Understanding Your Life’s Purpose
The meaning of purpose should be crystal clear to us. We see it so much in everyday life, for example a spoon is meant for eating with and although a fork is somewhat similar, it is not a spoon and therefore should not be used like one. The boundaries of purpose can be invisible yet distinct. A table napkin may look like a handkerchief but hardly anyone I know would mop their brow with the former. In our minds, a handkerchief has a clearly defined purpose and wiping greasy fingers on one’s skirt is considered bad manners.
It’s not as difficult as it sounds yet when it comes to our personal lives, purpose becomes a mysterious matter. However, it needn’t be so. In fact our lives are filled with clues as to where our purpose lies and by following these clues we can find the path to fulfillment - both at work and in everyday life.
WHY ARE YOU SHAPED THAT WAY?
Your physical appearance is a major indication of your purpose. Historically our bodies were built to suit our natural environment: pointed noses for Mediterranean weather, darker skin for sun-drenched regions, slender frames for nomads. The reverse is also the case; environment and lifestyle can shape or reshape our bodies over a period of time. Likewise our bodies are crafted with purpose in mind. Whilst there are exceptions to most rules, your physical frame is already equipped to enable you fulfill your purpose in life. You have what you’ve got for a reason and what you do not have, you probably do not need.
For instance, Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player in the world to date. He has excelled in the sport and is immensely passionate about it. Just think, is it a coincidence that Jordan is at least 6 feet 6 inches tall? Perhaps not the tallest of basketball players, you may say, but he is sufficiently endowed to participate in the sport. A pygmy would have had a hard time playing basketball in Jordan’s day.
In fact it is said in numerous biographies that Michael was not a tall child and that because none of the male Jordans had ever reached six feet of height, he had no real hope of growing tall. This perceived handicap caused the young Jordan a lot of concern but Jordan’s father told him that hard work and determination were greater assets than physique. It is said that Michael heeded his father’s words and worked on his skills every day after school. Remarkably he sprouted from 5′10″ to 6′3″ between his sophomore and junior years.
Is it a coincidence that fashion model, Naomi Campbell, was born with the appropriate looks for her profession? Is it a coincidence that runway models that are not pretty in a conventional sense possess ‘edginess’ or other appealing traits? Paula Radcliffe is one of the UK’s most prominent long distance runners, for example. Is it a surprise that her natural body shape is slender and not thickset? Granted her training keeps her in form, but had Paula been born with an unsuitable stature, her career would have panned out differently.
Some might say that people simply work with what they’ve got. For instance, a young girl might look in the mirror one morning, think ‘gosh, I’m really pretty; I should become an actress’ and start to strive toward that goal. Although this is plausible, it takes more than good looks to become an actress and more than physical prowess to become an athlete.
It takes hard work, commitment, determination and sacrifice amongst other things. People who truly enjoy and excel in their careers have one thing in common: they say that it feels right, that they feel incredibly blessed and that they were born to do what they do. Contentment like that reeks of purpose and whether -in this context- the chicken (physical traits) or the egg (purpose) comes first, the fact remains that the physical trait in question has served as an effective road map.
WHY DO YOU ACT THAT WAY?
Personality traits are often vivid pointers too. As a child Julie, the last of six siblings, often got a telling off for being somewhat reclusive. Whilst family members made a racket, she was quite content to curl up in a corner with a book in her lap. Occasionally she would join in but it was evident to all that she preferred her dream world. Of course this wasn’t a major issue with relatives but as Julie grew up and was thrust into various social circles, people immediately considered her ‘a bit of a snob’.
Unsociable as it may seem, some people are wired introverts and rightly so. Writers for example are willing to seclude themselves whilst poring endlessly over manuscript drafts, whereas party animals, or people who like to be constantly on the go, would probably find seclusion intolerable. Research scientists are usually not the most exciting people you will ever meet, but many are indeed wonderful people and do work that is beneficial to society. The media often portray computer programmers as geeks and librarians as frumpy bookworms. Although this may not always be the case, eccentricity often swaddles genius.
There is no excuse for antisocial behaviour, however, what we perceive as weaknesses in others may actually be their source of strength. Psychologists, Honey and Mumford, class people as activists, reflectors, theorists and pragmatists. If you are someone who tends to act first and think later for instance, some people may see that as stupidity or rashness, but perhaps you’re wired that way to compensate for the proliferation of people who think things over far too much.
If you are someone who lacks the patience to sit through lengthy lectures, chances are that you are pretty optimistic about change, flexible, spontaneous and happy to work as a team. If you are the sort of person who likes to stand back to ponder experiences and contemplate issues from various perspectives, you have those reflector-abilities for a reason.
If you’re happier adapting your observations into convoluted albeit workable theories, you may bore certain people to tears but you also contribute valuable logical insight. Pragmatists like to try things out to see if they ‘really’ work in practice. Do you wind people up with your love for experimentation? Take heart. But for your down-to-earth, business-like, straight-to-the-point approach, the world would be in a sorrier state.
The way you act is a strong pointer to where you fit in the grand scheme of things. Improve yourself and seek balance by all means but rather than suppressing your faults, try to channel those traits in a more positive way. For instance, stubbornness is frowned upon, but channeled positively it can become persistence, confidence and resilience.
WHY DO YOU LIVE THAT WAY?
Location is also indicative of purpose. If you live in a community, you are rooted there for a reason. It doesn’t matter if you plan to relocate in a few years time or not. Throughout your stay, your environment will influence what needs to be achieved and how much you can accomplish.
Nelson Mandela is revered throughout the world for his contribution to the antiapartheid struggle. Imagine for a moment that he was not born in South Africa but in idyllic Switzerland. In the absence of abject racism and segregation, Mandela might have ended up running a chain of chocolate stores or repairing designer wristwatches.
The late John F Kennedy was one of the most charismatic presidents of the United States. Had he been born in, Holland for example, and spent his formative years in Europe it is unlikely that he would have become president of the USA. Not only would his life influences have been different, but the current legislature (which states that ‘only natural-born citizens’ are eligible for the presidency of the United States) would have proved a stumbling block.
This is not to say that people do not rise above the hardships of their environment. Indeed history is filled with stories of people who have achieved much despite (and in fact because of) abject poverty and hardship. However, one’s surroundings determine the motivations and the needs that fashion purpose.
WHY ARE YOU ALIVE RIGHT NOW?
The era in which you live determines your purpose. Timing is of utmost importance. For example, had Christopher Columbus been born in the 21st century, there would be no need for him to go off searching for unknown continents, therefore his purpose would differ.
Radical thinking will always be resisted and people who try to achieve too much too soon will meet with much frustration. For instance, 200 hundreds years ago the world was not ready for Bill Gates’ brilliance. Had he tried to introduce his operating system before certain computing infrastructures were in place, progress would have been unlikely. For every purpose there is a time and season.
WHY DOES LIFE HURT THAT WAY?
Whatever irritates you can inspire the actualisation of your purpose also.Life is filled with uncomfortable situations. Ludwig Van Beethoven was blessed with musical talent but he was totally deaf for at least ten years of his life. Plunged in silence for so long, his prolific career is a testament to his struggle to find light and beauty in a difficult place. Indeed few able-bodied musicians have attained his level of mastery till date. Behind every milestone and success you will find pain, dissatisfaction, discomfort and seemingly negative things…
Australian born entrepreneur, Glenda Stone, used to hear many women complain about organisational glass ceilings and discrimination in the workplace. Being a woman herself this was an issue that affected her directly also. She took action, founding the Aurora Women’s Network. Today the organisation is a network of over 16,000 corporate and entrepreneurial women, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, HSBC and Globix. Aurora consults with blue chip companies, helping them to attract, retain and advance talented women employees.
Your purpose is inextricably linked with your pain.
WHY DO YOU MAKE IT THAT WAY?
If you’re seeking purpose, find your way in style. Have you ever wondered how come virtually every Hollywood star has an adoring fan base? Even if the world’s population remained stagnant, any promising actor will find an audience. Why? Because no matter how many extraordinary people we already admire, our hearts can make space for one more.
Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight are both soul singers of the same era. Each has a separate audience because each brings something distinctive to a performance. There is really no need for cut-throat competitiveness as the world has more than enough room for everyone to display their wares. No matter how good a product or service is it can do with some improvement. No matter how wonderful a concept is, it can be opened up by a different perspective. This is the beauty of diversity.
What makes you unique? Why do you stand out? How can you do things differently? The answers to these questions will give further clues to your purpose in life.
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Ogo Ogbata is a multi talented writer, speaker and consultant. Founder of the Creativity and Sense Network, she empowers people to create financially rewarding work that allows time and energy for what matters most in life.
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