The Purposeful Life

When Rick Warren wrote the Purpose Driven Life a few years ago, it really struck a chord in everyone. It was a Christian Book, but it really spoke to the fact that we as humans require a direction and a purpose for our lives.

Like I often tell my clients, there are two guiding principles here:

1. If you have a goal or a specific vision for your life, that is a good target to be purposeful towards.  However, bear in mind, when you accomplish that goal, you want to create yet another goal otherwise you will be directionless again.

2. If you do not have a specific goal like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or something like that, just practice mindful and purposeful living where you are right now. Keep the idea of being purposeful as the goal. Goals and purposes will emerge from there.

As humans, we have a need to live a meaningful life. We constantly attach meaning to everything and we have a need to do so. The meaning we attribute to what we do is what makes it worthwhile.

Now, purposefulness is about blending your abilities with your desire to contribute and make a difference.

In this engaging video, Richard St. John spoke at TED talks about achieving goals and losing everything after that because he had accomplished his goals.

He says that purposeful living is circular rather than one directional.

Do you keep refreshing your goals? Do you think of resting on your laurels when you have accomplished your goals? That is why it is important to continuously reinvent your life.