Make no mistake about it: Our time on earth has purpose, it has meaning, and it is our hearts that help us find it. But even more important: It is helping people that must factor in. And by factor in, it must come first.
For me, I've been in communications -- sales, marketing, negotiations, and networking -- most of my life. From the time I was 8, I was talking to neighbors and moving forward the economy by selling magazines for our little school. But top of that activity, which I knew inside, but didn't fully understand, was the real benefit was helping the school, and someone enjoying a good magazine.
Does that clarify as top of the list in helping people? Not hardly. But it was a start, and makes me feel like I had heart.
It's only taken me 50 years to realize that, while we never really know how long we have on this earth, eventually we do realize that it won't be forever. And were we placed here to satisfy ourselves, entertain ourselves, and forward only our own interests? Sad, boring, and hopefully not.
There is nothing more satisfying than helping someone. Once I discovered that sales, in its best and truest form, is helping someone, whether it be an automobile, stock, bond, house, tangible or intangible sale, it is a satisfying day when you close the sale and know "it was a passion for helping people." If you can help someone somehow in some way, if there is a match of a benefit and a receiver, that is a true sale.
The same applies to any industry. Medical: Has the doc truly helped you? Is your life better or longer because you know him/her? Construction: Was something built or something fixed that will house those in need, or even those who aren't? Politics: Is your public service self-serving, or are you doing something that your heart believes will help mankind? And the list goes on.
For many, I think it comes to provision: "Will I be able to provide if I do what I want to do to help others?" "Is it too much to ask when I have a family to take care of plus myself, how in the world can I help others too?" or "I must hold a real job, and that job doesn't feel like it is helping others." Name it, and it has a label. But, truth be known, you may find that what you are doing really is helping others. And if we let go, have faith, and do what we know we have inside of us to do, we will find the right thing, the right purpose, that is personally tailored, and that speaks loudly and clearly to our hearts.
It is up to us to not only identify those purposes, through thought, and insight and prayer, but also to act upon those purposes. And what we find, is that while we may have thought it has to be a "big thing" to make a difference, while we may have thought it took massive money or power or fame to make the difference, nothing could be farther from the truth. Granted, those who can give their time and money through fame and fortune to help others are admirable and worthy. But for everyone else: Pick up a hammer, make a call, reach out to others, give a smile, hold a hand, find a purpose. The love you find will carry you forward, the love you give will move your heart.
Our time on Earth will have true meaning. Our purpose(s) will radiate true light, and the benefit to others will reflect what truly matters.