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.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Living-Your-Purpose&id=418792

Create Your Reality

Keys To Success

How to Develop a Good Habit

Q: Why don't nuns have to worry about deciding what to wear?

A: Because they have a habit.

A habit is a shortcut that makes your life easier because you don't have to spend energy choosing to do it. It's mentally exhausting thinking about every action and every behaviour. If you're spending several minutes two or three times a week looking for your keys that adds up to a lot of frustration and wasted time. And that may point to an area in your life in need of a habit. Similarly, if you've been meaning to incorporate, say, journalling into your morning practice, but it just hasn't happened, then it's pretty clear you haven't developed that habit. Or if your car stays super cluttered and that bothers you, then there may be another habit you need to develop.

Your schedule consists of three basic elements-appointments, to-do items, and habits. An appointment is a commitment with yourself or with another person. Your to-do list is essentially a wish list-it's like that drawer in your kitchen where you dump all that stuff that doesn't have a home yet. And habits are the third element. Brushing your teeth, for example, is not a to-do item, nor is it something we typically put on the calendar as an appointment. It's a habit-something we do on autopilot.

I'd like to invite you to consider a habit that you would like to develop, then spend 30 seconds identifying a strategy, and then make that strategy a rule. Strategy turns to rule and then, with any luck, that rule becomes a new habit.

Let's take the example of someone who spends several minutes each week looking for her misplaced keys. In her 30-second problem-solving period she might come up with a reasonable strategy like, "When I walk in my house, then I'll put my keys in the candy dish by the door." Next, she'll make that strategy a rule. She'll add an evening reminder to her calendar and if she has not followed her rule, she will stop what she's doing and over-correct: She'll pop downstairs and put the keys into the candy dish five times. She is over-practicing, or over-rehearsing, in an effort to lay down this new habit.

Step two is to make that strategy a rule in the form of when/then: When I walk in the door, then I put the keys in the dish. And step three is to make an appointment with yourself at the end of the day to determine whether in fact you have followed through. If you've picked a good strategy, this process should yield a new habit easily enough. On the other hand, if you don't find that your new habit is easy to establish, you might need to go back to the drawing board and spend another 30 seconds identifying a new strategy.

Let's try it

OK, let's go: Spend 30 seconds right now identifying a strategy in the form of when/then. For example, "When I leave the office, then I will head straight to the gym." Or, "When I order a salad, then I'll request dressing on the side." Or, "When my supervisor speaks sharply with me and I want to say something rude, then I'll place my tongue at the roof of my mouth right behind my front teeth and count to five."

Go ahead, identify the strategy; if you feel stuck, reach out to some creative friends. Just make sure that you've come up with a good strategy before you move onto the next step-making that strategy a rule. Agree with yourself in writing: Put it on your calendar. And schedule an evening check-in.

Develop a strategy, make it a rule, and develop a new habit. Wash, rinse and repeat...

Good luck with this process, tell me bout your successes or frustrations developing a new habit. Especially tell me about any tweaks to the process that made it more effective for you!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Develop-a-Good-Habit&id=8889047

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

Is This You?

If you…

      Want the freedom to be you

      Want to make a difference and be of service to others

      Believe you have so much to give but do not know how

      Are tired of feeling sick and tired of feeling sick and tired

Then you are not alone. If any of these statements apply to you, let me assure you, it’s not your fault.

If like me you weren’t taught what to do, don’t feel sad about it. You will be pleased to know that you can learn how to Find Your Place, Position & Purpose.

Want to know what it is? (am sure you do…)

Then join Jacqueline Ani, Adebukola Oragbade and Omowunmi Olunloyo on Saturday December 13^th 2014 at 1pm for Find Your Place, Position & Purpose at The Agora Harris Academy Falconwood The Green Welling Kent DA16 2PE. 

Closest Rail: Falconwood Station, Bus: B15, B16, 51

You will get simple actionable steps you can put into practice immediately to help you Find Your Place, Position And Purpose in record time.

For more information contact 07950826429 or omowunmiolunloyo@yahoo.com

To Living in Purpose!

Omowunmi

www.omowunmiolunloyo.blogspot.co.uk

P.S

Do you have some friends or colleagues who could benefit from this wealth of free information? Feel free to tell them about the program Find Your Place, Position & Purpose. Thank you! I appreciate you.

 

 

In Pursuit of Purpose

    

What is my purpose?" Everybody has one - a reason they were created. There is some role to fulfil, some part to play, some reason for our existence, right? I've heard purpose described, quite simply, if you see something that needs to be done, it is your purpose to do it. Another approach was find out what you are passionate about and you'll find your purpose. Maybe it's that simple, but something inside says there's got to be more.

When I think of Purpose, I think of what gives meaning to our lives. It keeps us from the futility of aimless Doing with nothing more to show but unfulfilled lives. We might find our lives tolerable. In fact, like tattered, gapping, runover sneakers, our lives may be oh so comfortable yet falling apart.
My life coach encouraged me to use some tools to explore my purpose even more deeply. I was given an exercise that involved first identifying my Values, Motivations and Strengths. This knowledge, in turn, would reveal Meaning, Spark and Contribution. All roads were to ultimately lead to Individual Awareness. I must admit, I still couldn't put all the pieces together BUT I gained understanding that let me know I was closer to Purpose than I had ever been before.
PUT YOURSELF FIRST. This was my first pearl of wisdom. It is not enough to know who you are, but you must honor who you are. Heretofore, I had exerted so much energy in knowing myself, but kept placing myself in compromising situations. I grossly neglected taking care of that self.
You might say, "well, that sounds good but how do you actually put yourself first?" I'm glad you asked. First, take a long look at where your time and energy are going. How much of that time is other-directed? How much of that time is for you?
Take paper and pencil and list energizers on one side and drainers on the other. Then prioritize the two lists based on the intensity. Say, you list "taking work home" as a drainer. How much of a drain is it? Is it a minor annoyance or does it leave you so tired that you have no energy for anything or anybody else? Our lives are like bank accounts. You can only take out what has been deposited else the account is overdrawn. Nothing else can go out until something is put in.

Another way of putting yourself first is to take a typical day. Carve out some time for yourself. Doesn't have to be major but it must be meaningful. I suggest scheduling me time just as you schedule lunch or other appointments. For me, it was going outdoors: leaving the confines of the indoors and embracing the expanded vantage point of nature.
YOUR PURPOSE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE. This was profound. It took the toil out of trying to find out my purpose. It removed the anxiety of trying to find something that seemed to elude me. When you act in accordance with who you are, purpose recognizes you. You invite purpose to present you with opportunities to usher you into a better life. I've heard countless success stories of people who took a risk on what they believed or wanted for their lives. Despite doubters and haters, they heard something that they couldn't explain tell them they had to go for it. And they did. When they stood up, Purpose came running.
PURPOSE IS NOT ONLY THE DESTINATION BUT IT IS THE JOURNEY. Purpose is the driving force, the energy that drives us to its fulfillment. Purpose takes coincidences and turns them into opportunities. Purpose takes discontent and leaves bread crumbs for you to follow that bring you to a higher consciousness. Purpose takes unpleasant experiences and brings you to a place of meaning and a deeper understanding of who you are and how you fit in the larger picture. Purpose exposes the mediocre and inspires excellence. Purpose is a relentless agitator, oft challenging where we are and beckoning us to where we're suppose to be. Purpose does not require facts, it simply knows. Purpose is never ever wrong. So, if you are in pursuit of purpose, let me give you some liberating news. Purpose is in pursuit of you.

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

My first goal

My first goal was to write a book. Now I am an author of 2 Steps to receiving from God.
www.omowunmiolunloyo.com.

Want my best tips?

Want to be confident in setting goals?

Want to achieve your goals?

Would you like to make a difference?

Then you do not want to miss this event.

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