We have many misconceptions
about our purpose in life. Frequently, we view it as some kind of
unattainable ambition or as a pipe dream. Many of us have convinced
ourselves that our lives are hopelessly adrift and without purpose, or
that we are meant to wander aimlessly through life. Though we may be
oblivious to it, each of our lives has purpose and that purpose is
already underway. The experiences we have today will influence our
tomorrows. We are, in fact, living and defining our purpose every day,
and though we may not be consciously aware of the part that we play
within the continuity of human existence, you and I play a part
nonetheless. And as we discover more about ourselves and the extent of
our abilities, we become more in tune with that purpose on a conscious
level.
Consider that flowering plants come in hundreds of varieties and almost
as many colors. An experienced gardener is able to select just the
right plant to achieve a desired effect for almost any location in the
garden. Some flowers, for instance, seek direct sunlight, while others
thrive in shade. Some plants grow tall and spindly, while others are
short and bushy. Some flowers bloom early in the season and others
bloom late. The skilled gardener is able to use this variety of plants
like an artist would use paints on a canvas, to create a masterpiece.
The resulting garden can be truly exquisite.
Perennial plants are selected because they continue to grow and produce
new foliage year after year. Annuals, on the other hand, are some of
our aesthetic favorites. They live for only one growing season but
produce some of the most dazzling displays of color and sweet aromas of
any of the flowering plants. The master gardener knows that it takes
different types of plants to produce a full and beautiful garden.
Flowers are wondrous things. They require only minimal care, but they
give back boundless pleasure and enjoyment. They quietly live their
lives, perfectly content to be what they are and to grow where they are
planted. Living simply to blossom, their purpose is to bring beauty to
the garden and a smile to the gardener’s face. If only we were as
content as flowers to fulfill our purpose in life—living simply to
blossom is not such a bad thing, indeed.
Many of us experience the feeling that there is something we are
supposed to be doing with our lives, but we don’t always know what it
is. When we feel this way, we often struggle from one venture in life
to the next, searching for a connection, looking for what we are
supposed to do. We often confuse our purpose with the roles that we
play in life—with our occupations, our professional titles, or our
livelihoods—but true purpose cannot be thus defined. Your purpose is
not
what
you do in life; it is
how
you do what you do in life. Your purpose is measured in how you live
your life. A life’s purpose is a central theme of humanity, a reason
for being. It is a principle that defines who you are and what you wish
to become. It completes us—mind and spirit—and provides a pattern to
follow. It guides our way in all of our endeavors like a map to a
desired destination of personal fulfillment.
Life is not simply to be lived; it must have a purpose to be fulfilled.
Just as we need air to fill our lungs, we need purpose to fill our
lives. For our existence to have meaning, we must have a point of
reference. We require rules and parameters. We are lost without morals
and principles. Without values and ethics, we are empty. Purpose molds
us and shapes us and keeps us on a positive course in life. It brings
out our most noble and altruistic characteristics and enables us to
live up to our potential and to contribute favorably to the human
experience. Fulfilling your human potential is your finest contribution
to the unfinished pages of
forever
and is among the highest callings of humanity. It takes great courage
to live your calling, to walk the path of destiny.
Finding a suitable purpose in life is one of our most daunting
challenges. We do not inherit purpose by virtue of being born, nor is
it an automatic rite of passage. Purpose is a choice in life—we must
adopt and embrace it. We accept it through our conscious thought and
freedom of will. A life without direction is misspent and confused. Sad
is the person who goes through life without bearing, wandering
aimlessly from job to job, from relationship to relationship, searching
hopelessly for contentment and satisfaction. Likewise, great
discernment should be used in choosing a course in life because a
misguided sense of purpose can be even more self-destructive than
having no purpose at all.
Personal fulfillment should not be our primary aim in life. Rather, we
should let fulfillment find us, because genuine purpose can sometimes
be found in the most inauspicious places and unexpected times. For
instance, our purpose can sometimes be revealed by the personal
characteristics that we most admire in others. If we develop these
characteristics, we can become the type of person whom we admire. To
facilitate this transformation, you may wish to expand your network of
friends and spend more time around people whom you want to be like. In
your journey of personal growth, if you take on the characteristics of
a person whom you admire and become the type of person whom you aspire
to become, your purpose may find you in the process. When you choose a
lifestyle that is free of regrets, fulfillment will follow. Therefore,
be a person of integrity, filled with human kindness and dignity. Be
consistent; stand for something principled. Assume personal
responsibility for your destiny. This behavior is purposeful. It is
fulfilling. It is
forever.
We are best equipped to understand and appreciate the intricacies of
human existence when we are complete beings, when we have purpose, a
place in the universe. Understanding your place within humanity can
help you find purpose in the process. This broader understanding puts
life into perspective and reveals the trivial nature of many of our
concerns and decisions. Our purpose will mark us with an indelible
stamp. We should each examine ourselves and determine if the purpose we
have chosen in life is how we want to be remembered forever.
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FEATURE: Wayne W. Dyer, Excuses Begone! Part two 
