4 Ways to Start Living a Purpose Driven Life

We have all been put on this earth for a reason. Sometimes we know what that reason is off the bat and sometimes we have to find it while finding ourselves. Once we find out what our purpose is, it inspires, motivates, and that same purpose drives our life.

This is a very liberating moment in our lives because once we find out what drives and motivate us we are free to point the energy to any vocation that we see fit.

So how do you start living a purpose driven life?

Here are 4 ways to do just that and like anything else it takes a mind set of want to, to gain that success that you need to have a purpose driven life.

1. Be clear on what comes naturally to you and use that. Taking these natural abilities can help you to have a strong purpose in life and have a purpose driven life through natural motivation that comes with natural talent.

2. Take a few minutes and write a clear statement making the statement of who you are and what you are meant to do here. This brings your purpose to the forefront and allows you to physically see what it is you think you should be doing. It also gives you a physical visual object to look at for motivation to gain another step into a purpose driven life.

3. Apply the creative process to your everyday life. Why the creative process? It is because it allows you to grow within your purpose and to make it a strong driving force in your life through your journey to success.

4. Don't allow yourself to stop driving towards your purpose in life. When you feel yourself loose motivation or something comes along within your life that starts to veer yourself away from your purpose, take the time to stop take a breath and regain what you need to still have that purpose driven force.

When you have your life purpose, you begin to see meaning and self worth in your life. You can use your purpose to help others and be successful. Through the journey it can be a very enjoying process if you have your purpose driving your life. So remember natural motivation, creative process, happiness, and success is all equal to a purpose driven life. There is no greater joy finding your doing in your heart what you're suppose to do

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Living Your Purpose

You have a purpose. You have specific gifts, talents, and abilities that are uniquely yours. At the intersection of "what you love to do" and "what you are good at" you will find your purpose. Do you know your purpose? Do you know why you are here on this planet? If not, then it's time to ask the questions:

• What do I love to do?
• What am I good at?
• When do I feel most alive?

Once you have answered these questions you need to gather the courage and confidence to act upon the answers.

In my speaking and coaching work I have met thousands of people who are on purpose. They are people who are good at what they do and they love what they do. They are people in health care, banking, manufacturing, education, associations, and government. There are leaders, writers, musicians, speakers, consultants, and artists. Each person brings their unique set of gifts in service to others.

At the same time I have met thousands of people who dislike their work. These people are not on purpose. They may complain about the organisation, their compensation, their fellow employees, and a host of other things. Their real problem is that they are not on purpose. When you are not on purpose you create stress, pain, and conflict for yourself. Your gifts lay within you, unopened, abandoned. Much has been said about what to do to motivate people. Meaning and purpose motivate people. Truly successful organisations are made up of people doing work they love toward a meaningful purpose

Many will say that they know what their gift is, but they can't make any money at it. There is a way to make money at anything. The problem isn't money. It's confidence. They really don't believe their gifts have value, and so they believe no one else will value them either.

Once you develop confidence, you begin to see opportunities. The world, and possibly the organisation you work in, have abundant opportunities for you to live your purpose. This brings up the other reason for not living on purpose. We tell ourselves that we are not getting the support we need from others. Our family, friends, and colleagues are not cheering us on.

From the day you are born you will receive comments, opinions and criticisms from others. You must choose whether you are living their dream or your own. You must decide that your purpose is too important to abdicate responsibility for it to others.

If the biggest problem is confidence, then how do we get the confidence? Here are some ideas for you: 

1. Listen to the still small voice within. Practise listening to your intuition and following it. This voice should trump all external voices when deciding how to live your life. Access this voice through prayer, meditation, or quiet contemplation.

2. Study and practise to develop your gifts. Confidence increases with knowledge and skill.

3. Let go of the negative opinions of others. You owe it to yourself to listen within and trust that inner voice rather than putting your trust in the opinions of others. Find people who will encourage and respect your gifts, because they will reflect back to you your growing inner confidence. On the other hand, listen carefully and non judgmentally to criticism. Valid criticism will show you where you need more learning and practise. Invalid criticism will test your resolve.

4. Don't waste your time comparing yourself to others. Certainly others may serve as models for you, but envy and negative comparison will not help you. Do your best with what you have now.

5. Make sure the purpose you are expressing is really yours, and not one assigned to you by someone else. Also, know that a purpose can be very simple. It isn't always romantic or grand, but it does feel good. I have had clerks in stores and servers in restaurants who have made my day. These amazing people were each living their purpose. I have met assembly line workers, custodians, and receptionists who were living their purpose. They brought total focus and joy to their work. Sometimes your purpose is not "out there somewhere", but it's right here in front of you. Live the purpose that feels right to you.

6. There are no good excuses for why you can't follow your purpose. Make time. At one point in my life I decided to hone in on my purpose. Every night before falling asleep, I asked the question: What is my purpose? I placed a notepad and pen next to my bed. When I awoke, I wrote down the first thing that came to mind. I did this for seven consecutive mornings. Once I defined my purpose, I listed all of the things I was good at and that I enjoyed doing down the left side of a piece of paper. Next, I listed all of the industries I could think of across the top of the page. I divided my paper into columns and rows, creating a matrix. I placed X's on my matrix wherever I saw a fit between skills/interests and industries. I highlighted the industries where I felt most excited about expressing my skills and interests. I decided to focus my attention on positions in the industries where my skills and interests fit and where I felt the greatest enthusiasm. Within a week I found an ad that matched my area of focus. I was hired within a two months.

Maybe you already know your purpose. Are you challenged enough? Can you be living your purpose at a higher level? Once you find your purpose it is important to continue learning and growing. Listen to the voice within and follow it. There is a reason you are here. Whether you see yourself as young or old, working or retired, you have a purpose. It is calling to you from deep within. Answer the call. Allow it to take hold of you. It is in living your purpose that you will find fulfilment.

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One Thing You Need to Do to Get Things Done

What is it about human nature that we tend to put things off? Is it laziness that we can't get ourselves to start doing the things we need to do? Or is it because we don't have the time? We seem to be busy doing 101 little daily things that we don't have any time left over for the big important tasks. Or are we such perfectionists that we're waiting for the perfect time when everything is in place and ready?

Stuck in the Daily Grind

No wonder then that most of us can't get anything done! If this sounds like you then you'll be stuck in a life of the mundane. You can't get out of it because you're doing the same thing over and over. You tell yourself that you don't have the time. So on and on you go, doing the little things that get you nowhere. And on and on you go, waiting for the perfect time that never comes around.

How to Get Off the Daily Grind

It's time to stop spinning your wheels and do something differently to get results. You need to start somewhere and the best place to start is to have a goal. If you don't have at least one goal then you won't know where you're going. You need something to lead you out of the mundane. Without a goal you won't have a purpose so you'll be aimlessly going from one thing to another.

The One Thing You Need to Do First

Setting your goals is the start of getting things done. It is like the star that guides you in the darkness of the night. If you can see it then you'll know which routes to take to get there.

Sometimes, though, you can have too many goals that you don't know which ones to aim for. It can get confusing so you'd have to focus only on the most important and urgent ones. You'd need to get rid of the small trivial things and pass on the ones that others can do for you.

When you've narrowed your list of goals down to the few significant ones, you will get a clearer picture of where you're going. You can then concentrate your energies on finding ways to reach them and finally have them checked off your list.

Go ahead and write all your goals down - everything that you need and want to do. Then go back and choose a couple of important ones.

Challenge to Get Started on Your Goals

What better way to get your goals done then to challenge yourself? Challenge yourself to get your goals down for the coming year by the end of this month. If you give yourself a time limit then it will feel more urgent and you will more likely push yourself to do it.

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5 Steps To Making Your Goals A Reality

Learning to set, keep, and fulfil your goals is essential to running your business. I am convinced that sales, planning, and marketing will go nowhere without a solid plan and goals to see you through. Goals will provide direction and a clear vision. People without goals will face difficulties in seeing the big picture of their success and will not be able to stay focused. I don't want this to be you. What I do want is for you to be able to build a bridge that can help you from where you are in your business now and where you want to be in future.

Five Steps to Setting Goals

Here are four steps that I return to often when looking for ways to improve my business and move forward.

Step 1: Begin with a Dream

The first step of setting goals is about dreaming about everything that you need to accomplish in your business. Your dreams will not need to be realistic at this point, so you should avoid limiting your thinking process to what you dream may actually become possible. Now, is the perfect time for you to consider every possibility because there are no boundaries to your aspirations. Start by writing your thoughts of where you want to see your business after five years on a piece of paper. You should not worry about how you will get there, just write down your every thought and possibility big or small.

Step 2: Consider Every Possibility

After writing down the possibilities, now it is the time to mull over every one of them. Repeat them to yourself inside your head. Write them down. Share them with a friend. You will find that during this exercise you will discover even more possibilities and opportunities for growth. After you've discovered which goals you would like to work on, try to focus on a significant idea and make an outline of what you think can be a part of the success of that goal. Use elements like word maps, thinking (or "bubble") maps, graphic organizers, or anything that will help you to conceptualize your plans.

Step 3: Sort your Options

In this step you will need to start sorting all your ideas and possibilities of your business which you have written down. It is very important for you to sort your ideas in some categories of importance. Place the most practical and useful ideas at the top of your list, and everything else goes below. Then, do what's always best to do on paper - RIP IT! Rip off anything that didn't make your top ten. Your top ten is what you're going to be focused on from now on. These are the goals you will live, breathe, eat, and sleep with until you've reached and exceeded them.

Step 4: Create a Plan to Focus on

By now you will have a list of specific, attainable, time based, and relevant goals. Begin with the first goal you've written down and elaborate on your process to fulfill it. Once you've done this for all your goals, DON'T WAIT! Start working on them right away. Don't feel like you have to rush through your list: move on to the second goal once the first one has been reached. Finish all of the items outlined in your goal before moving on. You'll find that being able to focus on what item (rather than several all at once) will help you a great deal. And finally...

Step 5: Celebrate

After you've completed your first goal - tell the world about it! Don't be shy, you've just done a great thing. Share it on your website, social media, and in-person to anyone who's interested. You'll not only get the word out about your business, but people LOVE it when others are in a good mood - because it's contagious! You'll most likely gain a new follower intrigued by what you're going to do next. So, what are you waiting for? Start dreaming!

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3 Life Lessons To Help You Achieve Your Goals

1. Time management

I think time management is something that no one's perfect at - I'm certainly far from the best at managing my time, but going to university did help me a lot. I learned that time is valuable and that I don't really gain anything by being disorganised. I find that if you don't manage your time, you don't get anything done and you're just going to end up getting stressed out. University is all about learning how to juggle work and life outside of work. It took me a while to learn that there is more than enough time to juggle both effectively. There's no point in freaking out about how much you have to do - the best thing to do is to just calmly get on with one of your tasks, then at least you're getting something done. You can get so much done once you appreciate how valuable time is.

2. 'Me' time

The main reason for me going to university was to further my career as an artist. Of course I wanted to learn from professionals and enjoy the whole experience, but ultimately I was there for my own benefit. I think it's important to focus on yourself every now and then. You have to stand on your own two feet to make your way in this world. You have a life and it's up to you how it plays out. If you always give in to other people, you're not going to be able to achieve what you want to achieve. It's important to have some 'me' time once in a while. Set aside some time to reflect on what you want and how you're going to go about realising that.

3. Sticking with it

University is a big commitment. It costs a ton of money and can take up several years of your life. One of the most important things I learned was that you just have to stick with it, even when times are tough - even though it's a fantastic experience, it isn't always going to be plain sailing. There are times when you wonder why you're there and what the point of all your hard work is. The main point of going to university is to complete your degree: you just have to persevere and always have the end result in mind to motivate you. Results aren't going to come to you unless you're prepared both time and hard work into achieving them

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How to Set Powerful Goals You Can Achieve

Match Your Core Values

The more any goal fits into one of the four main areas of life - Family, Financial, Physical or Personal - the more likely you are to be able to set a realistic goal that you can achieve. If a goal for some reason doesn't fit into one of your core values, it's not likely you'll experience much success.

Be 100 Percent in Control

While goals that rely on others aren't wrong, they are harder to achieve. Any goal that you control 100 percent is a goal that you can reach. Do ensure that you're not letting fear get in your way or blaming fate for your failures, though. Self-limiting beliefs can get in your way on this one. Be realistic about whether you do have control or not and give yourself more credit. For example if you think you do not have control over your financial future because "that's just how it is," you are mistaken and need to eliminate this line of thinking.

Be Able to Envision the Goal

If you can't see the end result, it will be very difficult to move forward toward achieving the goal. If you need to draw a picture, make a vision board, or take a day out to fantasize about your big dreams and see how they all fit together in the big picture of your life, do so. You need to see the end to be able to truly achieve it.

Be Spelled Out Specifically

Every goal you make needs to be very specific in nature. If you really want to be sure to reach the goal, you have to know when you reached it. Instead of saying "I want to start a business," state exactly what type of business you want to start, who you want to be your clients, and other information that makes the goal more concrete.

Be Measurable

At which point have you achieved the goal? If you can't give a number or something that is measurable, then you won't have a real goal. If you want to use the business example, you might include that you want to earn x amount of dollars each week by a certain date and then how and why you are going to do it.

Be Actionable

To achieve any goal there has to be steps that you can take to get there. Like using a map to reach a destination that you want to go to on vacation, you need to draw a map to your vision of success with the steps and paths you'll take along the way. Put not only what but when, and how you'll accomplish the step.

Be Realistic

You don't want to write a goal that is too hard to achieve or worse, impossible. Be sure that it's scientifically possible to do it by researching everything realistically. For example, you're not likely going to start a business today and earn six figures by tomorrow or even the first year in business. Look at the research and determine what is doable and how you'll do it.

Be Timely

Every goal has to have a time limit otherwise you may never achieve it. Start with the end and work your way back to today, creating the list of things to do each day to finally reach the end result. But, do set a time limit. You can adjust as you get into the project if it works to be more realistic, but resist the urge to change the time because you're not sticking to your task lists.

If you use this method to create powerful goals that you can achieve, you will not experience a lot of failure because you can always adjust your time line and your goals as you learn more. The important thing is to give each goal a lot of thought, consideration and study before setting it.

Cheers to your future and your greatness within it!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Set-Powerful-Goals-You-Can-Achieve&id=8879720

5 Ways to Focus and Achieve Your Goals

Goals are very important so today I wanted to focus on 5 ways to hold your focus and achieve your goals.

Life, accomplishments, success, and advancement all depend on having goals and doing what it takes to achieve those goals.

The secret is to have one focus set on success.

This helps to keep your thoughts concentrated, and your energy does not get dissipated by going in a lot of different directions.

It's easy to get distracted by finding ways to focus on other things, but the key is to build momentum in all things relevant to the goal instead of distraction.

It is all about focus and with focus you can achieve your goals.

We will discuss more about ways to hold your focus in a bit...

But let's get into the power of goal setting and what it can do for you in your life.

The first and most important step is to put your goals in writing. Some place where they are easily visible and allotted time that you can focus on them daily.

Take time out of the day to allow yourself a chance to visualize, focus, and execute them as needed. Look at them often and ask yourself questions on how you can achieve your goals.

Most people who set goals and create a plan to set those goals end up finding themselves headed in the right direction when given a purpose.

It's like a Captain and his ship. To get to where you are going you need coordinates and an effective plan to reach your destination. Goal setting is no different.

Those that do not set goals usually get left in the dust wondering and questioning why success seems to elude them.

While I realize there are people who naturally enjoy success without setting goals, most of us have to if we have any chance of getting from point A to point B.

In my experience with goal setting, past and present, I find that in addition to writing them out, pictures of my goals and associated items, help me to visualize actually having them.

I do this with the use of a vision board or a dry erase board where I right down ideas, plans, timelines, etc.

It gives me the confidence to think that it is just a matter of time until everything will be completed, as well as a road map to help me do the necessary things needed to feel like I'm going in the right direction.

This really helps to subdue any negative vibes that may arise during the journey.

If that plan fails, it's back to the drawing board with a new plan until my goal is completed.

One thing I can tell you is without consistency you will never achieve anything. The power of consistency is vital in achieving many things.

It's about making a decision and going full throttle.

In the past I've struggled with consistency. Struggled with believing that the work I was doing was for nothing. And have struggled with friends and family not supporting or believing in what I was doing.

Get to a point where you make up your mind. Whether anyone is there with you or not you have to do it for YOU. YOU and YOU only even if you have nothing else to stand on find something that will motivate you.

Having a background in sprinting, weightlifting, and fitness I still have issues with working out consistently, but it's a passion for me and I can never leave it alone.

But I've realized that it never gets old and it's part of me. The journey of staying consistent is what makes is so exciting.

I have also been in the internet marketing space for some years now and have yet to have any huge successes because of my lack of consistency. Always finding excuses or ways to cut back and eventually give up.

There should be no excuses no matter what the circumstance. If there's something you want bad enough you do what you need to get to get it. Period!

I can remember a few years back...

I was broke, jobless, going through legal troubles, and had no direction in my life. Everything seemed to not be going my way, but I realized it was all created by my thoughts and my lack of having any real, DESIRABLE goals.

It's about developing a mindset, becoming success driven, goal-oriented, and focused. Pushing the negative self talk aside every chance you get. And coming up with ideas you immediately act on.

Break them down into smaller actions, and then into smaller actions until you come up with something simple, something that does not seem so big it discourages you from finishing.

Anything within reason can be achieved when broken down into something smaller and more manageable. Focus on each process and allow the event to happen, instead of focusing on the event and finding ways to shortcut the process.

The process is the most important part. The event is the reward you reap for completing each process and becoming a problem solver. That's what goals are about.

With that being said let's take a look at what you came here for...

5 Ways to Focus and Achieve Your Goals:

1) Write down your goal/goals and review them frequently. Immerse your mind, thoughts, emotions, feelings, and actions in the process.

2) Create a vision board or a plan that will allow your mind to give attention to your goals daily. It should become a point where even when you aren't consciously thinking about your goals your subconscious is still working on a solution.

3) Talk about your goals every chance you get, review them every chance you get, and find people that will hold you accountable. Commit yourself to doing this daily.

4) Break down your goals to steps that become simple, be specific with the small things needed to complete the ultimate goal.

5) Set your mind to 'WIN', there is no other option to consider. Create the illusion that your back is against the wall and the only way out is to succeed.

Developing focus is a principle to success. Build momentum in all things instead of distraction. Make it work for you.

Don't be allowed to question yourself and ask others for help. Even if you think the question may be stupid.

Make a checklist of the 5 strategies listed above and place them where they can be seen. Review them as often as your goals.

These are the building blocks that will help you become the person you need to be to ultimately win in the end.

You Can Do It!

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How to Prioritize Your Goals

As to which goals are most important at any given time, you'll need to ask yourself some questions to determine where to place your focus.

* Which goals nag at you most often? What keeps you up at night that worries you? Are your finances suffering because you cannot earn enough money at your current job and you want to figure out how to get off the debt treadmill? This is a goal that fits in with all four of the areas above because financial stress can cause a lot of problems with your health and personal development as well as cause problems within the family.

* Which goals can be accomplished most easily? Some goals are very short term but give maximum impact without too much work. For instance, maybe you have a goal of walking 15 minutes per day. This goal may only fit in with the personal and physical areas above, but walking 15 minutes per day will not take much away from the other areas and can give you huge results and a feeling of accomplishment.

* Which goals would give you the most pride in yourself? Will you feel better if you lose 20 pounds or will you feel better if you spend 20 minutes extra with your son? Keep in mind there is no wrong answer, although being healthy might ultimately give you more time in terms of years with your son.

* Which goals have the most permanent results? When choosing whether to spend that extra money on your degree, determine how permanent the results are, and realize that no one can take that degree from you; it will always be an accomplishment. What is it worth?

* Which goals will still impact me in 5 years, or 10 years? If you start a business today, and work daily toward meeting the goals of that business, what will be different in five or ten years? How will that impact you now and in the future?

* Which goals align with your core values in life? Any goal that fits into all four areas of your life is worth pursuing if it also fits into your schedule at the time.

* Which goals are completely up to you, that you control 100 percent? Remember that you cannot control what anyone else does, so if any goal relies on the participation of someone else, and you don't have their participation, you might want to switch gears and focus on something only you control.

* Which goals are just for you? Some goals are completely personal in nature and have nothing to do with anyone else. For instance, you might want to read a particular author that has nothing to do with anything but your own pleasure. This is perfectly fine.

* Which goals are just for others? There are "shoulds" that often get in the way of proper goal setting and these are goals that are only for other people. Your spouse wants you to lose weight, your mom wants you to go to college, your best friend wants you to start a business. None of these are a good reason to do something, although as long as you know going in why, it's okay to make it a goal.

* Which goals cause you the most fear? Why? Sometimes the very thing you fear most is what's best for you to do. Look clearly at your goal and figure out why it frightens you. Sometimes it's the unknown, and like ripping off a Band-Aid, just doing it might be the best cure.

* Which goals make you excited? Some goals immediately send tingles down your body and into your mind, pushing you forward to doing it. These are goals that are easy to do and probably impact your life a lot. However, do pay attention because if it's a goal of becoming the high scorer on a video game you might want to question your "why".

* Which goals are most realistic? The best goals to put first are the goals that best fit into your life today, cover all four areas of life, and still fit into your schedule and where you control 100 percent of the effort.

When you answer all these questions, you'll be able to see how the goals practically organize themselves. Try making a chart and adding each goal to the four areas, then choosing the ones that cross the most areas to add to your schedule first.

Cheers to your future and your greatness within it!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Prioritize-Your-Goals&id=8879723

Achieve The Impossible

Say Goodbye to the Old Year!

Ever wonder why we make such a big deal about resolutions when so many people either don't make them (less than 40%) or if they do, only about 8% actually happen? Wishful thinking maybe? Or possibly, "Where did I hide that magic wand anyway?"

So if they don't work, how about for starters we just throw out the whole idea of resolutions. Let go of the practice entirely. Decide that this year you just won't be joining that crowd.

"But what is the alternative?", you may ask. Do we just give up, hang our heads, and never get what we want or need? That seems as unworkable as a resolution.

My answer is to, instead, just set a straight up reasonable goal or intention with no pressure, no fanfare, no guarantees. Don't make any unreasonable promises either. And definitely don't run out and buy the first gadget, expensive software, or gym membership to incent you to actually do it.

Unless you are the type who needs your feet put to the fire or someone chasing you with a hot poker to ensure you get them done, then by all means hire someone to do that for (or with) you. Barring that, there is no better way to get what you want or need than to just take one small step towards it.

No big deal made of it. No huge announcement.

Still not feeling the love? Then how about this approach, one that I developed which combines a few tools I've used in the past along with a new, fun one I picked up this year.

Here goes... the simple, easy plan...

First, get a piece of paper or two (a journal if you prefer) and write down as many WINS and successes from last year you can possibly remember. Pull out last year's calendar to help remind you. Ask someone who knows you well to help fill it in even more. This is your time to pat yourself on the back and remind yourself of your successes. This is not the time to berate yourself for so little accomplished or to rag on yourself for not getting more done. Pats on the back only please!

Second, next to each win, ask yourself, "What did I learn or glean from this win or success?" Write that down next to the win. No belittling allowed here. There was a reason you accomplished it, no matter how small you deem it. What was the outcome? How did it make you feel?

Third, scan your list of what you learned from each win or success. What do they have in common? Do you see a trend or commonality? If so, write that down.

Fourth, use that commonality in setting your new goal or intention. One goal or intention. Not a huge list (unless you love lists and they motivate you), just one, simple, straight forward intention.

And finally, say goodbye to the old year. Now that you've gleaned from it what you need, let it go, send it on its way with a loving "bye, bye!" Make a celebration or ritual of it, a goodbye party if you wish, or light a candle and say a prayer but do say goodbye in an intentional, clear way.

No hanging onto the past. Now it's time to take your first baby step.

No guilt please. Say goodbye to that too. And remember, that failure is part of the process. Every successful endeavour has a few missteps or goof ups. Use those for your course correction and step once again onto your path to your accomplishment.

No step is too small. No accomplishment is unimportant.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Say-Goodbye-to-the-Old-Year!&id=8910464

Make This Your Best Year Ever!

It is almost habitual for most of us to set New Year's resolutions in January only for the momentum to fall away by the end of the month. That's why some are cynical about the whole process of setting resolutions, which I can understand. However, if you set goals in the right way and develop the right mindset then you may find that you will be able to achieve amazing things in life! Here are some key steps to setting goals and achieving your ideal life.

1. Be True to Yourself. Think about the person that you are - the people, places, habits and things that are important to you. These are your foundations and your life, habits, decisions should be built around that - the person that you are.

2. Reflect and take stock of all areas of your life. Identify where you are not in alignment with the person that you are? Consider what you would need to do to resolve this.

3. Set your vision for the future. What does that look like for you? Go into as much detail as you can here. For example, if you want to move house where do you want to go? What will your house look like? What kind of area will you be in? How many rooms will the house have? etc. Do this for all areas of your life and get absolutely clear on what you want.

4. Ask yourself why your vision is important to you? If you ask yourself 'why is this important?' 5 times your answers will indicate how strong a sense of purpose you have. The stronger that 'why', the more likely it will be that you will take action and work to stay on track when things get more challenging.

5. Don't lose sight of the present. This might sound strange given I've just asked you to set your vision for the future, but don't obsess to the point of worry about the past or the future. Enjoy each present moment as it comes. Find gratitude every day for the positive things in your life as it is. This moment is really all that matters, when it comes down to it. All the while you can be working towards progressing your life.

6. Create your own success map. You don't create the life you truly want by sitting back waiting for it to happen. it is, therefore, important that you believe you can achieve it and want to take action. Start with your end goals in mind and map out the big milestones to get there, then break those milestones down into very basic actions. Focus on the first action, schedule time to complete it and get going. Momentum builds belief and confidence and reduces overwhelm.

7. Forgive yourself and others. Sometimes feelings of guilt or resentment can really hold us back. This can be either towards yourself or others. A common example being you telling yourself that you've failed before so will fail again. This is simply a limiting belief that you tell yourself, in fact, convince yourself of. The reality is that in many instances, failure is a great way to learn and grow. Forgive yourself, support yourself the way you would support others, learn from previous experiences and set out steps that will get you to where you want to be. None of us will live our lives without making any mistakes.

8. Create positive habits. This takes time, some say it ranges between 30-66 days to create and embed a new habit. What positive habits could you create that will help you to get closer to your goal? Do it every day, stay with it, keep scheduling and completing the habit and after 30 days it'll start to get easier and will eventually become a habit. You can then consider other positive habits that would help you to make progress.

9. Start to create momentum... now! Make sure your big goal, your milestones and small steps are all visible. It is important that you have sight of them every day in order to keep your mind focused. Do what you can every day to move you closer and closer to that life that you want.

10. Celebrate success! Acknowledge and reward the progress you make from the first small step you take, to achieving each milestone and then ultimately achieving the big goal or dream you've been working towards.

Take the time to work through each of these steps and with commitment and self-discipline, you will develop the mindset required to set goals, stay on track and achieve great things. If you feel like you would benefit from the support of a coach I'd be delighted to hear from you.

You CAN do it!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Make-This-Your-Best-Year-Ever!&id=8890175

The Beginner's Guide to Goal Setting

The practice of goal setting is essential to long-term success. The main reason is that it is a prior condition for happiness and success. As psychologists say, those who try to define clearly their goals will live happier as they will make consistent progress to reach them. Acknowledge that writing goals enhances power and performance. This help you concentrate your resources efficiently and keep you motivated when you feel like giving up. If you've never written goals, it is time to work on them.

1. Make a rough draft of your goals. Start asking yourself questions about what you want for your life. Your answers can be general statements, but could help focus on the things that really matter to you. It is necessary to identify the things you value so as to make decision and keep you concentrated on your end goals.

2. Itemize your goals. Make them more specific. Think about things you want to achieve in each area of your life, whether it is your career, finances, family, social relationship or personal development goals. Consider what you want to develop or change with time. Ask yourself questions about the way you'd like to achieve goals and to approach them within 1, 5, 10 year timeframe.

3. Create goals using the S.M.A.R.T method. This acronym is a system used by educators to identify, set and achieve goals. This means your goals must meet five criteria: they must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. Then think to get them solidified by affirming your commitment to completing the goals with positive statements. These statements will be seen as the roadmap for setting goals for today, tomorrow, next week, next month and next year.

4. Once you set your goals, achieve them, starting with the small ones. Get into the habit of setting goals and achieving goals. And each time you reach a goal, allow yourself to celebrate your achievement accordingly. You will pill up successes! By the way, take time to assess each goal process to be more successful.

5. Keep track of the progress made towards your personal and professional goals. This is the key to keep you motivated and to make sure you hit your target dates. Get into the habit of encouraging yourself so that you reach your personal development goal easily.

6. Last but not least, review your written goals as frequently as possible: daily, weekly, monthly... Knowing each step you have to make to move towards your goals is the only way to turn them into reality.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Beginners-Guide-to-Goal-Setting&id=8917157

Unleashing the Female Goal-Getter Within

As women sometimes we give so much to others that we forget to do things for ourselves. We cater to the needs of others day after day, month after month, and year after year, and before we know it our dreams have been put on the back burner. If that is your story you can change it right now.

You deserve to achieve every dream that is in your heart, and you must begin to think that you deserve to be a goal-getter. Becoming a female goal-getter just means that you are a woman who is motivated, to achieve her goals and dreams. And it doesn't matter how long you have had your dream in your heart, you still have time to get it in your hands. Becoming a female goal-getter doesn't mean that you are selfish, and it doesn't mean that you are neglecting people or things around you, but what it does mean is that you are making a decision to go for what you want, in a very purposeful and powerful way.

Becoming a goal-getter also means that you are creating space in your life for you. More than likely if I ask you if you have any goals, you will say "yes." Because most of us do have goals, maybe we haven't shared them with anyone, or maybe we have, but most of us have something within, that we want to achieve. And it is not beneficial if we continue to move forward without mastering our goals.

What goal are you trying to achieve? What dream is in your heart, that you would love to get in your hands? What is something that you have wanted to do, but you haven't found the motivation to do it? Do you feel like it is too late? If you feel like it is too late, then I have good news for you. It is not too late, you can still take steps to become a goal-getter. This can get you on the path to happiness and feeling fulfilled.

You can even start becoming a goal-getter today, by putting your priorities in order. Set up a plan and make your goals happen. Do what you need to do to realistically reach your dreams. Set small goals that you can easily achieve, and then work on conquering bigger goals. Don't think about how much time has passed by, but think about the fact that you have this moment, to be all that you were born to be

http://ezinearticles.com/?Unleashing-the-Female-Goal-Getter-Within&id=8887454

Your Best Life Awaits You When You Are Determined to Succeed

Many of us have heard these words before, my mind is made up and there is no stopping me. Those words represent a made up mind, the kind of which when set in motion results in achievement.

It is a good thing Thomas Edison did not give up on finding a way to improve incandescent lighting which is part of what we know as the the light bulb for home use. History tells us Edison tried and failed 10,000 times and ultimately his determined mind is what households around the world enjoy to this day.

The lesson for each of us to take from Thomas Edison is to be determined and do not throw in the towel when success eludes us. Determination must be part of your arsenal when it comes to achieving any level of success, remember this and you will succeed more times than not.

Our best life is possible when we tap into our infinite talent, gifts and determination. This trifecta is the ultimate success formula for transforming from impossible to the possible in life. Show me a successful person without determination and I will show you a person who will not achieve the success they so richly deserve.

Another key point to keep in mind is to know your purpose. So many people ask what their purpose is in life and I encourage them to dig deep for the fire burning on the inside of them. In other words, what do you love to do? Do you love something so much you would perform the work and or activity without pay?

Taking the burning desire to passion would be a great transition because that is exactly what is involved in the process. We must be passionate about what we want in life and perform at the level that crosses into the spectrum called your essence.

Your essence represents the very fiber of your being. To put it another way, once you tap into your essence you flow like the wind we cannot see but it exist none the less. Success is for the taking when we combine determination with a willingness to not quit on ourself, blend our gifts and talents and know what our purpose and passion is.

We can take all that we know and share it with everyone we know and create a purposeful greater good for humanity as a whole. You can live your best life possible when you are determined to succeed, start the process today.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Best-Life-Awaits-You-When-You-Are-Determined-to-Succeed&id=4778484

What Is Talent?

An unusual or exceptional ability to do something well defines talent. It can be measured in many ways. We all marvel at the well to do, highly respected, well liked person. Most of us will resign that person reached the pinnacle of their life because of talent. But what does that mean? Was that person gifted with special powers or favour? Was the road to success paved just for them? Without proper development, talent will never reach its full capacity. Hard work and drive nurtures your talent. Without proper development talent is just a knack for doing something well. History has recorded many with talent that was wasted or not taken advantage of. One of god's gifts to us is talent how we develop and use it is the measure of what we are made of. The world offers a multiplicity of unique skills but what separates recognized talent, is the commitment, drive and intensity that is applied when honing those unique skills. Regardless of the endeavour, recognized talent will be the measuring stick. The most talented will consistently work harder, smarter and with more intensity. It is not a matter of talent but more so as to how you develop.

Talent does not guarantee success. Hard work, drive and a passion for success are traits that will keep you moving forward. Life shows no concern for your talents. It will continuously move forward with or without us. When our efforts and intellect mirror life, we move forward as life does. Talent is preparing your self with the gifts given while consistently moving forward. There will always be hurdles and pitfalls. We can choose a destination but how we get there will depend on quite a few things other than talent. The measurement of who we are is a result of the effort, character, value and intellect that we adhere to. Talent is a gift only if you recognize what the gift is and build on the positive aspects of that gift. Talent is also nurtured by gaining knowledge and sharpening your skills. Perfecting your talents requires intellect. The price of talent is hard work. The more you put in the more it becomes habit. Positive effort brings about positive results. Perfection of your talent is the process of consistently refining yourself and seeking to do it better than you did it the last time. Its one thing to believe and know you can achieve, but is another to do it and get better while going through it. It is crucial that talent is allowed to prosper.

Perfection is achieved by consistently doing the right thing over and over. Talent will become routine and the drive to get better will fuel that talent. When your purpose is by design your talent will play a major part. Talent needs to be developed. Nothing sharpens steel like steel. Sharpening your talents will give you the same results of sharpened steel. The more you hone your talents the more natural your talents become. A crucial component of talent is recognizing what your talents consist of and the approach used to develop that talent. When your efforts are sincere and intense, you will get the best results. We all have unique gifts and talents, some we know of and others we haven't yet touched on. Our timeline has limitations, so how we use the time allotted to us is crucial. Talent is taking the gift and developing that gift to its fullest. Talent is having the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they already know what you truly want to become. We were given these talents to purposely fulfill. To live life to its fullest is to fully take advantage of your talents. Talent is one many gifts given in our pursuit of a meaningful life. Let's take advantage of our talents

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-Talent?&id=8828296

Do You Want...

• Written positive outcome for your life
• A new awareness of what to do to find your place, position & purpose
• A renewed sense of energy and motivation
• And so much more that you can apply in your daily life.

At Find Your Place, Position & Purpose, you will get simple actionable steps you can put into practice immediately to help you live your best life NOW.

Talking About Purpose!

When we talk about purpose, we are talking about our reason for being and for doing. Life is meaningless without knowing and living out our purpose. Some people will commit suicide because they feel that their life has no purpose, and without purpose there is no hope. God created man in His image and gave him a purpose that included spiritual fellowship and productive service. A purpose isn't simply an ideal; it's something that we have strong convictions about: we believe in it and it informs our actions.Purpose generates excitement - an excitement that enables us to leap over every obstacle. It helps us to develop tenacity. I become excited when I know what God wants me to accomplish, when I know why I'm here and when I understand the possibilities of my future. I develop endurance, that can't quit attitude that allows me to rise above challenges. Don't get me wrong - purpose doesn't minimize or even eliminate challenges. It just helps me to have the drive to succeed in spite of them.

A true purpose is God given: it requires sensitivity and listening to God's voice. To know our purpose and to maximize that purpose, we need to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord through the Holy Spirit. Developing that relationship involves prayer and studying and meditating on the Word of God. The faith chapter in Hebrews 11 tells us about numerous people who realized their purpose because of their faith in God. Noah, through his faith, realized his purpose of saving his family and humanity from extinction. Abraham realized his purpose of being a blessing to the nations and becoming a father of faith for billions of people. Moses realized his purpose of being a deliverer for the Israelites rescuing them from their Egyptian captivity. Every truly spiritual/mature believer has a sense of purpose. All believers have purpose but not all believers know their purpose because they have not developed that sensitivity to God's voice.

Purpose motivates us and we motivate and mobilize others. When we understand and embrace our purpose, we become excited and there is a willingness to get up and go. We know what we are about. Purpose as the 'why' helps us to figure out the 'what' and the 'how.' Having motivation then leads to motivating and mobilizing others. This is particularly true of leaders. Strong leaders know their purpose: they know what they have to do, where they have to go and who they have to recruit. Leaders know that they can't accomplish their purpose alone. They need to bring people along with them. Some of those persons will come to recognize their purpose and may eventually branch out. A person who lacks motivation is a person who lacks purpose.

Purpose motivates diligence. When we are strongly committed to our purpose, we will be motivated to work hard. We understand that hard work is needed in order to be successful. Someone has quipped that the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. When we are driven by our purpose, we will make needed sacrifices. At times, we will put in long hours because that is what is required to fulfill our purpose. However, working hard does not mean that we have to compromise on those things that are important such as our relationship with God and our relationship to our family. The difference between a dreamer and a visionary is effort. A dreamer can conceptualize but doesn't invest the effort to actualize. The visionary sees the possibilities and actively takes the steps to ensure that they are turned into realities.

Purpose causes leaders to prioritize. Leaders can't accomplish everything; similarly, they cannot meet all expectations. Leaders must focus on those activities that actualize their purpose. Activities can be divided into urgent but not important, important but not urgent, neither urgent nor important, both urgent and important. Leaders must determine which category an activity falls into. This means that some things must be left undone. Leaders must recognize that not all positions and jobs help them to realize their purpose. Some things require leaders' attention but are minor; these should not be time consuming. Leaders must invest time in the major activities; some things can be delegated - e.g. the apostles left the waiting on tables to the deacons. Leaders who try to do everything not only fail to realize their purpose but are also candidates for burnout. Jesus is a great example of maintaining one's priorities. He came to do the will of His Father and He did not deviate from that purpose.

Purpose keeps us grounded in the present as opposed to the past while preparing for the future. It keeps us focused on what needs to happen now. It keeps us grounded in reality rather than dreaming about the future. Purpose helps us to overcome the monotony of life: life is not a string of exhilarating activities. In today's culture of instant gratification, people are looking for excitement, so they abandon things that are no longer thrilling. Persons who have purpose will stick to their task until the goal is realized. Purpose reminds us that we're going somewhere - activities add up. The journey may be long, but we know we are making progress with every step we take.

Know your purpose, maximize your potential. Giftedness alone is not sufficient; without purpose even a gifted person will fail to realize his potential. When we have purpose we will look for opportunities to actualize that purpose. Purpose challenges us to overcome our deficiencies and fears. Purpose causes us to improve through studying and practice. Purpose leads to creativity; it helps us to find the resources that are needed. Is your purpose being realized? Are you accomplishing what you set out to do?

 

 

http://ezinearticles.com/?Talking-About-Purpose!&id=7765980

Purpose

Many people go through much of their lives without really thinking about their purpose. I don't mean a lofty, philosophic, and often unrealistic purpose that has us striving to save the world or solve the challenge of poverty throughout the world (although these are both admirable for those whose true purpose is to do so). What I am talking about is the individual and unique purpose that drives and grounds us. The one thing that gives meaning to our lives and motivates us to achieve our potential.
Purpose is best expressed in two parts. The first part is fixed. This is the intrinsic nature or core of who we are. It describes the "what" of our purpose and does not change over time or across situations. The second part is variable. It is "how" we express our purpose and can change over time or across situations. The "how" represents the actions that we take in the fulfilment of our purpose. When our actions are synchronized with our purpose, we will not only perform our best but we will also feel our best. For example, in my previous management roles, I always found myself feeling the most satisfied and energized both during and after helping one of my team members solve a particularly challenging situation. As I was to discover, this reflected the fact that this situation or activity was in sync with my purpose which was to "help others to help themselves" (the "what") by coaching people to explore their options and discover their capabilities (the "how"). In my current coaching practice, the work I do with my clients is one of the most satisfying times in my day as it allows me to fully express my purpose.
One way of viewing our lives and our state of being is as a system. When part of that system is out of sync with the rest, we cease to function efficiently and effectively. When our actions are out of sync with our purpose, we do not function at our best. This is what happens when we spend our time focused on material and external rewards. We fail to truly attend to our purpose and risk working against our true nature. This leads to both dissatisfaction and unhappiness as we go through life trying to swim against our natural flow. If we focus our efforts on fulfilling our purpose, the material and external rewards will follow or, more often than not, will lose their importance. Even without these rewards, our lives will be much more fulfilling and this will lead to greater satisfaction.

Purpose is particularly important in the fulfilment of our potential as it represents the ultimate commitment in our life. When we use our capabilities in activities that serve our purpose, we achieve a state in which our skills and our commitment are highly synchronized. In this state we are achieving what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi refers to as flow in his books "Flow" and "Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life" (I highly recommend these books). When we are in flow, we are at the highest level of engagement in what we do and are the most contented. For many of us, this state is achieved without awareness. All we know is that we are thoroughly and completely enjoying what we do.

In identifying our purpose, there are a number of things that we can do. First, we can attend to situations in which we have achieved a state of flow. What are we doing when we are most contented? What activities provide us with the most enjoyment and satisfaction? When do we feel the most challenged and that we have the capabilities to meet these challenges head on? The activities in which we are engaged in during these situations represent the expression of our purpose. In examining these expressions of purpose we can discover the very essence of who we are. Second, we can look at where we have achieved the most success. Through examination of our successes we can discover both what we do well and what brings us satisfaction. Third, we can look at what we dream of doing and why. Our dreams provide us with great insight into where we can achieve potential and thus satisfy our purpose. Finally, we can follow our hearts. When we over-use our great ability to think and analyse in discovering our purpose, we too often begin to judge and, as result, limit our possibilities.
Do not worry if you are uncertain about your purpose. Most of us do not discover our purpose without a lot of effort while some of us know right away. Look at discovering your purpose as an exciting journey. One that will allow you to better understand who you are and of what you are capable.



http://ezinearticles.com/?Purpose&id=59761

Find Your Place, Position & Purpose

8 Ways to Discover Your Passion and Live a Life You Love

“Don’t worry about what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~Howard Thurman

 

I didn’t spend two years and $100,000 for a master’s degree in counselling from an Ivy League university so that I could be miserable and hate my life 50 hours a week, but that’s what happened.

After a few years in the trenches of the non-profit world, my job had become so emotionally draining that it was taking a vicious toll on my health and causing gripping anxiety attacks. I felt exhausted more often than not, and I was scrambling to find scraps of happiness in my previously joy-filled life.

When I took the time to listen, my inner monologue sounded something like this:

“You know you’re not doing what you love. Your life lacks a deeper meaning, and you have no idea what you’re really passionate about. What in the world are you doing with your life?”

I wanted to do more, but I had no idea which path I wanted to take. I felt confused, stuck, and worst of all, embarrassed by my lack of direction. I was treading water as I waited for a sign as to what my next step should be.

As the months continued to pass, I became more aware of how I was wasting time. I saw my life passing me by, leaving me only with regrets and “what ifs.”

Finally, I was brutally honest with myself about my unhappiness and I embarked on some serious soul-searching. I asked myself tough questions and learned what it felt like to be authentically me. I discovered that my unhappiness was rooted in my lack of passion and I slowly began taking control.

Six months later, I launched my own coaching business. A year later, I quit my job, reclaimed my life, and I have never been happier.

But that doesn’t mean everything fell into place perfectly.

Even though I had been building my own business for several months before I left my job, I was still scared. I didn’t know if I would be able to support myself financially or if my business would be sustainable.

In order to build up my savings, there were months of saying no to happy hours and weekend brunch dates, moving in with a friend to decrease my rent, and cutting corners to save every dollar possible.

Following my passion was emotionally challenging and a leap of faith, but I never worried about making the “wrong” choice because I knew I didn’t want to be unhappy any longer, and that was more important to me than any pay check.

It is terrifying when you feel like your life has no purpose or direction, but finding your passion can change all that. Finding your passion is like finding your personal road map. When you know what your passion is, you feel motivated, inspired, and so much clearer about what your next step should be.

8 Ways to Discover Your Passion and Live a Life You Love

1. Slow down.

When we slow down, we are able to tap into the best version of ourselves, which is most often when we find the answers we’ve been searching for. This might mean practicing yoga, going for daily walks, or setting aside time each day to meditate. Slowing down allows you to quiet the outside voices and listen to yourself.

2. Change your story.

We all tell ourselves stories about who we are, what we’re capable of, and what we deserve. If we can identify our self-limiting stories (I’m not good enough; I don’t deserve to be happy, etc.), then we can begin writing new stories that are grounded in confidence and courage, and map out actions that move us from one to the other.

3. Own your uniqueness.

We are here for a reason. No one else has your unique blend of talents, wisdom, strengths, skills, and creativity. We all have something great to offer, and learning to accept and own what makes you unique is crucial to sharing your gifts with the world.

4. Cultivate confidence.

If we are continually telling ourselves we can’t, then we will never believe we can. There is a chance you may fail, but it will be impossible to succeed if you don’t believe in yourself. You can create affirmations, focus on the things you want, or make a vision board that shows your future success.

5. Find the themes.

Recognizing the recurring themes in our lives creates a pattern for us to either follow or change. What themes or lessons seem to constantly surface in your life? What are you drawn to again and again? What areas of life seem to be full of discomfort and pain? What areas are full of joy and light?

6. Write.

Ideas flow more freely when we write without an agenda. New inspiration may appear unexpectedly and it becomes easier to connect the dots. Spend a few minutes of quality time each day with a pen and paper allowing yourself to process your thoughts without influence from the outside world.

7. Focus on the fun.

Too often we get wrapped up in the expectations we set for ourselves. We focus on the details and the to-do lists instead of what is most important. What do you love to do? What makes you smile? If money were limitless, what would you be doing today?

8. Push past fear.

It’s so seductive to tell ourselves that’s we’ll go after what we want when we have more experience, more money, or more time, but the truth is, that will never happen. We must identify these excuses as masks for our fear. It’s only when we get clear on our fears and recognize how it is holding us back, we can begin moving forward.

 

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/8-ways-to-discover-your-passion-and-live-a-life-you-love/