How to Discover Your Life Purpose in About 20 Minutes

How do you discover your real purpose in life? I’m not talking about your job, your daily responsibilities, or even your long-term goals. I mean the real reason why you’re here at all — the very reason you exist.

Perhaps you’re a rather nihilistic person who doesn’t believe you have a purpose and that life has no meaning. Doesn’t matter. Not believing that you have a purpose won’t prevent you from discovering it, just as a lack of belief in gravity won’t prevent you from tripping. All that a lack of belief will do is make it take longer, so if you’re one of those people, just change the number 20 in the title of this blog entry to 40 (or 60 if you’re really stubborn). Most likely though if you don’t believe you have a purpose, then you probably won’t believe what I’m saying anyway, but even so, what’s the risk of investing an hour just in case?

Here’s a story about Bruce Lee which sets the stage for this little exercise. A master martial artist asked Bruce to teach him everything Bruce knew about martial arts. Bruce held up two cups, both filled with liquid. “The first cup,” said Bruce, “represents all of your knowledge about martial arts. The second cup represents all of my knowledge about martial arts. If you want to fill your cup with my knowledge, you must first empty your cup of your knowledge.”

If you want to discover your true purpose in life, you must first empty your mind of all the false purposes you’ve been taught (including the idea that you may have no purpose at all).

So how to discover your purpose in life? While there are many ways to do this, some of them fairly involved, here is one of the simplest that anyone can do. The more open you are to this process, and the more you expect it to work, the faster it will work for you. But not being open to it or having doubts about it or thinking it’s an entirely idiotic and meaningless waste of time won’t prevent it from working as long as you stick with it — again, it will just take longer to converge.

Here’s what to do:

Take out a blank sheet of paper or open up a word processor where you can type (I prefer the latter because it’s faster).

Write at the top, “What is my true purpose in life?”

Write an answer (any answer) that pops into your head. It doesn’t have to be a complete sentence. A short phrase is fine.

Repeat step 3 until you write the answer that makes you cry. This is your purpose.

That’s it. It doesn’t matter if you’re a counselor or an engineer or a bodybuilder. To some people this exercise will make perfect sense. To others it will seem utterly stupid. Usually it takes 15-20 minutes to clear your head of all the clutter and the social conditioning about what you think your purpose in life is. The false answers will come from your mind and your memories. But when the true answer finally arrives, it will feel like it’s coming to you from a different source entirely.

For those who are very entrenched in low-awareness living, it will take a lot longer to get all the false answers out, possibly more than an hour. But if you persist, after 100 or 200 or maybe even 500 answers, you’ll be struck by the answer that causes you to surge with emotion, the answer that breaks you. If you’ve never done this, it may very well sound silly to you. So let it seem silly, and do it anyway.

As you go through this process, some of your answers will be very similar. You may even re-list previous answers. Then you might head off on a new tangent and generate 10-20 more answers along some other theme. And that’s fine. You can list whatever answer pops into your head as long as you just keep writing.

At some point during the process (typically after about 50-100 answers), you may want to quit and just can’t see it converging. You may feel the urge to get up and make an excuse to do something else. That’s normal. Push past this resistance, and just keep writing. The feeling of resistance will eventually pass.

You may also discover a few answers that seem to give you a mini-surge of emotion, but they don’t quite make you cry — they’re just a bit off. Highlight those answers as you go along, so you can come back to them to generate new permutations. Each reflects a piece of your purpose, but individually they aren’t complete. When you start getting these kinds of answers, it just means you’re getting warm. Keep going.

It’s important to do this alone and with no interruptions. If you’re a nihilist, then feel free to start with the answer, “I don’t have a purpose,” or “Life is meaningless,” and take it from there. If you keep at it, you’ll still eventually converge.

When I did this exercise, it took me about 25 minutes, and I reached my final answer at step 106. Partial pieces of the answer (mini-surges) appeared at steps 17, 39, and 53, and then the bulk of it fell into place and was refined through steps 100-106. I felt the feeling of resistance (wanting to get up and do something else, expecting the process to fail, feeling very impatient and even irritated) around steps 55-60. At step 80 I took a 2-minute break to close my eyes, relax, clear my mind, and to focus on the intention for the answer to come to me — this was helpful as the answers I received after this break began to have greater clarity.

Here was my final answer: to live consciously and courageously, to resonate with love and compassion, to awaken the great spirits within others, and to leave this world in peace.

When you find your own unique answer to the question of why you’re here, you will feel it resonate with you deeply. The words will seem to have a special energy to you, and you will feel that energy whenever you read them.

Discovering your purpose is the easy part. The hard part is keeping it with you on a daily basis and working on yourself to the point where you become that purpose.

If you’re inclined to ask why this little process works, just put that question aside until after you’ve successfully completed it. Once you’ve done that, you’ll probably have your own answer to why it works. Most likely if you ask 10 different people why this works (people who’ve successfully completed it), you’ll get 10 different answers, all filtered through their individual belief systems, and each will contain its own reflection of truth.

Obviously, this process won’t work if you quit before convergence. I’d guesstimate that 80-90% of people should achieve convergence in less than an hour. If you’re really entrenched in your beliefs and resistant to the process, maybe it will take you 5 sessions and 3 hours, but I suspect that such people will simply quit early (like within the first 15 minutes) or won’t even attempt it at all. But if you’re drawn to read this blog (and haven’t been inclined to ban it from your life yet), then it’s doubtful you fall into this group.

Give it a shot! At the very least, you’ll learn one of two things: your true purpose in life -or- that you should unsubscribe from this blog.

Self-Motivation - Six keys

Here are six keys to help you with self-motivation - see what you think ....

"Don't let what you can't do stop you from doing what you can do"

Self-Motivation Key #1 – Remember your “why” .
It’s easy to stay motivated when your reasons for wanting to improve your life are fresh in your mind - but motivation can all too readily dissipate as time goes on. So write down your reasons for wanting to make positive changes or pursue greater goals. Read them to yourself to keep them fresh in your mind, and review them when you need a mental or emotional boost. Having a sense of purpose will help keep you energised.

Self-Motivation Key #2 – Eliminate distractions.
If you’re feeling scattered and unfocused, try working in a secluded spot, closing the door for some quiet, or even wearing earplugs to shut out excessive noise. Once the distractions are gone, you might find your motivation increasing and your determination returning.

Self-Motivation Key #3 – Read something inspirational.
Nowadays there is no shortage of inspiring reading material available for purchase. Visit your local bookstore and get a few books with motivational themes and make a point of reading a few pages before you start your day. When you feel unmotivated, open one of these books randomly and let your finger fall blindly onto a passage from the book. Read that passage and let it speak to you. Does it hold a message that relates to your situation and helps to inspire you to move into action.

Self-Motivation Key #4 - Surround yourself with inspiration.
Do you have some favourite plaques, prints or paintings that make you feel inspired? Fill up your blank walls with them! Visit a flea market or home décor store for visuals that lift your spirits. Go to a stock photo site and download a few beautiful images and have them blown up into a larger size at your local photo place. Take some of your favourite motivational quotes, enlarge the type, print and hang them up to read whenever you need a little boost. Hanging inspiring words and images in your home and workplace can create a continuous flow of inspiration that will keep you feeling motivated no matter what you’re working on.

And speaking of inspiration, I think you'll find the message in this video clip an uplifting one (just click the cross in the top right hand corner of the ad to get rid of the annoying ad)...

Self-Motivation Key #5 – Call a friend for support.

If you’ve got a friend or two who support you in your goals, give them a call! Tell them you’re having trouble getting started (or keeping momentum) and you need a kick in the rear. Tell them to remind you what you are working so hard for, and how excited you sounded the last time you spoke to them. This will only work with friends who do support you – not dream stealers.

Self-Motivation Key #6 – Re-assess your vision.

If you find yourself constantly needing to get motivated to work on your dream or goal, you might question whether it’s right for you any longer. Have you outgrown the original vision you had? If you conceived your dream or set your goal years ago, you might need to rethink what you want and see if you can expand on your original dream. You can even start from scratch if your original plans no longer inspire passion; you are a different person than you were even a year ago! Come up with something that you won’t have to work so hard to get motivated to do, and you solve not only your immediate need, but long-term needs also.

Article source : http://performancedevelopment.com.au/Self-Motivation-Tips.htm

Get More Out Of Life Through Personal Development

Sometimes it is difficult to know where to start in personal development. We are each unique. One technique may work for another person, but not for you, and vice-versa. With that being discussed you should look for new ways to help yourself, like these suggestions, read on to see which ones you can use.

Take a notebook around with you to jot ideas in. Use a notepad app on your phone or even carry a real notepad with you. Just write what you think about and you can work on those ideas later.

Live according to your principles. Your personal beliefs create the foundation for who you are. Following these beliefs will help your sense of self-esteem. It gives your life meaning and a solid structure to build around. This practice will encourage consistency, a valuable character trait to keep.

Before you begin working on your personal development, you first need to understand your place in the universe. When you realize your place in the universe, you realize that you have a lot to learn. You will make dramatic progress in your self improvement once you accept that you still have a lot to learn and become eager to experience all the new things you can.

Try to make each day more excellent than the previous one. Strive for constant and unceasing improvement. Challenge yourself to improve on something that you did yesterday.

You cannot take care of other people unless you take care of yourself. Regardless of where you are on your path, whether you are thriving or failing, take the time to rest and restore yourself.

If failings don't respond to efforts at improvement, it may be wise to consult a therapist. While self-help books help to a certain degree, seeing a therapist has more personalized substance to it. Simply talking to someone might can assist you in finding motivation. A psychiatrist can have a discussion with you, where a book cannot.

Talking to a professional counselor or a pastor can be an extremely rewarding experience. These people have a lot of experience and expertise in helping people deal with personal issues, and are licensed to do so. They will help you figure out what things are bothering you and what you can do to sort them out. When you can talk out your issues with a licensed professional, you will find your life will be much happier.

Maintaining a positive attitude will get you through a lot of tough times while allowing you to grow and mature. A negative attitude will thwart your attempts at taking your life in a good direction. Stay positive and keep telling yourself that a pleasant, upbeat attitude is the way to reach your goals.

It is important to keep in mind that everyone is different, so look through the advice in this article, and choose the things that you think will work for you. The only way to gain any type of success is if you apply the material you just learned. Share the knowledge from this article with friends to help other with their own personal development.

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Easy Ideas To Becoming The Perfect You

Working on your personal development presents challenges, but they are not insurmountable. There are also a few different things you have to do. Personal development can range from improving your diet to enhancing your social skills. There are many ways to develop yourself personally. Once you have found how to develop your own self personally, you will feel a lot better and others will also take notice in your improvements.

Be more productive at work by getting the most out of your time there. The easy way to do this is to simply take more breaks during your work day. This may seem counterproductive, but by taking constant breaks, you have time to unwind and recharge so that when you get back to work, you can get more stuff done.

Begin your personal development with a look at your leadership qualities. The best definition for leadership is "influence". Think about your own leadership experiences. What are the specific incidences that made the biggest influence in your life? In what ways have you changed due to these events? Ask yourself which qualities make you a good leader. You will know where your rightful position is in a team after you have answered these questions for yourself.

Do not boast about your accomplishments. Talk to people and find out more about their own achievements. This helps you discover what other people have accomplished to help you respect them which in turn betters your character.

You have to provide care for yourself before you can properly care for other people. Be sure to rest, relax, and restore your own mind and body.

Therapy is a great way for anyone who wishes to work on personal development to explore their own personal demons. Reading books on self-help may only take you so far. The personal consultation with a therapist gives more direct and focused help. Sometimes, the best solution comes about through the simple act of talking with a trained therapist. You can't have a discussion with a book.

You may find that meeting and talking with a spiritual or secular counselor a rewarding experience. These individuals are trained to listen to your problems and are highly skilled. They are prepared to listen and give sound advice that you will benefit from. You may find that sharing your personal issues with a professional will open the door to health and happiness.

You should always treat others with respect, regardless of their relationship to you or your goals. The way you deal with people speaks volumes about your character.

Whatever it is that you need to have in your life, make sure you have one thing. You have to take an active role in you life, and not just passively accept the things in your life that you want to change. Don't just be a bystander in life; take charge, and be in control of your life.

Hopefully the information you read here has given you ideas on how you can develop yourself more. You will never stop finding ways to grow as a person. No matter where you are in your life, there is always something you can do to be happier and open up new possibilities.

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The Best Way To Get The Most Out Of Personal Development

People who are engaged in a program of personal development are actively trying to improve all aspects of their lives. If you want to reach the personal development goals you have set for yourself, you must try out different strategies to see what works for you. To help get you started, read the information in this article.

Learning to take controlled risks could bring you happiness. People are often afraid of failure and rejection, so they avoid risks and end up feeling unsatisfied. When you take a risk, you are showing yourself that you have courage, which is important to finding happiness.

In many ways, your attitude is reciprocal. If you wish harm upon others, harm may come to you instead. Wish others well in life so you feel positive empowerment. Negative feelings will be less burdensome and less depressing if you make it a practice to maintain a positive mood.

Stress is what often brings down happiness. When our minds are stressed, our mental and physical bodies are harmed. In order to reach your goals, the stress in your mind must be destroyed. Schedule in relaxation times throughout the day, clearing your mind in a peaceful setting. You can increase how good you feel about yourself and how at peace you feel by using this time to relax.

If failings don't respond to efforts at improvement, it may be wise to consult a therapist. Reading books on self-help may only take you so far. The personal consultation with a therapist gives more direct and focused help. Talking can be the motivation that some need in order to be successful. A psychiatrist can have a discussion with you, where a book cannot.

Do you consume too much alcohol? Do you smoke cigarettes or do anything else that is harmful to your body? The human body is sacred and it is important that you treat yours right. You can improve your life by replacing bad habits with good ones. Look at how you are living your life, and check if you are participating in any negative habits that should be eliminated.

They say that speaking and listening are equally important. This is definitely true concerning personal development. You should tune in to your own needs and desires when thinking or talking to yourself. You will not know what you want out of life when you do not heed your instincts.

Paying attention to your body is a good personal development practice. If your body feels you need to eat or drink, you should do it. Once you do this, your body will be better able to aid you for the long term. If you choose to ignore it, however, it may choose to ignore you at some point.

As was stated earlier in this article, personal development is a way to improve yourself and your life. Try different things and select the strategies that work best for your situation. The first few steps can be achieved with the help of the advice listed here.

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Improve Your Life With These Easy Steps

Remember that everyone is different, so what may work for one person's development, may not work with yours. Having said all that, keep learning and trying new things. The following article gets you started by providing you with advice that is beneficial to you and your personal growth.

Do you consume too much alcohol? Do you smoke or do other activities that may be harmful to your health? The human body is sacred and it is important that you treat yours right. You can improve your life by replacing bad habits with good ones. Take a hard look at your daily life and find things that could benefit from a positive restructuring.

Determine what kinds of things are getting in the way of you being successful. This is hard to do for a lot of people. To be successful at personal development, start by pinpointing any areas of weakness and target these areas for improvement. Once you have removed the obstacles to your success, you can enjoy smooth sailing to your goals.

In order to be properly motivated toward personal development goals, it is important to admit how much you do not know. If you understand that there is a lot you can learn and that you have room to grow, you can gain proper perspective. Once you realize this, you will be able to understand and improve upon yourself.

Compliment other people. If you are kind to other people, you will be kind to yourself.

Pick up a pen and paper, and write yourself a positive letter. Keep a list of your good qualities in your wallet. Keep this inspirational card with you at all times. Another great idea is to recite the list while filming yourself, so that you can view the footage regularly. This might sound silly but it really helps.

Therapy is the answer for many with serious problems. Sometimes it takes a professional, outside perspective to identify the real source of a problem and this cannot be found in self-help books. Sometimes, the drive to succeed can be stimulated by something as simple as a frank, honest discussion and some helpful advice. Books can't interact with people the way a trained psychiatrist is able to.

You should always be respectful towards people, no matter what power they hold or what they could do for you. Your treatment of others is a direct reflection of you character.

If your personal development plan calls for overcoming social anxieties, going to the movies with a friend is a great first step. This activity will force you to be around others, but you do not have to talk to them very much, which will minimize your discomfort. In addition, this can give you the opportunity to become comfortable in crowded rooms.

This information is only valuable if you use it. The only way anyone can be successful is if you try. After you have applied this information, reevaluate your development and pay attention to any differences that may arise.

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10 Life Changing Tips Inspired By Rumi

1. Challenge Fear

"Run from what’s comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious."

2. Be Bold

"Do not be satisfied with the stories that come before you. Unfold your own myth."

3. Have Gratitude

"Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life."

4. Take Action

"Why should I stay at the bottom of a well, when a strong rope is in my hand?"

5. Have Faith

"As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears."

6. Embrace Setbacks

"If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?"

7. Look Inside

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."

8. Learn From Suffering

"The wound is the place where the Light enters you."

9. Don't Be Concerned With What Others Think Of You

"I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think."

10. Do What You Love 

"Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love."