The first thing that I ask a client who wants to create an extraordinary life is “What’s your purpose? That is, why are you here on this planet?”   Some of them will tell me that they’re here to make a difference, to love, to be a healing force, or to help others.  Most of them simply don’t know.  Here’s the thing – if you aren’t sure why you’re here and where you’re going, you’re never going to create an amazing life….plain and simple.   Without a vision for your life, it’s like driving with your eyes closed:  you’re never sure if and when you’ll arrive at your destination and you’re certainly going to get banged up along the way. 

Nobody’s got the key to why you are here, except you.  Sure, some of your loved ones may think that they know where you should be heading and what’s best for you.   You’ll get plenty of feedback on what you should be, especially from mass media.   You’re probably already getting way too many messages from TV, the movies, radio, internet, magazines, etc.  AHHHH – thanks, but no thanks!

If you really want to tap into your life’s purpose, it’s very very simple, if not easy: think about what you love to do most.  Your passions point to your purpose and are its rocket fuel.   Ask yourself, “What do I love to do so much that I lose track of time…literally lose myself?”  Most people can come up with at least one or two areas.   If you’re stuck, try a technique that Ellen Whitehurst, founder of The Empowered Lifestyle, suggests:  remember what you loved to do as a child.  Me?  I loved reading, writing, and listening to my friends.  These passions underlay my purpose of being an inspirational coach.

Your purpose is the key to a fulfilling life.  So it’s worth your investing at least one hour a week to reflect upon and clarify it.  Try journaling about it, using the visioning tool that I learned from Rev. Michael Beckwith:  Ask yourself these kinds of questions:  “What’s the highest and best for my life?  What does it look like, feel like, sound like, smell like, even taste like?”  Take time to allow the answers to come forth, freely and uncensored.   Consider forming a visioning team that conducts this inquiry as a group.  This is powerful stuff!

One of my clients confidently told me that she certainly did have a vision for her life, thank you very much!   “Can you describe it?” I asked.   She actually could not, except to say that it involves her having more time and money.  I suggested that she purchase a journal and spend at least one hour each week describing her higher purpose.   Vision boards and treasure mapping are other tools to help clarify your purpose. 

These resources, coupled with the many many excellent books, videos, movies, and articles, leave you with absolutely….no valid excuses to not clarify what you want to create in your life.  It’s been said that the people perish without a vision (Proverbs).  You may not die without a vision, but here’s what I do know – your life will be much fuller and satisfying when you get clear on your purpose and when you keep it front and center.

Here are some of my favorite books on the subject:

Marsha Sinetar’s Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow:  Discovering Your Right Livelihood

Bob Griffith’s Do What You Love for the Rest of Your Life

Barbara Sher’s Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Love

Henriette Anne Klauser’s Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want And Getting It

Your 3-part challenge for this month: 

• Create a 1-2 sentence summary of your life’s vision. 
• Spend 1 hour each week creatively expressing this vision (e.g., journaling, painting, singing, etc.).
• Share your vision with at least 3 people whom you trust.

During this year, we have interviewed over 200 bold, talented individuals who have leaped fully into what they love, as they serve others in the world – we call them Passioneers ™.  Our intention is to inspire those who are feeling scared or discouraged about their own leap into service.  Based upon our inteviews so far, we have synthesized the following passioneering tips, and will be blogging on them, and many others, each week in 2010.   If you  have any tips or know of any Passioneers who would like to share their story in our blog, please send us their contact information.

Be A Visionary.

• Dream big.  To create a bigger life, you must have bigger dreams.  Without a vision, the people perish.  (Proverbs 29:18)
• Cordon off at least one focused, quiet hour, each month, for the visioning process.  If you Google “life visioning tools,” you’ll see lots of great visioning tools.   We highly recommend using Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith’s approach. 
• Share your life’s vision with those you trust, and watch how much faster that it grows!
• Keep your vision front and center, where it can inspire you everyday.  A vision journal or vision board is a great tool for this purpose. Check out vision journaling workshops by Robbi Firestone. 

If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail.

• Create a business plan, even if it’s on the back of a napkin.  Richard Gabel’s tips on this: http://bit.ly/2102E
• What gets written down gets done.  Plain, simple, if not easy.  Journaling is a great tool for this.  Or try writing down the top three things you must get done each day  on an index card; let that be your day’s focus.
• As with your vision, share your business plan with others for input, ideas, and support.
• Try our complimentary PowerLeaps LLC Express Business Plan.

If You Believe, You’re Halfway There.

• Napoleon Hill said “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” (more quotes from Napoleon Hill).
• If you don’t believe in your vision, very few others will.
• Even on those days when you really don’t believe in your vision,  try faking it until you make it.  It’s amazing how contagious “acting as if” can be!
• Faith grows over time, one demonstration at a time – kind of like a stairway that you climb, with each step being a small success.  Rome was certainly not built in one day.

Just Do It!

• My good friend Pete DiSantis says, “Do is half of done.“  Talk is cheap, and analysis can cause paralysis!  The boldest, most successful Passioneers move forward regardless of their circumstances.
• Take baby steps, no matter how small they are.  In the midst of feeling overwhelmed and stuck, your taking even ONE small step forward will jump start your inspiration and momentum.  A great article on this approach.
• There is no right or wrong way to express your passions, so avoid comparing yourself to others, especially Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, celebrities, your next door neighbor, etc., etc.  You get the point…
• Explore and experiment.  Take some risks and try on different approaches.  Most importantly, have FUN!!

 Happy Passioneering!