5 Benefits of Knowing and Pursuing Your Purpose

Is there any benefit from knowing why we’re here and following it through? There certainly is. And ignorance could be quite costly. If we don't know why we're here, how can we achieve it? And if we don't achieve it, isn't that a failed life? Here are 5 benefits of knowing and pursuing your purpose. You would be wise to get started.

(1) Planning and Preparation
Knowing your purpose gives you clarity and takes away confusion. You know where you’re going so you can determine how to get there. Can you think of any times in your life when you didn’t know what you wanted and so you tried every thing? You may have been high on activity but low on achievement. And frustration was all you got. With a clear goal you can plan your life and be more prepared. Preparation increases the chance of success.

(2) Decision making and prioritizing
With so much to do and so little time, a clear purpose means you know what's important and what’s not. You can tell which friendships and pastimes aren’t taking you anywhere. You can resist going with the flow if it isn’t where you want to go!

(3) Efficiency
You get more out of life because you're doing what you were made to do and turning down the rest. Your talents and abilities, your experiences and opportunities, even your trials all work to equip you for your purpose. You’re the man or woman for the job. And you’ve got what it takes!

(4) Contentment and character
You don't envy others because you know you have the life that’s best for you. There’s a time and place for everything. As you keep preparing and seizing opportunities you’ll get where you’re going in good time. And you’ll learn character on the way.

(5) Fulfilment
You'll have no regrets because you did it all! You enjoy a sense of fulfilment as you accomplish your life's purpose.

Christian Life Coaching Article - Finding Life's Purpose

What is your idea of a successful life? Most people would say it has something to do with achieving your life’s goals. Well, unfortunately, most people do not have life’s goals to begin with, let alone being anywhere near achieving them. I think that to call anything successful we must first take into consideration its purpose. What was it made for, or what was it designed to achieve? In its present state, has it fulfilled the purpose of its creation, or is it on the path to this end?

Going back to the original question, a life can therefore only truly be called successful when it fulfils the reason for its creation. Please note, this is not a self-assumed purpose or a self-appointed agenda. It is the purpose and agenda of the Creator. In the pursuit of life’s purpose let us therefore ask ourselves a few questions, namely:
(1) Who created me?
(2) How can I reach this Creator to enquire of my life’s purpose?
(3) If I enquire, will the Creator respond?
(4) Has the Creator ever communicated anything concerning life’s purpose to any man before?
(5) Where can I find this information? Is it relevant to my life?

The answers to these questions should no doubt start you off on a journey of discovery.

A Merry Heart Walk

It has been said that "a merry heart doeth good like a medicine." A merry heart starts with a decision to find good in every situation, to be thankful for what you do have, to forgive others because you need to be forgiven. Bitterness on the other hand, is rottenness to the bones, but a merry heart will do you good from the inside out.

What is your situation today? Have you been feeling down? Think of what you do have going for you. Think of all the good times you've had, and how you can still enjoy more. Are you hurt by any one? Life is so much better when we forgive and let go. What good could it possibly do to keep grudges or rehash hurts? I once read the following statement by Carrie Fisher: Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die! You don't need resentment. Throw it out today. You don't have to have good coming your way to get merry! Just maintain an attitude of gratitude for what you do have, such as eyesight, a family, a happy childhood, food, clothing and shelter, a source of income, or wisdom gathered from bad experiences! If you look hard enough you'll find a lot you take for granted. Why not say a prayer of thanks instead.

The more you think on your blessings (we all do have them), the more grateful you'll become. Then, I challenge you to start singing! And if you wouldn't mind, get up and start dancing! In fact, go the whole hog by doing what I call a Merry Heart Walk! Step outside and go for a walk, all the while singing as you recount your blessings. A Merry Heart Walk is a double whammy you know! The merriness and the exercise will do your heart much good. I even hear it could remove a few wrinkles. Try it today!

Action
Need some words for your Merry Heart song? Get a sheet of paper and start listing:
(a) All the things you have that others don’t
(b) All the things you can do that others can’t
(c) All the achievements you have that others haven’t
(d) All the good times you can remember; some people can’t remember
(e) All the bad things you can think of that haven’t happened to you

You should have quite a long song by now! Have you found your trainers? Enjoy your Merry Heart Walk!


Copyright Oma Edoja © 2008

What's missing?

Hi there! Hope you're doing just fine.

This is a quick post to get you doing some constructive thinking. So here are some teasers:

1. What's missing from your life right now that, if it were present, would make you completely happy?
2. Why would it make you happy to have it?
3. How does it make you feel not having it right now?

I'd be glad if you would email your responses to: turnaroundresources@googlemail.com

In appreciation of your feedback I'll give you one free email coaching session to help you on the way to the happiness you've described. No obligation to you. Just a helping hand. What's in it for me? This'll help me understand what my readers want out of life, and what they want to avoid. Then I'll be better able to help you. Your privacy will be protected.

Many thanks!

Oma

I Can!

Let's take a lesson from Picasso!

Quote: "I am always doing things I can't do, that's how I get to do them."

-Picasso

Have you said the words, "I can't", lately?
"Can't" means: "not able to", "not having the necessary means, skill, authority or know-how, to do something.”
Is this genuinely true of your situation? Are you really and truly unable? Do you really lack what it takes?

Perhaps a few more attempts, some extra training, or a little more self-esteem would change the picture. In reality, whether you can, or you can't, is a thing of the mind. It's been said that if you think you can, then you can. And if you think you can't, well you can't!

I'm reminded of some of the "can'ts" of my life that have now become "cans" : riding a bicycle, driving a car, surfing the net, using a computer, even birthing a baby! Each seemed impossible at the time, but with strong determination, and sometimes, no way out ("Madam, you've got to push!"), each task was eventually accomplished, and repeated several times over. To achieve, you must keep taking on new challenges. Don't run away . Never say never.
Has no one ever done it before? There can always be a first time. It could always be you!

Like Picasso, you've got to keep on doing the things you thought you could not do. Push yourself to your furthest limits; you never know till you try.
That's how you'll turn your "can'ts" into "cans." And hopefully, it'll become a lifestyle!

Think on this:
If you were required to prove in a court of law that you really cannot do the things you say you can't, would you have sufficient evidence to prove this, or would you simply have a pile of excuses?

Action

• Take one task on your to-do list that you consider impossible, or near-impossible!
• Read up all you can about it; talk to others who have succeeded at it; think of all the benefits of achieving it and the disadvantages of not trying.
• Break the task down into bits. This should take away the scare-factor !
• Get all the help and support you can.
• Make the necessary time and resources available.
• Now get to work. You can!
  
  Copyright 2005 Oma Edoja

You Are Not a Failure (3)

• Welcome to part three in this series. To read parts one and two please scroll further down
  
  Copyright Oma Edoja 2008
  This article may not be copied or reproduced.
  
  Quote:
  
  Most success springs from an obstacle or failure. I became a cartoonist largely because I failed in my goal of becoming a successful executive.
  - Scott Adams
  
  Quite often, the occurences we call "obstacles" or "failures" are actually God's hand intervening to place us where we ought to be. Many a fortune has been stumbled upon due to an unforeseen, unpleasant or unexpected occurence. Being fired from your job could be the beginning of a profitable business venture. You might never have considered this option in the comfort zone of your last job. A broken engagement could be your deliverance from a possibly bad marriage, and your entrance into a healthier, happier relationship.
  
  As well as learning from our dissapointments, we must closely examine them to detect any pointers to a better alternative. Successful people are always on the lookout for opportunity hidden in adversity, a habit worth adopting.
  
  Self-reflection
  Examine any past failures or disappointments. Could any opportunities have been hiding in them?
  
  Action Points
  Visit the internet. Using a search engine, read up on how these peoploe turned misfortune into massive fortune:
  
  *"Colonel" Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken

*Walt Disney of Disneyland

*Soichiro Honda of the Honda Corporation

Positive Thinking

I will not complain in the face of adversity. In it I will seek opportunity. Problems are promotion exams in disguise.

Copyright Oma Edoja 2008

This article may not be copied or reproduced.

You Are Not a Failure (2)

Welcome to part two in this series. To read part one please scroll further down.

Copyright Oma Edoja 2008
This article may not be copied or reproduced.

Quote:

Failure is an absolute prerequisite to success. You learn to succeed by failing.

-Brian Tracy,Internatonal Trainer, Author, Business Coach

It has been said that success is a poor teacher! Success swells our heads, but failure stops us in our tracks and causes us to think. Surely it feels bad when we fail. At first glance it could even seem costly. But whatever setbacks we suffer as a result of failure, are really just learning opportunities. If we learn from such encounters, any money "lost" in the process could be regarded as investments towards our self-development. Tuition fees, if you like!

To achieve success we must first pay our dues. This includes failing, maybe lots of times, and learning from our failures. Consider failure an entry requirement to the school of success. It takes a certain amount of failure to qualify!

Self-reflection

1. Why is it said that success is a poor teacher?
2. How does failure teach better than success?
3. Do my failures make me bitter, or do I use them to get better?

Action Points

1. Start keeping a daily journal detailing any setbacks you encounter and lessons you could learn from them. Write out what actions you took following each setback. Were you proactive or reactive?

2. If you had the chance to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Be sure to record a date against each entry. One year from now it will amaze you how far you have grown!

Positive Thinking:

I am a winner. I see failure as a learning experience and a growth opportunity. I learn to succeed each time I fail. With each failure I grow towards my goals.

Copyright Oma Edoja 2008
This article may not be copied or reproduced.

You are not a failure (1)

This is the first of a series of articles I have written to encourage anyone who has become discouraged in the face of much failure. It has been said that failure is the beginning of success. I know it is from personal experience!

I do hope you enjoy these articles and are strengthened by them. If you are, I'd be glad to hear from you. Just email me at the address in "About Me". And do invite your loved ones to my blog!

Enjoy!

You Are Not a Failure (1)

Quote:

“I’ve missed more than nine thousand shots in my career. I’ve lost almost three hundred games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

-Michael Jordan, basket ball great

Failure is definitely not something one would associate with Michael Jordan. He seems to have been born with medals in his hands! However, successful people all over the world agree that before they recorded their successes they experienced much failure. In fact, many of them say they experienced a lot more failure than success. But it’s the success that made the headlines!

Failure is not final. It is a learning experience. Whenever we fail at something we need to stop, think and learn from this. We need to say, “Here is one more way NOT to do it. I am one step closer to success.”

Mr Jordan attributes his success to his ability to learn from failure. He had a lot of it, so he learned a lot on success.

Self-reflection
1. Does failure discourage you?
2. What is a positive way to respond to failure?
3. Why do you think God allows failure to come our way?

Action points
1. Name one failure you have experienced recently e.g. weight loss, an exam, a relationship, or in business
2. Find one lesson you could learn from it.
3. If it were to happen all over again, what could you do differently? Do it differently next time (there is always a “next time!).

Positive Thinking
Failure is the beginning of success. It is not the end of the road for me. I will learn each time I fail, and grow through it. I will not be discouraged when things do not go the way I planned. Each time I fail is a wonderful opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. I will not miss the lesson, I will learn it, move on and become a better, more successful person.


Copyright Oma Edoja 2008
This article may be copied or reproduced if accompanied by the following resource box:

Oma Edoja is an inspirational speaker and writer. Visit her blog for more inspiration at http://turnaroundresources.blogspot.com

Welcome!

Welcome to Turn Around Resources!



This blog is published by Oma Edoja, inspirational writer, speaker and Personal Performance Coach. Oma is also the publisher of the blog "Up-mobile", an inspirational ezine for Nigerian readers (http://up-mobile.blogspot.com/).



At Turn Around Resources you will find just that: inspirational material to help you turn your situation around and achieve better results.



Please return often to this blog. New posts will be made several times a week.

In the meantime, please enjoy an article I wrote a while ago titled: Self-esteem Boosters - 5 Action Points.

Here's the link:

<http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Self-esteem-Boosters:-5-Action-Points&id=37967>.

Enjoy!