Living & Working On Purpose

Exchanging Our Gifts with Love or Lack

"And a merchant said, Speak to us of Buying and Selling.
  And he answered and said: 'To you the earth yields her fruit, and you shall not want if you but know how to fill your hands.
  It is in exchanging the gifts of the earth that you shall find abundance and be satisfied.
  Yet unless the exchange be in love and kindly justice it will lead some to greed and others to hunger."  From The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran


I find it interesting how Spirit provides the perfect topics to explore.  For example, this week I found my copy of The Prophet on my book shelf and opened it to this passage.

It felt timely since recently Ann and I have been talking about 'buying and selling,' and how much of it in our Western culture seems to not come from love, but more from the fear, lack and struggle we know as the Inherited Purpose.

This exploration on buying and selling started with my exposure to the "Pay What You Can" approach of commerce, as advocated by Tad Hargrave, owner of Radical Business, who I was introduced to by my coach, Mark Silver of Heart of Business.  While I prefer to think of it more as "Pay What Works," whatever you name it, the concept is...well, rather radical...at least by our Western standards.

It goes like this -- take part in a product or service, enjoy it, get a real experience of its value and worth, then at the end, pay what you truly feel it's worth based on the value you've received and what works with your particular financial situation.

So far, I've heard of restaurants that are structured this way, as well as some music companies.  Will it catch on?  Time will tell, but today I want to share why we recently decided to experiment with this approach with our first Living & Working On Purpose TeleRetreat offered on a "Pay What You Can Basis."

And I invite and encourage your input and feedback here by posting your thoughts and experience with this concept.

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Pay What You Can & the No Committed Soul Left Out Policy
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About a year ago, when we saw (and felt) the economic crunch really hitting hard, I felt guided to create a new financial policy -- the No Committed Soul Left Out Policy -- which simply stated is:

"Anyone who truly feels called to our work (programs and coaching services), and feel that we can be of service to them in living a more purposeful and meaningful life, will not be denied those services due to monetary or financial constraints. We will make every effort to find a way that will allow them to participate in our work while continuing to be financially responsible as an enterprise."

And so, when I was introduced to PWYC, it resonated and felt like it might be in alignment with our approach and philosophy...especially if it was an 'exchange in love and kindly justice.'

While we're still in the midst of this experiment, I'm hopeful.  It feels so much in alignment with our Life On Purpose perspective and philosophy.

It does, however, take a bit more thought, dare I say purposeful pondering, on the part of the participants to sort out what truly is the 'right price' for them.  So, here's one way to go about finding that 'sweet spot - right price.'

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Finding the Sweet Spot in Pricing
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Here’s one way that I learned from my coach, Mark Silver, to make such decisions that's called the “right price exercise.”

STEP ONE: Connect to the true essence of yourself. For those who have gone through the Life On Purpose Process this would equate to their Divinely Inspired Life Purpose.  But if you haven't yet clarified your true purpose,  it's still possible to make that connection to source in other ways.

Once connected, close your eyes, and think of a starting monetary amount you feel would reflect the value you received, starting off at the low end.  Just as an example, that may be $50, $75 or $100. It’s just a starting point.  Consider that amount for a moment, then when you’re ready increase it a bit, say by $25 or $50.  As you slowly move up, feel how that amount registers for you.  Remember, stay connected to your spiritual essence as do the exercise.

At some point you’ll reach an amount that feels ‘just right' -- the sweet spot -- for when you go above that amount it will feel off -- not in alignment with the value.

STEP TWO: After finding that ‘sweet spot’ amount, look to see what form and schedule of payment would work best for you. You may be comfortable putting that amount on your credit card, or writing a check for it, etc.

Or you may realize it would work better to break that amount into several smaller monthly payments, etc.  Look to see what will work for your particular financial situation.

Of course, these steps can be modified for the particular situation and purchase you're engaged in.

For sure, the "Pay What You Can" or "Pay What Works" approach is a grand opportunity to practice trusting...trusting others, trusting ourselves and trusting Divine Spirit.  And that may be the most important lesson of it all.

Let me know your thoughts on this topic. Do you think this idea will catch on? What's the upsides and downsides you see?  Where does this make sense and where wouldn't it work? 

Building Your Life On Purpose Upon the Ground of Gratitude

Purposeful Point:  The 'ground of gratitude' is the foundation from which to launch any true creation -- i.e. Anything you want to manifest in your life will be brought into your life more easily and more magnificently if you start by being truly and authentically grateful for exactly what is in your life right now.

So, let me elaborate on this purposeful point just a bit.  I know for much of my life the process of creating what's next in my life was more motivated by the perception that something was wrong and therefore needed to be changed.  This is the old paradigm of problem solving vs. true creating, and as Robert Fritz points out so well in his book, The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life, problem solving, even creative problem solving isn't creating.

He writes: "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 the intentions of these actions are opposite."

And one of the soundest ways to avoid dropping into the 'creative problem solving' approach to life is to start by being grateful for your present reality exactly as it is. (Can you imagine Michelangelo looking at the huge block of marble that would later be carved into the masterpiece, David, and saying to himself, "Oh no, this will never do. That marble is all wrong?")

So, let's look at an example that I've been engaged with for awhile and that prompted me to write this article, because I want to make my own shift from changing something that's wrong to a more authentic form of creating and manifesting what's next in my life.

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To Be or Not to Be...Debt Free
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Like many Americans, Ann and I have accumulated a fair amount of debt over the years, both consumer debt in the form of credit cards and an equity line of credit, and also long term debt in the form of a mortgage on our home and on two investment properties.

I think it's important to make a distinction between consumer debt and long term debts, As Robert Kyosaki, points out in Rich Dad, Poor Dad consumer debt is 'bad debt' while long term debts like mortgages, especially mortgages on investment property, is 'good debt.'

So, Ann and I have decided we want to be debt free, starting with our consumer debt and eventually also eliminating our mortgages.

But where I've started this "Purpose Project" hasn't been the most empowering perspective.  First, I've not yet tied it closely to my purpose, so it's really more of a goal at this point, and not a particularly empowering one.  It just seems like it's going to take a lot of hard work and something we 'should' do to be responsible. (And if that sounds like it's coming from the fear and lack of the Inherited Purpose...well, you're right.)

Still, there's something underneath all this that still calls to me, so let's see how I might go from creative problem solving with my Inherited Purpose mostly running the show to truly creating this as a Purpose Project that will enhance life, starting by answering this question:

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What's There to Be Grateful for About Being in Debt?
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After all, being in debt is bad, and the more in debt you are the worse off you are, right?  So, what's there to be grateful about? And with that question I start building a foundation of gratitude. I'm grateful:

* That we're not more in debt than we are.
* That we're able to meet our monthly credit card payments.
* That Ann handles most of the bookkeeping on all this so I don't have to.

So far, these are not the most empowering things to be grateful for but they are a start, and they are true for me. So I continue.  I'm grateful:

* That we have good credit so during this time of economic downturn we can tap into our credit for unexpected expenses (like when our renters in one of our investment properties lost both their jobs for several months and couldn't pay the rent.)
* That we were able to use the equity in our home to buy one of the investment properties at under market value, thus creating significant equity in the property.
* That we have the convenience of using credit cards for handling some of our monthly expenses that we then pay off each month, and that most of the consumer debt was not use on frivolous spending but on building our spiritually based business and for our family's needs.
* That we're able to do what we both love to do as life coaches that gives us the means to pay off portions of our credit card payments each month. Also, having built good credit has allowed us to use that credit to supplement our business during low cash flow times or times when we need to invest in the business without needing to go through the process of acquiring a small business loan.
* That Ann and I have over the years become more knowledgeable about how to manage our money so that we're not in the tough economic situation that many others find themselves.
* That even with significant credit card debt, we enjoy our lives and what we're building together.

Okay, these are all pretty much off the cuff, and I'll probably continue to add to the list, but I think you can begin to see the point.  The more I look for what I'm grateful for, the more I find, and the more empowered I begin to feel about the present reality.

And you don't need to stay 'on topic.'  You can expand on this by being grateful for things not directly related to that which you intend to create. For example, I'm grateful:

* For my life and business partner, soul mate, mother of my child, and best friend, and that they are all the same person -- Ann.

* For the miracle that my daughter is, and for her wonderful gifts and talents and how much she has taught me through the years, especially about love.

* For knowing my life purpose with crystal clarity and the close and growing connection to Divine Spirit this gives me.

And now we're cooking.  I can feel my energy growing as I become increasingly present to the many blessings of my life even in the face of having some consumer debt, and the debt begins to disappear as an issue or problem and becomes just a part of what's so about my current reality.

And from that 'ground of gratitude' I can begin to create a new possibility and a new Purpose Project, which I'll save for another time and article.

What are you grateful for that could serve as the foundation for building your life on purpose?  Why not share it on the Living & Working On Purpose Blog and make it more real for yourself.

What if Life is a Conversation?

We all know the power of perception and perspective.  How we view something has a lot to do with how we experience it.  A few years ago while involved with Landmark Education, I was introduced to a distinction that shifted my perception about life in a simple and yet dramatic way.

It goes like this:   ***  What if life is a conversation? ***

When you consider this perspective, what do you see?  Well, one thing I see is that conversations are malleable.  They can be easily shaped and formed by our intentions.  So, in considering life as a conversation, life itself becomes more malleable than we may have thought before trying on this perspective.

Another thing I see when I consider life to be a conversation, I'm called to be more responsible about the conversations I generate and perpetuate. Consider this bit of a conversation from "How Capitalism Will Save Us" by Steve Forbes in Forbes Magazine dated November 10, 2008:

"The world is flush with cash. It's frozen because of fear, but the cash is there."

Now, I don't know about you, but most of the news (which is simply conversations) that I've been hearing and reading since November hasn't been talking about the world being flushed with cash, and it isn't talking about it being frozen with fear, but is instead it's coming from a fearful place thus perpetuating the frozen condition.

Isn't it time for us to hold the media accountable for the conversations that it's generating in the world? After all, look how powerful the media is in today's world. Oh, we know that drama and fear sells newspapers and draw us into watching the news shows.  But what many of us have not realized (including those involved with the media) is that reporting fear-based news ends up creating a reality of what we don't want.

Here are a couple simple examples of how we could begin to shift our focus away from what we don't want to more of what we do want.  When the news reports on the unemployment figures, instead of saying that unemployment is up to 8%, why not report that the current employment level is 92%?

Rather than talking about the chance of rain being 30% why not report that the chance of dry conditions is 70%?

It's time to realize that it's impossible to just report on what's happening. That the very act of reporting influences and creates what's likely to happen next.

I know, it's not all that simple, and yet...if life is a conversation, then it's not as complicated to create what we want as we may have thought in the past.

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Personalizing this to Your Life On Purpose
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Okay, we've looked at this from a global perspective. Now, how can you integrate this powerful and empowering distinction into your personal life to bring a deeper sense of purpose and meaning to it?

Here is a 'Call to Action Assignment' that I believe you will find valuable if you take it on this week:

Take a 'conversation inventory' for a week.  Keep a journal or notepad with you for this next week and write down the various conversations that you participate in, making note of the ones you actively generate and those that you participate in with your listening and/or speaking.

At the end of the week, place a check next to the ones that you feel enhance life (yours and others) and an X next to those that detract from life.

And I challenge you to be so bold as to share your insights and results right here.

The Power of Purpose Projects to Shape & Enhance Your Life

During the last class of our advance Path of Mastery Program one of the participants shared how powerful working on her Purpose Project for the past 6 months had been in shaping and enhancing her life.

It was an ah-ha moment for me as well, since I realized that I've taken that fact for granted, in part because creating Purpose Projects have become a way of life for Ann and me over the past 13 years.

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Purpose Projects: The Bridge Between the Nonphysical and the Physical
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So, what is a Purpose Project and how do they add a quality to life that is often missing in simply having a goal to work on?  Well, I think the main distinguishing feature is that Purpose Projects come from and are an expression of your true Self -- your life purpose and who you are as a spiritual being.

Like goals, Purpose Projects start as an idea -- a combination of thoughts and feelings, and are therefore part of the nonphysical part of the Cosmos.  However, a Purpose Project thoughts and feelings arise from the very essence of who one is as a spiritual being -- from that place of Universal Love and Unity, from that experience of abundance where you're able to stay in the flow of life.

Of course, like a goal, if that's where your Purpose Project stays, then they have little effect in shaping your life, but when you really get in touch with a passion-filled Purpose Project idea, you're inspired to take action, and when you start taking action, you move the Purpose Project from the nonphysical to the physical realm of life.

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Two Examples of Purpose Projects Shaping Life
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If you've been reading this ezine for even a little while you know that Life On Purpose Institute is a major Purpose Project for both Ann and me. Even though we have different life purposes, we both find ourselves greatly empowered to express those purposes through our efforts at Life On Purpose Institute.

This is another distinguishing feature of most Purpose Projects, especially the ones that will grow and flourish in the world -- other people can 'find themselves' empowered to express their own life purpose.

(We're in the midst of a conversation with our business coach how we can reinvent Life On Purpose Institute in such a way that even more people can be included in fulfilling our vision...but that's for another article. <G>)

Another more recent Purpose Project, is the iJango opportunity.  While on the one-hand it feels a little 'out of character' for me to be involved in a company that has chosen to market itself through network marketing, I keep being excited about it because I see it as a viable way for people to, not only express their life purpose, but also to fund their other passion-filled Purpose Projects. (For more on this, go to my blog at: http://www.lifeonpurposeblog.com)

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How to Tap into the Life Shaping Power of Purpose Projects
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At this point you may be asking yourself, "But what if I don't know my life purpose?  Does that mean I can't create a Purpose Project?"

Well, yes and no.  I won't lie, it's far easier to create powerful and life-enhancing Purpose Project the clearer you are about your life purpose.  At the same time, there is a way to get started and at least get a taste for what's possible.

Start with this question, taken from the Prime Your Passion exercise found in the Life On Purpose Process:

If time, money, energy and talent were unlimited what would I do and WHO WOULD I BE that would serve the world, my loved ones and myself?

Okay, I've expanded on the question a little bit to make it more powerful and purposeful.  Ponder, journal and ask others, especially Divine Source this questions and be willing to be delighted and surprised where it leads.

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A Gift from Life On Purpose to Get Your Started
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I realized as I wrote this article, that I wanted to give everyone who read it a gift that I feel will support you in creating powerful and empowering Purpose Projects, so I created a special report that you can download here.

It's available as a Microsoft Word file so you and write up your Purpose Project using your computer if you so desire.  And if you'd like to share what you create, I'd love to read it. Simply send them to admin@lifeonpurpose.com.

Avoiding Buyer's Remorse - A Life On Purpose Perspective

How many times in the recent pass have you bought something that you felt you really wanted at the time, only to regret buying it a few days (or a few hours) later?  It happens so often that we've even named it -- buyer's remorse.

Amber, Ann and I were talking about buyer's remorse the other day on our way to Unity Center.  Amber, who has a new job, commented that she really enjoys having her own money so she can do things without needing to come to us.  She then said, "But I often don't like actually spending my money."

As we discussed this further, we distinguished that while she often experiences buyer's remorse after a purchase, there are other times that she feels no remorse and actually enjoys the buying experience. 

Of course, I was listening to the conversation through the Life On Purpose Perspective, and here's a few thoughts I'd like to share with you -- ways to avoid or minimize buyer's remorse.

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When Value and Values Come Together
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As the conversation continued, I asked Amber and Ann when were there times that they most strongly felt buyer's remorse and other times when there was little or no 'after regret.'

Amber shared that recently when she bought her iTouch, she felt a strong case of buyer's remorse because she realized after buying it that the primary motivation for buying it was to 'look cool.'  She looked forward to being able to show it off to her friends, and hear back, "Wow, that's cool. I wish I had one, etc."

"But that only lasted for about a month," Amber went on, "And then I started realizing how many hours I had to work to be able to buy it, and I'm not sure it was worth all the effort."

"When do you not regret spending money?" I asked.

"Well, I don't need the fanciest clothes.  I'd rather find good bargains either at a thrift store, or clothes on sale, so I have more money that helps me experience more of life, like going to a play with my friends."

Hummm, I thought,  where good value for the product or service meets with the person's values meet, buyer's remorse is minimal. Like Amber, we all enjoy getting a 'good deal' because we feel that what we paid is in balance with the value we receive.

So, here are a few questions to help you along with making 'purposeful purchases:'

1. In what way is this purchase in alignment with my life purpose and how will it support or assist me in living true to my purpose? (If you aren't clear about your life purpose, substitute your core values and you'll be in the ball park.)

2. What is the primary motivating force that's shaping my desire to make this purpose?  Is it my ego (or Inherited Purpose) trying to fill some void (I'll be more popular, viewed by others as cool, etc.) or is it truly an expression of who I am?

And I often find a little 'purposeful patience' to be of great assistance. If these two questions raise any 'red flags' for you, why not wait for a couple of days to give your inner guidance a little more time to weigh in. 
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What do you think about today's blog post?  Agree, disagree?  What other ways have you found to minimize buyer's remorse?  How about sharing them with other purposeful people right here.

The Universe is Calling - Will You Heed the Call?

"The soul is like a wild animal -- tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient, and yet exceedingly shy."  Parker J. Palmer from Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

In our last issue I made a distinction between one's life purpose and a calling or vocation.  As you may recall the Life On Purpose Perspective offers that your life purpose is more about who you are as a spiritual being and what you came here to this life to be and to experience, while a calling or a vocation often has more to do with what you choose or are lead to do as an expression of your purpose.

Of course, on one hand anything that you do in life can be enhanced when it's 'poured' into the context of your life purpose.  For example, several years ago with Life On Purpose Institute was just getting off the ground, Ann and I shared a job as the 'kitchen supervisor.'  What the job mostly entailed was a lot of cooking and cleaning and very little supervising.

When I viewed the work as an expression of my life purpose to be of service, live simply and stay spiritually serene, it was a wonderfully enriching experience.  But on those days I went with the fear, lack and struggle of my Inherited Purpose shaping my life...well, the work was tedious and boring.

Since working in the kitchen wasn't really 'in the beam' of my life purpose it took more work and a higher level of intentionality to keep creating the work as an expression of my life purpose.

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So Choose Callings that are "In the Beam"
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The other side of this paradox is that there does appear to be those activities that are more in the beam of your life purpose, often in part because they optimize the use of your God given talents and abilities, or tap into those things you just love to do and are good at.

These are often where you will find your calling or vocation.  It may be a particular way you love to express yourself -- writing, teaching, mentoring, gardening, sailing, mountain climbing.  It may also involve a particular area of life or subject like anything to do with nature and helping to sustain it, and of course, it may be some combination of ways to express yourself around a particular topic or area.

For example, I love the threesome of coaching, writing, and speaking particularly when they revolve around the subject of life purpose. There may be times that I find myself in a bit of a writing slump, or times when I want to cut back a bit on my coaching, or occasions when I'd rather not deal with the travel that often comes with speaking, but fortunately in over 13 years I've never had all three things happen at the same time.  I think a big part of that is because the underlying passion about purpose remains true.

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Determining Your Calling
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One of my favorite quotes about vocation comes from Frederick Buechner:

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” 

Of course, knowing your life purpose clearly and succinctly can be a valuable aid in guiding you to your soul's calling -- how your soul optimally would like to express itself.

In lieu of that or to assist in that, it's important to create a safe place for your soul to show up.  The continuation of Parker's Palmer quote that I started this article with goes like this:

"If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is go crashing through the woods, shouting for the creature to come out. But if we are willing to walk quietly into the woods and sit silently for an hour or two at the base of a tree, the creature we are waiting for may well emerge, and out of the corner of an eye we will catch a glimpse of the precious wildness we seek."

So, here is a simple process of honing in on your calling...or at least to get you started in the right direction:

1- If you know your purpose, state it up front either in writing, verbally or both.  Be present to not just the statement but the experience that's captured by the statement. 

Not sure about your purpose? Then start by examining your core values -- what matters most to you.  (More about identifying these in a future issue.) Let these core values serve as your guiding light.

2- Set the intention for your inner guidance to direct you to what's next for you in a primary or significant way you plan to express your purpose or devote energy to your core values.  This step further opens the channels to Divine Spirit.

3- Be ready to be surprised.  Guidance may come in many different forms -- an inner voice, a feeling in the gut to take a particular action, a serendipitous connection with someone, so stay alert. And last but far from least:

4- Follow the Joy -- follow the 'deep gladness' that let's you know you're on the right path.

Okay, it's your turn to offer your thoughts, feedback, point of view.  Post your comments right here.

Is there a Place for Destiny in Your Life?

I recently read an article online that asked the question, "Where will you be in 25 years?" then invited me to first consider where I was 25 years ago as an way of introducing the role of destiny in our lives. I found the exercise interesting and worthwhile so I thought I'd share it with you.

Where were you 25 years ago in 1983?

Me, I was 35 years old.  I'd graduated from veterinary college 9 years previously, and I had purchased my own veterinary clinic (a former out patient clinic of a larger hospital) for the rip roaring price of one dollar, which was about all the savings I had at the time. The rest of the purchase price, if memory serves some $26,000 was financed at the local bank. Not long after, the loan that started at 12% shot up to 19%.

Lucky for me at the time I didn't know a business could go bankrupt, so I kept working at building my practice and trimming my personal needs, which wasn't too difficult because I was single.

And I didn't have a clue what my true purpose in life was.  In fact, I wasn't even asking the question.  If someone had stopped and asked, I'd probably would have answered, "Sure, I know my purpose.  It's to be a vet."

I know some of you reading this probably weren't even born in 1983, or you were so young that you don't have any memories of that year, but for those who do, it's not a bad idea to spend just a few minutes to reflect upon the ground you've taken over the last 25 years before reflecting on the next 25 years.

What ground have you taken in that two-and-a-half decades? Are you where you thought you'd be at this point in your life?  Better?  Worse?  In what ways?

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Where Do You See Yourself, 25 years from Now?
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The year will be 2034.  I will be 85 years old. My daughter, Amber, will be about to turn 42, and my 'second child,' Life On Purpose Institute will be 38...that is if we all make it another 25 years, which none of us know for sure.  Still, it's worth reflecting upon the question, "Where do you see yourself in 25 years?"

Here's what I see as I ponder upon this question:

*  That 25 years is just about twice as long as I've so far devoted to Life On Purpose Institute.  Of course, I may not be quite as vigorous in the next two and a half decades, but still, that's a pretty significant chunk of time to devote to 'creating a world on purpose,' as well as being dedicated to living true to my own life purpose.

Which brings me to another point, the main point of this pondering -- destiny.  Do I believe in it?  Do I believe in "a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency" as the dictionary defines the term? Is destiny and living true to one's life purpose the same?  I think not. I do believe in the power of living inside of a particular context for an extended period of time.  I've already seen how powerful of an experience that can be in shaping my experience of life as well as my character.

But to say that I'm on a predetermined course of events...I think not, least not exactly.  As I continue to carve away the parts that aren't the true me or the larger Self, and thus refine my sense of my true self or being, I see how that sense of my true self or purpose further shapes my actions in the world, which then goes on to shape my results and outcomes.

But are those actions or outcomes pre-determined by some higher force we call destiny?  Humm, I sorry, I just don't get that.  It feels too confining -- to much like how life occurs when we're being shaped by our past -- by fear, lack and struggle.

I find more and more as I endeavor to live an authentic life on purpose, that freedom is one of the greatest pluses or benefits.  Freedom to be who I truly am and to express myself in ways that call most loudly to me -- what I call 'in the beam' activities. Others often refer to these "in the beam" expressions of life purpose as a calling or vocation. Writing, especially about life purpose (including these weekly ponderings), as well as coaching and speaking in public on the subject are all in the beam for me and part of my calling or vocation.

But how do you go about determining what your calling is?  It was actually one of the questions one of my favorite clients asked me during a coaching session even as I was in the process of writing this article.  And so we'll explore that question from a Life On Purpose Perspective next time.

In the meantime, I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts on where you see yourself in 25-years as well as your views on destiny.  Post them here by clicking on comments.

Is Your Career On Purpose or Way Off Purpose?

Moving from a Boring, Life-Draining Job to Work You Love and that Feeds Your Spirit

"I think most of us are looking for a calling, not a job. Most of us, like the assembly line worker, have jobs that are too small for our spirit. Jobs are not big enough for people."
Nora Watson       

In a survey conducted by Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. one of the highest ranking life issue or challenges was job dissatisfaction. It appears that people are working more and enjoying it far less. Few things in life can be more frustrating or stressful than being in a job you hate yet can't seem to leave without creating even more stress and frustration by not being able to pay the bills.

Talk about a Catch-22 situation. Do you presently find yourself in a boring, life-draining job (or recently downsized from it)? But every time you explore getting another job, everyone expects you to do essentially the same kind of work. And the jobs that look most exciting, you don't have any previous experience or training in? Do you feel trapped in such a vicious career circle?

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It's Time to Put the Horse Before the Cart Where It Belongs
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I'm going to suggest a shift in perspective. I'm suggesting there's nothing wrong with your life and not even anything wrong with the way the system is set up. Instead, perhaps you simply have the cart before the horse. 

I honestly believe that the reason so many people are unhappy with their jobs is because they started working without first knowing who they truly are and why they are here on Earth.

In other words, they don't know their life purpose.

After all, most of us had to start work pretty young in life, many times decades before wondering about the purpose or meaning to our lives. You may have first gone to work as a teenager for a little extra spending money without thinking much about what kind of work you'd be doing.  You just wanted some way to make enough money to do the other fun things in your life.  But, before you knew it you had to go work to make a living -- to pay the bills, and put food on the table. It's likely the notion of finding work that nurtures your soul and spirit didn't even flash across your radar screen.

And before you knew it you were trapped in the vicious circle of a deadening job.

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A Case of Mistaken Identity
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Or you might have thought your work was your life purpose, which is another common trap many people fall into. Take my dentist's father for example:

When my dentist learned that I was a life purpose coach, his first remark
was, "Boy, my father could sure use you." He went on to explain that his
father had been a prominent and successful physician in the community for
close to 40 years, but recently had to stop working due to his health. "He's
miserable. He feels like he has no purpose in living."

This can also happen with the roles you play in life. What happens when you mistakenly think your role as parent is your life purpose and then all your kids grow up and leave home? Your purpose moves out with them.  The empty-nest syndrome often results in a very empty feeling as well-- the emptiness of not having any real meaning and purpose in your life.

So, I’m suggesting that your life purpose isn’t what you do, nor the roles you play in life.  But, if you've been thinking this way, you have simply had the cart before the horse, and you're likely to stay stuck in that boring job that doesn't nurture your spirit.

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But What if You Don't Have a Clue What You True Purpose in Life Is?
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You may be asking yourself, "Well, if my life purpose isn't what I do then what is it? If it's not my job or career, and it's not even the roles I play in life, like being a good parent, employee, or spouse -- than what is it?

Those really are key questions -- questions which start you traveling down a new Purposeful Path. And once you're on the path it's inevitable that you will eventually gain clarity of purpose as long as you remain on the path and engage in the process.

Of course, this process often takes years, even decades, especially if, in the meantime, you remain stuck in work that numbs the heart and mind.  All of which is complicated further if you're surrounded by a bunch of other people caught in the very same trap, who may be so resigned about it, that they aren't even fully aware how trapped they are. 

Sound familiar?

The good news is that waking up to what's been missing is a key first step. But where do you go from there?

The next step really depends how ready, willing and able you are to proceed.  It's likely that if you've read this far, there's something about what you've been reading that resonates with you.  It may even have upset you a bit as you've realized how long you've allowed yourself to be remain trapped.  If so, the questions really are:

"Are you going to do anything about it?  If so, what?"

I'd like you to try on one other thought.  I'd like you to consider that it's no accident that you and I have been connected in this way.  I'd like for you to consider that perhaps, just perhaps you were guided to read this article so you could begin to answer those last questions. And here is why I'm saying this.

About 13 years ago, I started down my own purposeful path, after having spent the first 40+ years caught in my own purposeless trap that led me to the brink of suicide. 

My new path eventually led me to clarifying my own life purpose.  You see, an integral part of my life purpose is the possibility of all people living purposeful, passionate and playful lives of service.  What I mean by that is that I truly feel it's possible and paramount for each of us to know our life purpose. When we do, that purpose becomes fueled by our passion for living it fully and playfully in the service of others. 

Does that make sense to you?  Does that resonate with you at a deep, soulful level?  If so, I'd like to offer several ways you can move forward along your own purposeful path to clarifying your live purpose so you can live true to it.  By the way, it is also the path out of the vicious career trap.  How do I know?  Because, not only have I followed that path, but I've been privileged to work with thousands of others, serving as their guide along the Purposeful Path as a life purpose coach.

It is to this that I have dedicated my life. It's why I founded Life On Purpose Institute.  It's one of the major ways I express and fulfill on my own life purpose. So, here are 3 ways you can move yourself forward along the path.  We'll start with some 'dip you toe in the water' steps and move on up to a 'taking the plunge' steps.

Dip Your Toe Option #1:  The Life On Purpose Process that is the foundation upon which all the LOPI work is based is thoroughly outlined in the book, Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life. 

Dip Your Toe Option #2:  If you want further support in clarifying your life purpose, consider one of the versions of the Life On Purpose Home Study Course (which includes a copy of the book and much more). Pick the version that would best serve you.

Take the Plunge Option:  If you know that it's really going to take more support than either of the two choices above ('cause you have books and home courses on your shelf that you've never completed), then consider putting a Life On Purpose Coach in your corner.  For further info and to schedule an initial coaching consultation to go one of this pages:

Learn more about my coaching services here

Learn more about Ann's coaching services here

Oh, and there is one other option:  Do Nothing.  Of course, this is always an option, though as you have probably already figured out, taking no action won't have you proceeding down the Purposeful Path.  It will simply keep you stuck where you are. (And how's that working out for you?)

So my question to you is this: will taking no action really serve you? Remember, the common definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. That includes  not taking action over and over. So, I encourage you to take some action -- some small or large step for yourself. If you aren't sure what the next step should be, give me a call at (828) 697-9239 or drop me an email at admin@lifeonpurpose.com. I'm here to be of service, and to assist you as you travel down your Purposeful Path. So, give me a call.

Liked the article?  Hated it?  Let me hear from you with your comments and/or questions right here.

All is In Divine Order Even When it Doesn't Look Like It

"All is in Divine Order and working perfectly even when it doesn't at first glance look like it.

"Take this economic crisis -- while it may not match our preferences for how we'd like it to be, it's the perfect outcome to expect when you have a small number of ego-centric people hungry for power and run by greed making the decisions and policies while everyone else casts a blind eye of ignorance and complacency."  Brad Swift from meditation

While participating in John Randolph Price's 40 Day Prosperity Plan that includes meditating each day and then journaling, the above statement flowed from my pen.  Upon reflecting on it later, it felt true and worthy of expanding upon.

For years I've used the affirmation, "All is in Divine Order so I flow with what's flowing,"  especially during those times that it didn't look or feel like Divine Order was present.  Now, I see that those times may have gone against the grain of my preferences, but were consistent with the thought and emotional patterns that preceded the times.

And if we are not awake and aware, it is easy to perpetuate the undesired conditions through worry, doubt, fear, and lack-based thinking. The realization that "all is in Divine Order" is a perfect point from which to pivot to a new reality, perhaps even to a reality that is both in Divine Order and more consistent with our preferences, especially when those preferences are aligned with the greater good of all concerned.

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Applying it to Daily Life
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While this may be an interesting observation and thought process, how do we apply it to our everyday lives?

May I suggest the following:

1. Notice a time or situation that may not appear to be in Divine Order or that doesn't match with your preferences. (If you can't find a good one to work with, let me know.  I have plenty to share. <G>)  Maybe it's something as simple as rushing around to get yourself to work, then walking out to the car only to find one of your tires is flat.

2. Now, you might ask, could a flat tire that's going to make you late for work be in Divine Order?  And that's exactly what I invite you to do -- ask this question of your Inner Guidance.  See if you can ask it, not from a place of upset and frustration but with an authentic sense of curiosity.

"Wow, this sure doesn't look or feel to be in Divine Order. So, I'm curious, how might this be in Divine Order?" In other see if you can move to a stance where you're authentically engaged that it IS in Divine Order and your connection to the Divine will help you discern in what way that's true.

3. Then be open to receiving input. As possible answers come, check in to see which feel most empowering, and don't be surprised if there's more than one, since often Divine Order is ready to serve us in multiple ways.

Here are some possible responses to the above scenario:

"This is God's not so subtle way to suggest I slow down and pay more attention. The car was pulling to that side yesterday on the drive home. If I hadn't been in such a rush, I would have known to check the tires."

Or

"This is God suggesting to me to learn to be more comfortable in reaching out for support from others.  I know I could still make it to work on time by simply calling Joe to swing by and pick me up. Now, the question is, "will I allow another to support me like that?"

Or

"This is Divine intervention suggesting to me that today is not a day to work. That I've been putting in a lot of overtime and it's time for a bit of rest and rejuvenation time.  I'll go inside and call AAA to have the tire fixed and take a personal day for me. This way, I'll be much more effective in my work upon returning."

Remember, to look for that feels most aligned with your values most life enhancing, 'cause in this grace-filled world of Divine Order, life is rigged in our favor.  Another focal point to include is what points you to the 'greater good of all concerned.'  Follow that guidance and see where it leads.

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Your Turn to Engage in this Query
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You agree, disagree, think this article was filled with powerful insights or 'plooey?' (whatever that is.)  Let's talk about it right here. Post your comments and/or questions.

You Know Your Life is On Purpose When....

I've been sharing some snippets on Twitter and Facebook on how you know when your life is on purpose and when it's off purpose, so I thought I'd share the short article that appeared in Purposeful Pondering Ezine that started it all in April of 2004. Wow, five years.  Time flies when you're getting old.

Hi Purposeful People.  We're introducing a new format for Purposeful Pondering and look forward to your feedback on it.  Every other week the ezine will look pretty much like it has, with one or more full length articles intended to instruct, inspire and provide you with new insights for
living on purpose.  The week's in between we'll have a shorter article like this one with the common theme of:
 
You Know Your Life is On Purpose When...
Or
You Know Your Life is Off Purpose When...

For example, you know your life is on purpose when you awake in the morning, you lie in bed for a few minutes until you realize the many exciting projects and activities you have on your schedule that day. So many of them are such a sweet and pure expression of your life purpose, are so in tune with your vision for the world, so true to your core values, and so consistent with who you truly are, that even though you don't have to get up yet, you jump out of bed.

Rather than being yanked out of bed by a blaring alarm clock or prompted by the fear of what might happen if you don't get out of bed, people on purpose are inspired out of bed by their own lives.

Are you living your life on purpose?  Are you inspired out of bed each day? If not, what's stopping you?  After all, it's your life.  Why not make the most of it, starting today.