Living on Purpose, by Tanya Harmon

Living on Purpose

Many of us have lived by a certain set of rules and guidelines:  Do what you are supposed to do, obey the rules, listen to other people, go to school, get good grades, don’t give your teachers a hard time, get into college if you can, if you can’t then go out and get a job, get some training, make money, bring home a paycheque, get married, buy a house, have children, raise a family, do the things that you are supposed to do, please other people as much as you possibly can, pay your bills on time, stay out of trouble, don’t go to jail, dress nice, do all of the things that will make your life work. 

These rules, if mastered, will get you through your life with a minimum of trouble.  But, I guarantee, it is impossible to have a sense of purpose in your life by following these rules.  You cannot have a sense of purpose by pleasing other people.  You cannot feel fulfilled by someone else’s accomplishment (i.e. living for your children).  You will never find the contentment, fulfillment and joy of life you really want by following other peoples’ rules.

Discovering, or more accurately, defining our purpose will improve our lives, quickly and extensively.  It helps us cut to the essentials, to what is important, and avoid spending years of our precious lives going nowhere, or going places other people have decided we should go.  Creating a vision and defining our purpose gives us a satisfaction and fulfillment in life in a way that perhaps we haven’t even yet dared to imagine.

When you are on purpose, you marshal all kinds of forces around you and within you that support you in fulfilling every goal that is aligned with your purpose.  Once we realize our purpose, our lives are clarified and simplified immensely.  Major decisions can suddenly be made with ease -- is this choice in line with my purpose? 

Our purpose is individual and unique.  It is sacred. It is something to ponder, even if only a little while, and put into writing.  It is something to discover for ourselves, and then do our best to remember and live by.  This is the only way we will ever find real satisfaction and fulfillment.

It all starts with a dream.  Imagine that you have created the life of your dreams.  You are living your life in accordance with your highest purpose.  You have become a success in every way you wish. 

What would your life be like if you were living according to your purpose?  Write down what a day in your life would be like.  Describe your house, your clothes, food, car, people you interact with, your career.  Describe your ideal.  Let it be as far-fetched as you want.  Let your imagination soar.  Don’t restrict yourself and don’t edit as you write – you can always change it later.

Increasing numbers of people are consulting life coaches looking for their Life Purpose.  The process of life purpose coaching is designed to detect your as yet unfound purpose and create a plan for you to implement it. We believe success and happiness is a natural effect of living a life built around the fulfillment of our purpose. However, we first need to know what that purpose is. 

Tanya Harmon is the founder of Find Your Marathon Coaching Services.  Contact Tanya for a complimentary consultation at 778.229.3733. 

Know what you want. Discover your purpose. Create a Vision of your Dream life and, most importantly, a plan to get you there!

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