Living Your Life Purpose (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Living Your Life Purpose

[James81]

Ha, I'm not really interested in the product itself, but I did want to mention that while I was reading this article, I found another expansion of my own purpose: To be my voice. (Goosebumps all over on that one because the thought that's been drifting in my head all week as I struggle to get into class discussions...not because I don't want to speak up, but, rather, because I want to speak up but can't seem to find the pause before someone else gets called on...or I'm not projecting myself in a way that the teacher notices me.)

So, that's awesome. I originally thought that my purpose was just one concept, but interestingly enough once I got that base purpose (exploration), the whole process has been a random expansion of purpose that is growing on it's own...and it gets more and more inspiring the more it expands. Right now I'm at: To explore, to teach, to be my voice. Like McDonalds, I'm lovin' it.

Also a synchronicity for me because I've been toying with a way to help others find their life purpose. Perhaps I *will* check out this program just to see what it's all about.

[James81]

I'm actually really surprised that this post didn't get more replies.

Actually, I've noticed a trend around here, actually. I consider finding a personal purpose to be the absolute most important thing a human being can do for themselves. If ever there was a pre-requisite to person development, it would be "purpose."

Yet, the posts that talk about purpose tend to get skimmed over and/or do not garner much discussion. It's just amazing to me that such a powerful part of personal development actually doesn't get much discussion.

If there were a rooftop on these forums, I'd be standing at the top of it shouting it: THE ANSWER TO A LARGE MAJORITY OF YOUR PERSONAL ISSUES CAN BE TRANSFORMED THROUGH PURPOSE!

Cause, when it gets a hold of you, you can help but be transformed and shaped by it. It's the fertile soil of personal growth.

[supertom]

Life on purpose by Brad swift is the best book on the topic bar none, it also does something that's usually avoided bu other books like and was avoided by me, that was finding out my "fear based purpose", which is hard to accept but true, it had been pulling my strings my entire life and all my actions and thoughts.

Over time my real life purpose has changed but i can say the "beam" of it is still the same but my understand of my life purpose has deepened or i am seeing a different face of that beam.

I agree with james81 a lot of that can be transformed most problems people face are from the fear-based purpose. Just by finding your purpose and aligning with your problems will dissolve.

A life purpose isn't something you do, its a Being that shapes what your experience and actions, you can still go for your old goals just the experience and why will have been transformed. Its not something you have to search far and wide for, its just right under where your standing, you just have to dig

[asleep]

Originally Posted by James81

I'm actually really surprised that this post didn't get more replies.

Actually, I've noticed a trend around here, actually. I consider finding a personal purpose to be the absolute most important thing a human being can do for themselves. If ever there was a pre-requisite to person development, it would be "purpose."

Yet, the posts that talk about purpose tend to get skimmed over and/or do not garner much discussion. It's just amazing to me that such a powerful part of personal development actually doesn't get much discussion.

If there were a rooftop on these forums, I'd be standing at the top of it shouting it: THE ANSWER TO A LARGE MAJORITY OF YOUR PERSONAL ISSUES CAN BE TRANSFORMED THROUGH PURPOSE!

Cause, when it gets a hold of you, you can help but be transformed and shaped by it. It's the fertile soil of personal growth.

It's such a powerful thing that it prevents most people from even approaching it. I agree that you're really not doing much in the personal development department unless you've worked passed finding your purpose. Everything else is relatively easy, IMO.

[spacecadetglow]

Synch! I just asked yesterday while I was deep in meditation for God to show me my life purpose. I never really saw what all the fuss was over this, but if Steve and James are talking about it, there must be something to it. then this blog post shows up...

Something in me is resisting purchasing the program and doing the exercises, though. It sounds like a lot of work? I want this process of discovery to be organic, not engineered: "ok, today I will formulate my purpose." It's just that I'm traveling for the rest of the summer and then going to grad school, which will almost certainly kick my ass. In a good way, of course, but my point is im too busy to do a program.

One nice thing I got out of this was emphasizing being over doing. I really jive with that.

I suppose that's why I want to find my purpose through being, not doing. seems like my prayer is getting answered. It has to do with being.... I wonder what the universe will show me next!

[machoman]

Originally Posted by James81

I'm actually really surprised that this post didn't get more replies.

Actually, I've noticed a trend around here, actually. I consider finding a personal purpose to be the absolute most important thing a human being can do for themselves. If ever there was a pre-requisite to person development, it would be "purpose."

Yet, the posts that talk about purpose tend to get skimmed over and/or do not garner much discussion. It's just amazing to me that such a powerful part of personal development actually doesn't get much discussion.

If there were a rooftop on these forums, I'd be standing at the top of it shouting it: THE ANSWER TO A LARGE MAJORITY OF YOUR PERSONAL ISSUES CAN BE TRANSFORMED THROUGH PURPOSE!

Cause, when it gets a hold of you, you can help but be transformed and shaped by it. It's the fertile soil of personal growth.

I guess thats because people in general are not living their purpose.

[Asten]

I suspect the idea of purpose gets passed over by people, because it likely is the most important part of personal development and is proportionally difficult to face. It's a hard concept to embrace at first, and then you have to, you know, put work into it. I use to pass it over all the time--wasn't ready to go that deep. I had to focus on other areas of personal development to get myself in a place to even go near the idea of "purpose." It was scary before.

I'm saving up for something very specific, but the second I'm no longer doing that, I'm getting that program (and I'm thinking about doing it now anyway... no time like the present, right? ).

It looks really good and this post was a synch for me. I realized recently until I understand my purpose I'm going to feel like I'm drifting. No amount of PD is going to help that if that PD doesn't include clarifying my purpose. I also recently started embracing "being" instead of "doing," so that was another synch.

Originally Posted by James81

I found another expansion of my own purpose: To be my voice.

And another synch

I went to a chanting event tonight and that is exactly the thought I had. I have a difficult time speaking in a lot of settings and often feel disconnected from and self-conscious about my voice. Part of my realization while chanting was that I want to be my voice. Not just use it, but BE it. Pretty profound.

[Acting Like Godot]

I'm somewhat skeptical of the notion that everyone has got a life purpose (i.e one purpose, which is supposed to last a lifetime, or a good part of it).

I can see the value of having a major purpose, at any given stage of your life, but I don't see why, for instance, a person can't have two major purposes at the same time, or why a person's major purpose can't change every 10, 5, 3 or 1 year(s).

Eg James' "life" purpose right now may be "To explore, to teach, to be my voice". Who knows, after a year or two, it might legitimately morph into something else. And after 5 years, that something else might morph into something else.

[ellie]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Eg James' "life" purpose right now may be "To explore, to teach, to be my voice". Who knows, after a year or two, it might legitimately morph into something else. And after 5 years, that something else might morph into something else.

So true! That's what I have found to be the case with me.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I'm somewhat skeptical of the notion that everyone has got a life purpose (i.e one purpose, which is supposed to last a lifetime, or a good part of it).

I can see the value of having a major purpose, at any given stage of your life, but I don't see why, for instance, a person can't have two major purposes at the same time, or why a person's major purpose can't change every 10, 5, 3 or 1 year(s).

Eg James' "life" purpose right now may be "To explore, to teach, to be my voice". Who knows, after a year or two, it might legitimately morph into something else. And after 5 years, that something else might morph into something else.

You're skeptical about these things because they're false assumptions to begin with.

Some people bring a lot of mental baggage to the table when it comes to an understanding of purpose. It doesn't mean "the purpose of my entire life." I think of it more as a guide to remind myself of how I want to live right now. Who do I want to be in this moment?

A purpose statement is something you can practically ignore when you're in the flow. It's when you lose the flow that it's helpful to look at your purpose statement to remind yourself of where your flow is and how to get back to it. And it also helps you find and create that sense of flow in the first place, especially if it's not something you're accustomed to experiencing on a daily basis.

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by James81

If there were a rooftop on these forums, I'd be standing at the top of it shouting it: THE ANSWER TO A LARGE MAJORITY OF YOUR PERSONAL ISSUES CAN BE TRANSFORMED THROUGH PURPOSE!

Cause, when it gets a hold of you, you can help but be transformed and shaped by it. It's the fertile soil of personal growth.

I disagree. I think there's a hierarchy here that has to be addressed. First emotions need to be mastered. Then one can usefully work with purpose. If you still have emotional baggage, you're going to find it very tough to engage a purpose.

Edit: It seems Steve had the same idea.

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I can see the value of having a major purpose, at any given stage of your life, but I don't see why, for instance, a person can't have two major purposes at the same time, or why a person's major purpose can't change every 10, 5, 3 or 1 year(s).

Agreed. And this post is a synchronicity for me. Thanks.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I'm somewhat skeptical of the notion that everyone has got a life purpose (i.e one purpose, which is supposed to last a lifetime, or a good part of it).

I can see the value of having a major purpose, at any given stage of your life, but I don't see why, for instance, a person can't have two major purposes at the same time, or why a person's major purpose can't change every 10, 5, 3 or 1 year(s).

Eg James' "life" purpose right now may be "To explore, to teach, to be my voice". Who knows, after a year or two, it might legitimately morph into something else. And after 5 years, that something else might morph into something else.

Well, you've added a lot of meaning to it that wasn't there (at least from my point of view). I don't think I've ever said that it has to be a purpose that lasts your entire lifetime (you added that part into it). In fact, if you look at my purpose, it has three distinct parts. They relate to each other, but they are three separate purposes and do not need to be lived simultaneously.

Also note, that that purpose you bolded and quoted is the expanded version of what I started with. I originally started with one word: "exploration". And that one overarching purpose (something that had been already at the core of my life) has already branched out into two other things (all equally inspiring). And the third one ("to be my voice") is actually present/future based and not something that I can reach back into my past and find a lot of like the first two are.

And I think that's awesome because, well, once I discovered the purpose to which my life had already been serving (exploration), I am now seeing it grow and expand into something else. It's very fluid in nature. An overarching purpose exists as a seed. You may start with ONE purpose for your entire life, but as you cultivate it with your consciousness, it's going to grow into a purpose fruit tree.

The absolute key to the whole thing is that it moves you emotionally and inspires you. As long as you feel it powerfully emotionally, you'll use it to grow.

Originally Posted by VinceG

I disagree. I think there's a hierarchy here that has to be addressed. First emotions need to be mastered. Then one can usefully work with purpose. If you still have emotional baggage, you're going to find it very tough to engage a purpose.

Edit: It seems Steve had the same idea.

We're not in disagreement, actually. I had to work through a TON of emotional baggage to get to my purpose (and, really, I prefer to call it a "personal purpose" so that people understand that it doesn't have to do with contribution or meshing with society...it's for you and you alone, and it's impacts reach beyond you).

But now that I've gotten there, I see how absolutely instrumental discovering it and cultivating it has been to my growth. I'm already seeing myself speaking out more in class, for instance. I'll be sitting there in class, and an old pattern of thought will begin...and I'll breath it like an affirmation "to be my own voice" and I'll feel the inspiration run up my back and the goosebumps on my arms and immediately an opportunity will arise to speak out...and I do.

Very, very powerful stuff once you start getting at it. Sure, it may take a little effort to get to it, but it's so worth it to get there.

[James81]

^To add to that (and funny how I'm selling this guy's product with my posts ), my purpose has propelled my life forward in such a way that I'm actually having trouble managing it. I'm finding I'm having to invent parts of myself that weren't there to actually manage all of it at once. It's sort of like a rocket lifting off the launching pad. Just a whole bunch of fuel and fire and power bestowed upon you all at once, but you break the pull of the gravity that is holding you back and it sends you out into the unknown.

Another thing to think about, is that thus far, I'm finding that purpose and identity are two separate things, but they are linked pretty closely. Thus, for those of you who are familiar with the work that Angela has done/is doing with identity, you'll find that having a mirror image purpose linked to your "possibilities" is like having two halves of yourself suddenly integrate into one. And that it's synergistic in nature.

[Beef]

There are two things for me that have been a part of my life for almost a year now. One has been a feeling of being lost (which has been around longer than a year) and more recently has been all the people that say how awesome life is when they find their purpose.

Right now I'm not excited about life. Probably the only thing I look forward to is the future I plan to spend with my girlfriend and that really just means the time I spend with her. I don't really have any grand plans other than to just be with her. I have a job that I hate making minimum wage, I live with my parents, and I've changed my degree path in school more times than I would like to admit. I also don't have anything that I enjoy doing. There is no passion as I see it and I really wish I had someone like Steve to talk to on a regular basis but that's beside the point.

One thing that really resonates well with me is that your purpose is not the destination but instead it's the direction. That your purpose just helps guide you to take action based on what your personal life purpose is.

I want to find this personal path that I've seen so many experts and non experts rave about. I'm tired of feeling lost. Even though I feel this I'm having a hard time buying this program.

I've tried some of the things on Steve's blog for purpose and I haven't really gotten anywhere.

How many others have tried this out and have had success? What about if you don't consider yourself very spiritual? Maybe the word play is throwing me off. Also, what's the difference between this and his book other than the fact that it's video instead of text?


I really want to move forward but I don't know... There is this fear and skepticism in me that can not justify spending $200 on something. I guess this attitude is what has been keeping me from moving forward.

I don't know.

Please, anyone, share anything you have to say about this. I would really like to see some other perspectives.

[Chizalia]

Originally Posted by Beef

There are two things for me that have been a part of my life for almost a year now. One has been a feeling of being lost (which has been around longer than a year) and more recently has been all the people that say how awesome life is when they find their purpose.

Right now I'm not excited about life. Probably the only thing I look forward to is the future I plan to spend with my girlfriend and that really just means the time I spend with her. I don't really have any grand plans other than to just be with her. I have a job that I hate making minimum wage, I live with my parents, and I've changed my degree path in school more times than I would like to admit. I also don't have anything that I enjoy doing. There is no passion as I see it and I really wish I had someone like Steve to talk to on a regular basis but that's beside the point.

One thing that really resonates well with me is that your purpose is not the destination but instead it's the direction. That your purpose just helps guide you to take action based on what your personal life purpose is.

I want to find this personal path that I've seen so many experts and non experts rave about. I'm tired of feeling lost. Even though I feel this I'm having a hard time buying this program.

I've tried some of the things on Steve's blog for purpose and I haven't really gotten anywhere.

How many others have tried this out and have had success? What about if you don't consider yourself very spiritual? Maybe the word play is throwing me off. Also, what's the difference between this and his book other than the fact that it's video instead of text?


I really want to move forward but I don't know... There is this fear and skepticism in me that can not justify spending $200 on something. I guess this attitude is what has been keeping me from moving forward.

I don't know.

Please, anyone, share anything you have to say about this. I would really like to see some other perspectives.

Are you continually working on yourself to improve your level of awareness? If not:

As has been mentioned in the thread about the Life on Purpose book - meditate. You talk about a lack of passion and spirituality, but that doesn't necessarily mean you don't have those things somewhere in your psyche. They may just be hidden under layers of mental/emotional grime. Trying to get by on a minimum wage job that you hate can cause your consciousness to get a little threadbare. It's difficult to make a direct leap from survival mode to clarity of purpose. I'd be interested to see how you'd feel about your direction in life and your state of mind if you were to do two things:

1) Start by clearing your chakras as per these instructions.
2) Meditate for a couple of months. Every day, whether you want to or not, even if it's just for a few minutes. Plenty of resources on the web and in books for this.

These things are free. Why not see if they help you to reach a state of mind in which it's easier to evaluate what your purpose might be?

[chaggs]

There were a couple of things which jumped out at me :

Originally Posted by Beef

One has been a feeling of being lost (which has been around longer than a year) and more recently has been all the people that say how awesome life is when they find their purpose.

Originally Posted by Beef

There is no passion as I see it and I really wish I had someone like Steve to talk to on a regular basis but that's beside the point.

Originally Posted by Beef

Right now I'm not excited about life.

You might want to check this article out : How to Decide What You Want (dirtSimple.org)

Also this one : How to Do What You Love