Getting on Purpose

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself!”– George Bernard Shaw

At some point in everyone’s life they will experience that tug inside themselves to begin the journey back to what they feel is their authentic selves. We all have that inner knowing that something just doesn’t seem right. At some point we get a feeling that we’re playing a part in someone else’s story.  It’s that gnawing feeling that you’re just not hitting the true bullseye of the thing that makes you come alive and that gives you purpose.

This can be recognized as what is often referred to as the mid-life crisis. That time when the noise of discontent becomes too loud to ignore. Some people go through it with minor changes, and we all have seen those who react in drastic ways to quiet the noise. Either way, change happens when the pain of staying the same becomes overwhelming and difficult to ignore.

At the point where the idea of staying the same gets unbearable, most people head out on their path to find themselves. However, I am going to suggest that we take a different approach. Let’s instead think about creating ourselves by defining what you want and making a clear plan of action.

Over the past 2 decades of treating, coaching and consulting with thousands of clients, I have now found that our biggest issue is not losing ourselves, but it’s more about not having a clear idea of what we really want.

Here are some tips to begin the process of creating ourselves:

1. Define what you want. Be super specific.
2. State what you want in the positives. Focus only on what you want, and don’t spend any time on what you don’t want.
3. Commit it to paper. Get your very own goals journal and dream big!
4. Make your goals attainable, but just a little out of your reach so you can get excited and push yourself beyond your usual boundaries.
5. Write down what actions you’re going to make to move yourself toward your goal each day.
6. Most importantly…TAKE CONSISTENT ACTION!

Remember, life is not about finding yourself, you’re good enough right where you stand. Life is an adventure waiting to be explored.