Another tool for finding purpose:
Using truth, love, and power for the project of "finding your purpose"
Noticing that flow will be present in purpose is a good point, since that covers the principle of intelligence from Steve's truth, love, power model (note: when I say truth, love, power, I refer to the triangle--the fact that you use those core principles to make up all 7 principles; don't just focus on truth, love, and power--just those three--in isolation... unless that somehow works for you).
If I was actively trying to find or discover or create my purpose, I'd use truth, love, and power (the triangle; all 7 principles) on the concept of purpose itself. I'd look to what's true for me, as well as what seems 'true' in reality. I'd use love to connect with the concept on a deep level, communing with myself and others, asking the question "what does purpose really mean to you?" I'd use power to stay focused and to connect with my actual desires when it comes to purpose. And so on.
That would surely give me some sort of pretty good understanding of what a purpose is and maybe even how to find it. Then I'd take those ideas and use the truth, love, and power triangle within those ideas.
E.g. To give you an example of using TL&P within the scope of an idea--in this case, a specific method--whenever I do planning now, I use the 7 principles as headings, although I intuitively dive into whatever principle I'd like to write about and connect with; I find it not very effective to try to "slot" the contents of my intellect and emotional intelligence into a fixed method; I prefer to use method to give it structure, but ultimately, have the initial, original expression be primary. For me, much of what I do now is very intuitive, and, by using TL&P, very holistic and inclusive. I find I can no longer honour myself and the idea of growth unless it's all-inclusive and holistic; my entire being needs to come along for the ride.
That's what Steve means in
the interview I linked to when he says this:
Quote:
Hunter: Let’s say that we have a particular problem we want to solve, like saving money to send our kids to college. [...] Is the idea that we need to understand how to correct misalignments we have with the core principles, and then it will be easy to work out a solution to a specific problem?
Steve: Essentially yes. But it’s not just about correcting misalignments. The goal is to bring parts of your life into ever greater alignment with truth, love, and power. But for optimal results, this must be done in a holistic, across-the-board manner.
For example, as you proposed, imagine that you want to save money for your kids’ college education, and you find it very difficult to do so. Maybe you look at the big picture (truth), and you realize you can’t afford to send your kids to a very good school. But your desire is to be able to provide them with such opportunities, and this means a lot to you (love). However, you feel you presently lack the ability to fulfill this desire (power).
[...] You know what you want, but you lack the ability to get it. Why is that?
This is where we must broaden the application of truth, love, and power, and look at your life more holistically. Perhaps your lack of focus and discipline (power) is holding you back from advancing in your career, and this is depressing your income. If you could become more disciplined and focus, perhaps that would be enough. So what is keeping you from achieving this? Maybe the truth is that you feel uninspired by your work (lack of love). Or possibly you just don’t have the energy to advance because your health habits are poor (misaligned with truth).
When you apply the truth, love, and power model to your life as a whole, you’ll be able to discover the real problems that hold you back from growing and fulfilling your desires.
|
Most people, myself included, fail to grow--actually get results and make decent, meaningful forward momentum--because they try to solve the wrong thing by focusing on the "branches" instead of the roots. If you chop off a branch without addressing the roots, it'll just "grow back" (however "grow back" might end up manifesting). Or, as Steve says in Hunter's interview: "A major stumbling block in solving tricky life challenges is looking for the solution in the wrong place." (I highly recommend that interview; it's really good. Hunter secretly asked many of the questions I would have asked Steve. Hunter is sort of like another version of me, he just uses the Myers-Briggs framework instead of the strengths-theory framework.)