WHATS YOUR PURPOSE?

I can’t think of a single person I know who has not asked herself why she is here, what her purpose is, or what she can uniquely contribute to this world to make it a better place.

For some people, it’s just a matter of wondering how to fill their days with something besides routine obligations and mundane chores.

Others are more concerned with meaningful self-expression.

Towards this goal, some of us volunteer in our communities, some work at influential careers and others feel raising children well is their best contribution.

But, despite our best intentions, so many of us still don’t quite feel fulfilled.

We spend majority of our waking hours working in one way or another, but we don’t feel rewarded for our efforts.

We spend more time and mental and physical energy on that portion of our lives than anything else, and we make the mistake of giving more time to what we ‘do’ to find an ever elusive payoff.

Whether you are a workaholic corporate type or a stay-at-home-parent, I would bet that your working hours are disproportionate to your off-duty time.

The truth is, most of us suffer to make a living and that is a waste of our potential.

Even with all the choices we have today, polls show that half of us would change our careers if given the chance.

A pay cheque is not enough anymore – we want to make a difference.

We want to know what we do matters.

We just need a little help to make us realise that we can have both, that we can trade in our less-than-satisfying work for deeply fulfilling work.

We all have the ability to live out what I call our lucrative purpose.

To discover and reveal your own self-worth.

Identifying your lucrative purpose can bring great clarity to the focus of your life, allowing you to experience a fullness and satisfaction that does not depend on effort, long-range planning, goal setting, goals accomplishing or financial gain.

It is the identification and recognition of who you are that can lead to the all-important impact on the world that you crave.

Your lucrative purpose is already imprinted on your soul; it’s part of your life blueprint.

Once it is recognised, responding to your lucrative purpose requires acceptance of its existence and commitment to its good use.

At a seminar I was running, a Queensland woman stood up and said, “I have always identified myself by what I did. I was a business banking account manager, but I’d grown to hate it and have felt very lost as to what I’m supposed to do with my life”

I asked her what she felt her greatest natural ability was and she replied, “Helping other people in getting a task done.”

As these words left her mouth, she realised this innate talent of hers could be of use in many other potentially satisfying careers.

“I am not limited by being a business banker.” she said. “I can assist in so many different industries to make money – the possibilities are endless!”

What I saw here was someone who shifted the importance of being an assistant from what she did to who she was. She enjoys assisting, is fulfilled by it, and does not have to limit where or how she acts as an assistant.

Over the years of working with clients, I have noticed that when people get a sense of their natural abilities in terms of who they are instead of what they do, they naturally begin to feel a sense of purpose that allows them to turn their work into something they love by making minimal changes.

They easily become enthusiastic about what they do.

Since they are excited about their work and feel useful, they are making a huge contribution and they feel fulfilled whilst also earning a living.

Though I call this your lucrative purpose, it applies to your life in a much larger context than simply making a living.

‘Lucrative’ describes not only financial wealth but the other riches that you can obtain, such as a sense of well-being, an abundance of love and support in your life, an awe at the coincidences that show up to take care of your needs, or the satisfaction of knowing you make a difference in the world.

It is this kind of lucrative income that distinguishes the happy-go-lucky garbage man from the miserable millionaire executive.

Honouring what is innate and inherent to you is the easiest path to sense of purpose and satisfaction.

And remaining truthful to your lucrative purpose is possible no matter what job you hold.

Initiating more projects, sharing your opinions and ideas more readily and redesigning your schedule, all with a focus on what you do best and your purpose, heighten your vitality.

I often get asked as to how I bring such a consistent flow of energy to all that I do, this is why!

Whatever you do becomes more enjoyable.

Whether you choose to commit your lucrative purpose to being the means by which you earn your keep, or you decide to make it just one part of your daily life, your lucrative purpose has the potential to move your life to unexpected places and even monetary gain.