Have you ever asked yourself the following questions?
Why am I here?
What is the purpose of my life?
How can I make more of an impact?
If you were offered the answers to these burning life questions, would you listen?
Take a look around you. When you see people who have great wealth, do they all appear to be happy and fulfilled? When you look at those who are barely making ends meet, do they all seem miserable and hopeless? My guess is that you came up with two no's. Don't get me wrong, I know some wealthy people who are very happy individuals. I've had the good fortune of speaking with many of them over the past year, as well as folks of modest means who are fully enjoying their lives.
Money alone does not guarantee happiness. Marriage doesn't assure it either, and the excitement of a new job can wear off as quickly as it came. A trip to Disneyland feels great when you're there, but you don't see too many people who are still reeling from their vacation a month later. So what is it that causes that overall feeling of "life is good" that some people seem to have? I believe it's purpose!
I spent many years searching for my answers to the questions: "Who am I?" and "What is my purpose?" I did an extensive outer search, visiting every church I could find, looking for something or someone to show me the way. But it wasn't until I did an extensive inner search that I found my answers. During that search, I found myself wishing I could sit down in front of the people I considered most successful, and ask them how they discovered what their lives were all about. I started reading their books and attending their seminars, and while this gave me the tools I needed to find my own direction, it didn't give me that one-on-one connection I was longing for. I wanted to speak with these mentors personally and pick their brains. I wanted to experience them not just as teachers, but as colleagues - even as friends.
As I became clear about my purpose and began living into it, I came across people who were still searching for their own answers, or for the strength to commit to the life they really wanted, and to do what it would take to make it happen. Realizing that everyone is different, I wondered what I could do for each one of these people, to enable them to hear that one thing they most needed to hear. How could I make a difference for them, and for all the others out there who find themselves in the same boat?
To satisfy my own desires - and those of other seekers - I've spent the past year interviewing people whom I see as being clear about their purpose. People like Chicken Soup for the Soul's Jack Canfield, Mad TV's Debra Wilson Skelton, and Famous Dave's Barbeque's Dave Anderson. The work these people do in the world has convinced me that they are here for a reason, and they know what that reason is. From these interviews, I created a book called, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Discover The Purpose Of Your Life. One of the people I called to interview for the book was Arianna Huffington. She was not able to participate because her own book had just been released, but she was kind enough to allow me share this information with you today. Thanks Arianna!
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Money does not buy happiness.
But it *does* buy Freedom, allowing the luxury of considering options.
Just leave the world better for having lived and you're done.
Why am I here? Missed the 11:17 bus.
What is the purpose of my life? Catching next bus.
How can I make more of an impact? Climb to a higher floor before...
I, too, created a book titled " How to make a killin selling/promoting drone self-help books by interviewing werkin class stiffs". Out soon!!!
You mean someone ELSE was willed into creation to make barbeque? I always thought that was MY calling. I....I guess there's really not much left for me then.
At seventy plus (ain't tellin my age) I don't reflect upon such philosophical questions as the purpose of my life. LOL. I am happy every day to wake up alive in the morning and enjoy my breakfast.. My desire at this stage of my life, is to leave behind something beneficial to humanity that would benefit other human beings and to do it without fanfare.
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Posted March 14, 2008 | 06:41 PM (EST)