We all have those people who we naturally gravitate to and love to spend time with. Usually even the most introverted of us will find ourselves energised by our closest friends or by meeting someone who we feel a great connection with.
I’ve recently found myself spending time in the company of someone I feel incredibly drawn to. Every opportunity to spend time with this person leaves me feeling both re-energised and a better version of myself. The feeling is addictive and makes me want to go back for more.
It’s the same whenever I get the chance to spend time with someone known affectionately as Dr Rob. I don’t remember how our friendship evolved but every time I have the opportunity to catch up with him and his wife I get the same feeling of gratitude. I’m grateful that I’m able to share a small snippet of their fully packed schedule and mostly I’m grateful that I walk away feeling like a better version of myself.
It makes me wonder what it is that makes me so drawn to them and I’ve recently realised that the answer is simple. They know exactly what they stand for — their purpose! Not only that, they live every day with it front of mind. They live a life of integrity.
When I was a child I was that child that wanted to know the meaning of life. As I’ve gotten older I realise that there is no one meaning. Each of us creates our own meaning and in doing so we each have the opportunity to do incredible things.
Knowing what you stand for — your “WHY” if you like — can bring you more benefits than you might expect. Here are 4 benefits of living a life of purpose.
1. Live a life true to yourself
You may have come across the research of Bonnie Ware, the palliative care nurse who recorded the dying regrets of the people in her care. She discovered that of the things that people most regret, number 1 was “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
How can a person expect to live a life true to themselves when they don’t know what that is?
When you’re living a life that’s true to yourself, you get this amazing sense of fulfillment. Suddenly a job is more than a job. Being busy is energising, not exhausting and life becomes an endless possibility.
2. Focus on the important
At any given moment there are approximately 11 million bits of information vying for our attention. Sometimes we find ourselves lost in the traffic jam with no option than to just give in to the easy. We end up aimlessly flicking through social media or watching Netflix.
When you clearly know your life purpose, it empowers you to focus in on what matters most to you. Not only that, the thought of pursuing an action aligning to your purpose feels much more rewarding than any of the alternatives. It lifts the fog of information and helps us see the road right in front of us.
3. Create a sense of fulfilment
Have you ever spent time in a job that although challenging or engaging left you feeling a little unfulfiled?
Working in a job that links to your purpose creates a sense of meaning and contribution in work. Typically, these things are in line with the things you love, they’re energising and as the saying goes, you’ll never work a day in your life if you’re doing something you love.
4. Double your motivation
Want to get motivated? Do things that link with your purpose. Research from Imperative shows that as many as 70% of the workforce in the USA lack a sense of purpose in their work. Further research by Gallup suggests that only about 80% of people believe that it’s “very important” to them that their life is meaningful or has a purpose.
Those that do see a link between their job and their purpose are generally more driven and more motivated to be successful. They may feel a sense of being in “flow” and that everything just feels easy. Those that are missing it can feel a sense of work fatigue and even a sense of loss.
How can you live a life of purpose?
Hold tight! My next blog is going to show you a simple approach to finding out your purpose.
Until then,
Bx
Want to work with me?
If you’re finding it a little tricky to get back to the best you then hypnosis can really help. Book your first session with me at the Lotus Centre in Brookvaletoday. Or contact me on 0437248134 or at Rebecca@thesharpmind.com.au to find out how I can help.
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