me on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 2 pm Eastern time for our newest fr.ee Telesampler: Winning at Life's Challenges.

Register in only a minute at http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/telesamplers

Every life has it challenges. What challenges are you facing in your life? Are you dealing with any of these?

Will 2008 Be On Purpose or a Repeat of 2007, 06, etc.

I love the enthusiastic energy that the New Year brings to us. The opportunity to start afresh in many ways, not just joining a fitness center (something I did the day after New Year’s Day), not just balancing our nutrition, having more fun in life ... All those are important, sure, but how about this New Year being a time to bring a deeper sense of meaning and purpose to your life.

Maybe even to finally, once and for all, clarify your life purpose — to know beyond a shadow of a doubt why you are on planet Earth, and to begin the joyful process of designing your life to be a true and authentic reflection of that purpose.

But how to begin? Are we stuck with the ol’ “trial and error” approach. You know, the one that can take 30, 40, 50 or more years, and can lead to unnecessary angst, anxiety and more than its share of blind alleys.

There is another way — a proven, systematic, spiritually based, and practical way that thousands have already used to first clarify their true, Divinely Inspired Purpose, and to then learn the tools for designing their life to be a reflection of their purpose. For the past 12 years, it’s been known as the Life On Purpose Process.

"After years in the mental health field including graduate school and ten years of practice, I think the Life On Purpose Process is more effective than any other psychotherapeutic tool I have learned in the profession." Maryanna Bock

This Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 at 2 pm Eastern time, I will facilitate a fr.ee, fun and interactive “sample” of the Life On Purpose Process as we explore the **6 Passages to Life On Purpose,** and you are invited to participate.

Register in just a minute by going to http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/telesamplers

Of course, one of the purposes to the Telesampler is to introduce you to the Life On Purpose Process so you can determine if the whole Process would be of value in bringing more purpose, passion and prosperity to your life. And at the same time, it’s my intention that the class be of value whether or not you are led to experience the whole Process. Who knows, perhaps this will be just the catalyst you need to have 2008 be your best and most on purpose year yet.

Register online at: http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/telesamplers

By the way, if you’ve already attended one of our Telesamplers, our next LIVING THE FULFILLED LIFE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM that guides a small group of people through the entire Life On Purpose Process is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, February 6 at 2 pm Eastern time. Full information and online registration is at: http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/lfl. It’s shaping up to be a very good class. All it’s missing is YOU!