Please Don't Give Up

I’ve been talking a lot about finding your purpose lately and as usual, I probably have over simplified it; I tend to do that with stuff. But I know this; those who succeed in achieving their purposes and dreams always have one common characteristic. They never give up. 

 There have been many times I have felt like giving up.

 If you are struggling, perhaps this might be of some encouragement.  Here are a few thoughts.

There is No Perfect Time

If you are waiting on fulfilling your purpose until the conditions in your life are just right, chances are you’ll be waiting a long time. There is no perfect time to do something. It’s one of the secrets of success to know this. Looking for the perfect time is just an excuse to procrastinate.

Instead of giving up, continue from where you are with what you’ve got. In six months, you can either have gotten closer to your dreams or be exactly in the same place that you are today.

Never give up just because you think the time isn’t right.

Trust that You Will Find a Way

Sure, everyone wants to see the entire route and pitfalls before they begin their journey. Trouble is that the ideal route to your goal doesn’t exist. This is because no one has ever traveled the unique path that you require. No one on earth has had the same experiences as you. Therefore, your path to your purpose will be the one that you create.

Instead of giving up, trust that you will find the way as you go along. Never give up on your goals until you are certain that you’ve reached your desired destination.

Find  Answers and Motivation Within

God has put your best answers within you! This might sound funny, but only you and him have been present throughout your entire life. Therefore, no one on earth is better qualified to provide solutions regarding your life than you.

There’s nothing wrong with getting advice and ideas from other people. But ultimately, only you know the best solution for yourself. This idea parallels with the principle of accepting 100% responsibility for your life. Full acceptance of this responsibility will ensure that you never give up.

Thoughts Lead to Fulfillment

There’s a proverb that says, as he thinks in his heart, so he is. The Law of Attraction states that what you think about you bring about. So it’s very important that you choose your thoughts carefully. The L of A has worked so many times in my life in both bad and good ways depending on the focus of my thoughts that it’s impossible to ignore and exciting to embrace. If you stay clearly focused on what you want, you’ll never give up.

Nothing Worthwhile is Easy

I wish that was not true but can you think of a single impressive accomplishment by you or someone else that was easily attained? It’s the difficulty of the climb that makes the view at the summit so magnificent!

Look at what happens to lottery winners and people who inherit large sums of money. Many of them get into serious trouble or go broke. Ask almost any retired person who was successful what they enjoyed most in their life. They would probably tell you that they enjoyed the challenges and the struggles and the rewards for prevailing over them.

Giving up is easy. To never give up is worthwhile. Please don’t give up on fulfilling your purpose!

The Puzzle of Purpose

Finding our life purpose can seem like an elusive undertaking for some of us, like a puzzle with missing pieces!  Don't panic! You are not alone.  Most of us want specifics about our purpose but before we can get those it’s important to ask some questions. So here is a little exercise that will help.

First, take out a few sheets of loose paper and a pen. Find a place where you will not be interrupted. Turn off your phone.

Write the answers to each question down. Write the first thing that pops into your head. Write without editing. Use point form. It’s important to write out your answers rather than just thinking about them. Give yourself less than 30 seconds a question. Be honest, nobody will read it. It’s important to write without editing.

Enjoy the moment as you write!

1. What makes you smile? (Activities, people, events, hobbies, projects, etc.)

2. What activities make you lose track of time?

3. Who inspires you most? (Anyone you know or do not know. Family, friends, authors, artists, leaders, etc.) Which qualities inspire you, in each person?

4. What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.)

5. What do people typically ask you for help in?

6. If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

7. What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?

8. You are now 95 years old, sitting on a rocking chair outside on your porch; you can feel the breeze gently brushing against your face. You are pleased with the wonderful life God has blessed you with. Looking back at your life and all that you’ve achieved, all the relationships you’ve developed; what matters to you most? List them out.

9. What are your deepest values?

10. What were some challenges, difficulties and hardships you’ve overcome or are in the process of overcoming? How did you do it?

11. What causes do you strongly believe in?

12. If you could get a message across to a large group of people. Who would those people be? What would your message be?

Give it a shot! At the very least, you’ll begin to learn one of two things: your true purpose in life or that you should unsubscribe from this blog. We will talk more about this next week.

Death, Life, and Thanksgiving!

Death

Last weekend I attended an old friend’s memorial service. I was deeply touched as I heard from family members and friends about her life. She lived life with a passion to the end. She was true to herself and her calling. I was saddened by her death but reminded again of my mortality and the mortality of others around me. This brings me to life…

Life

There are two days in every week about which we don't have to worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday.

Yesterday has gone -- with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow,

Tomorrow cannot be lived today. But worrying about tomorrow's possible adversities and burdens stops us from experiencing today. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds; but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is as yet unborn.

This leaves only one day: Today. Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities -Yesterday and Tomorrow - that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that overloads us with stress, it is remorse and bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. Live this one full day -- Today.

Carpe Diem! Seize this Day!

Thanksgiving

The death of my friend reminds me to be thankful for her life and the lives of others in my little world. Make sure this Thanksgiving that you express your gratitude for those people who have touched your life. Before you know it, they will be gone and so will you and I. Be thankful for the opportunity you get to make a difference in this world. It’s never too late to begin living our life with a purpose and passion.

"We gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying"

- Kris Allen, Live Like We're Dying

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