Living & Working On Purpose

The Catch-22 of Living on Purpose

"The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates

"I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun.
All I really got to do is live and die,
But I’m in a hurry and I don’t know why."
~~ I’m in a Hurry by Alabama

These two quotes point to the dilemma facing many people today. We want a life that's worth living, but we're in such a hurry, rushing around that we don't take the time to examine our life even long enough to figure out why we're in such a hurry.

It's one of the greatest obstacles people face that keeps them from living a purposeful and meaningful life. TIME -- well actually the lack of time. Well, to be completely honest, it's the lack of taking the time to examine their life, which is a little different than not having the time.

We all have the same amount of time, right? 24 hours per day.

But many of us have filled so much of that time with 'off purpose activities' that it appears like we really never have time to become clear about why we're really here, and without becoming clear about our life purpose, we have no hope of ever designing our life to be a reflection of our purpose.

"Off purpose activities?" What are they, you may ask.

Well, these are the activities that we feel we have to do, should do, must do, gotta do....all of which stem from either fear, a sense of lack or a need to struggle to survive.

And then there's a second set of "off purpose activities" -- those things we do to recuperate from all the shoulds, have-tos, musts, etc. You know what I mean. Vegging out in front of the TV is probably one of the biggest ones. Others might be drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, popping tranquilizers, sleeping pills, or other downers, and excessive working. Yep, we're right back to frenetic doingness as one of the great 'off purpose activities.'

Now, don't get me wrong. I love work. My work is one of my favorite ways of expressing my purpose. But if you're working, working, working so much that you never take the time to rest, rejuvenate or reflect upon your life, well, then it has become an off purpose pattern.

So, who's got time to even ponder the questions -- Why am I here on planet Earth? What is my divinely inspired purpose? Take a class, read a book, be a part of a seminar series to finally, once and for all, answer that question, and then learn the tools that can be used to design a life on purpose?

Let me get back to you on that....as soon as I have the time.

But even as you make the excuse, you know in your heart that it really would make a real difference IF you did take the time, but where to begin? After all, it seems like the first thing is to get your life in order. To get that job that pays better so you don't have to work so many hours, or to finally get your house and office organized so you're not wasting so much time looking for the lost items you put away somewhere safe so you wouldn't lose them.

And you wonder why you feel like a dog chasing your tail...or is it you're chasing your TALE -- the tale you keep telling yourself about not having the time.

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

I realize there are many people out there who truly want to live a more purposeful life, and that's why you subscribe to Purposeful Pondering Ezine and/or check into this blog. But so many are so busy that there doesn't ever seem to be the time to slow down long enough to reflect upon what would bring a deeper sense of purpose and meaning to your life

So, how to start? Well, after months of pondering upon this dilemma, I've come up with something I truly believe will make a difference.

One of my favorite principles is captured in the old riddle -- "How do you eat an elephant?"

Answer -- One bite at a time.

So, how do you bring a deeper sense of purpose to your life? One small step at a time. And what are the steps to take. Well, why not use a proven approach that has already assisted thousands to bring such clarity of purpose to their life.

And as of today, I'm excited to offer you the LIFE ON PURPOSE VIRTUAL HOME STUDY COURSE as a simple, effective, and flexible way to once and for all, clarify your life purpose one bite at a time.

Your schedule too busy to fit in a class, even a teleclass series? I understand?

Budget too tight to hire a coach at the moment? I understand.

With the LIFE ON PURPOSE VIRTUAL HOME STUDY COURSE, you take small steps towards clarifying your life purpose from the comfort of your home... on your time schedule... from anywhere in the world.

Small steps. A little bit here, a little bit there. Record your favorite TV show so you can skip through the commercials then use the time you save to take one small step... then another and another.

"But what if I get stumped along the way?"

Support is as close as your computer with SERENITY -- a place to rest, restore and rejuvenate the Spirit... And get your questions answered as you travel the Purposeful Path. And during our initial launch we're including a limited number of Charter Memberships to Serenity - our online community, when you make an investment in your life on purpose with the VIRTUAL HOME STUDY COURSE.

Ok, check in with your heart. What does it say? Does it say: "Yes, you know it's time. You've used up all the excuses. It's time to step onto the Purposeful Path."

Well, now it's easier than ever. Just take a look by going to http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/course.

What do you have to lose? More important, imagine all that you have to gain. Take control of your life by taking control of your time... One small bite at a time.

Come on, click on over to http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/course . Take that next small step for yourself. You really do deserve it.

THE BOOK THAT FINALLY ANSWERS THE QUESTION: What is my personal purpose in life?

You know the book I'm talking about, right? LIFE ON PURPOSE: Six Passages to an Inspired Life. But rather than tooting my own horn, I thought I'd let a few other people toot it for me.

Below are just 3 of the over 20 positive reviews that people have been kind enough to share on Amazon.com but first let me make you a special offer.

FR.EE WORKBOOK

If you feel called to invest in this book and order it from Amazon or another source on the web, if you send in your email receipt, I'll send you a fr.ee workbook that includes all the assignments that are in the book so you won't have to write in your book (unless of course you want to.)

Send your receipt to admin@lifeonpurpose.com and we'll zip the workbook to you in a PDF ebook format.

Now, what are others saying about LIFE ON PURPOSE: Six Passages to an Inspired Life?

It's not about doing, it's about being, August 15, 2007
By M. Noble (Denver, CO) -
Do you live life in a state of perpetual overwhelm, running from one task to another, always doing, doing, doing, but feeling like you're getting nowhere? Do you ever wonder why you live the life you do, and how you could make it better? Life on Purpose, Six Passages To An Inspired Life is a valuable tool to help you get on the way to living a more conscious, fulfilled life.

It's available at: http://lifeonpurpose.com/amazonlopbook

Accidentally on Purpose, November 20, 2007
By H. S. Norton "Finding Answers"

By accident I came across this book, looking for marital advice I came across a web site that had really nothing to do with what I was looking for and one of the recommended readings was "Life on Purpose" so I bought it. What could it hurt?! It is great! I have started reading and each time a question comes up or a test is given, what ever it is, I pull out a blank sheet of paper, write it at the top and answer it but if I have trouble answering the question I finish reading and come back to my piece of paper. Then I add it to a three ring binder and am creating a workbook of sorts that I can go back and refer to. This helps you see your progress and gives you a "paper trail" so you can see where you are and where you came from. It has really opened my eyes and makes you think and see things from different angles than you normally would. I recommend it. What could it hurt?

It's available at: http://lifeonpurpose.com/amazonlopbook

The Most Purposeful, Practical and Effective Guide!, November 18, 2007
By Ricardo Flores-Clar (San Antonio, TX) -

It's fairly easy for many people to agree that we all came to this world for a purpose. That we have a divine reason to be here, with our specific set of gifts, to put them at the service of the world and all those we come in contact with, and transform our lives to be a reflection of our divine purpose. The big question is "HOW?" Dr Swift's book - "Life on Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life" is a practical and inspirational guide that walks you by the hand through the process of first reaching clarity on the why are we here question, and then on the second stage, how to make our life a reflection of that divine reason.

It's available at: http://lifeonpurpose.com/amazonlopbook

CREATING YOUR LIFE ON PURPOSE: Part 3

"Knowing what currently exists is another skill. While this may sound deceptively simple, in fact most of us have been encouraged to view reality with a particular bias.... One of the most important abilities creators have is the ability to be objective about their own creations."

In Part 2 of this series, we explored the structure of creating that I term creating the Gap, and that powerful creators start by envisioning what it is they want to create. I refer to this as a Visionary Reality of what's possible.

The next steps are:

2. Know what currently exists (Your Current Reality)

3. Take action

I have found that one effective way to get a better handle on what your current reality is is to look back from the future you're creating to identify what resources you already have that can be called upon in the creative process. For example, here's a partial list of what resources Life On Purpose Institute already has to bring our next Visionary Reality into existence:

* In business for 12+ years with web presence and a reputation of integrity.
* Ann and I have over 40 years of combined experience and talent as coaches and 17+ years as aligned purpose partners
* Fully functioning current website with an even better and more visitor friendly site on the way
* Ann and Brad capable program leaders
* Pool of other Life On Purpose Certified Coaches to draw from
* Proven systematic Process that works to help people live on purpose
* 2 offices with computers and other equipment for running the show while keeping overhead low with room to expand as needed.
* Talented and dedicated VA to handle many of the details.
* Life On Purpose Book published in May of 2007 with many rave reviews
* Living & Working On Purpose radio show
* Living & Working On Purpose blog which is also syndicated on Amazon.com

And that's only about half the list and it's growing, but that gives you a good idea what I'm suggesting. Look from your future, let's say where you're living fully on purpose, back to the current reality to see what resources contributed to your life on purpose. You may be surprised how long your list is.

And in the process you'll no doubt identify some resources that are missing that were they present they'd contribute to your Visionary Reality, so make a second list of these. Together, these two resource lists become the building material for the bridge that will take you from your current reality to your vision of what's possible.

Here's a partial second list:

* Refined business plan and marketing plan/strategy
* Broader reach to Mainstream America
* Develop Seasoned Coaches Development Program Curriculum and include in marketing plan
* Train 2-4 LOPC Coaches to lead LFLFP, POM, and eventually CDP & SCDP
* Major publisher (Hay House or better) for future books in Series
* Literary agent to represent works in USA and abroad
* Expansion capital to fuel the growth

And so, what about that third step -- taking action? Well, it's the process of building that bridge, utilizing these amble resources wisely and resourcefully. And as you do so, you'll probably find there are other resources that you already have, particularly inner resources like perseverance, patience, and courage that you'll want to add to the appropriate list. You'll also identify additional missing resources that you'll want to attract to you, so add them to that list as you go.

I know one that I could add to both lists -- the ability to take risks. I have that ability. I don't think I could be an entrepreneur without it and as I begin to create what's next, I also recognize that this is a 'resource' to develop further along with a deepening of my faith.

But that's ok, because the Life On Purpose theme for this year is:

2008 -- a Year of Transformation
Living in Faith: In the Mainstream, In Momentum & In the Money.

Remember, if you're not deliberating, consciously and purposefully creating your life then your life will be 'created' by the circumstances. An in this default mode, before you know it your life becomes dealing with one circumstance after another. Don't miss out. Choose to be the author of a masterpiece -- your life on purpose.

New Happenings

So many positive and purposeful things are happening to assist us in sharing the vision of Life On Purpose, some of which I can't even share about quite yet, but here's what I can let you know about:

1. THE LIVING & WORKING ON PURPOSE Radio Show airs this coming Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 5 pm Eastern with our first 'official guest' Mary Manin Morrissey. What an incredibly gifted, grounded and gracious lady with such an important message on love. Listen in as we talk to her about her book, No Less Than Greatness: The Seven Spiritual Principles That Make Real Love Possible. Listen in at http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/radio.

2. I've been invited to participate in a life changing teleseminar series entitled MASTERS OF THE MIND, though I have to be honest there have been times in my life that I've felt like my mind was the master. More coming very soon on this. We'll also be using this opportunity to announce a brand new 'purposeful product' that I believe will help many people to bring a renewed sense of purpose and meaning to their life.