Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
When we define spirituality, we've got to include meaning and purpose. Well Being through spirituality requires finding meaning and purpose in life, and yet, for many, this is a tough spiritual obstacle.
What is life all about if we lack meaning in what we do and purpose behind it all?
Have you stopped to think about this?
Where do we even begin?
Although the concept may seem simple enough, finding the meaning and purpose in YOUR life is the fun work ahead of YOU. Like most good things, this will take some contemplation.
The Power of Focus by J. Canfield, M. Victor Hansen and L. Hewitt has a nice section devoted to Living on Purpose.
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
So, what is the value of having meaning and purpose?
This is a good question, afterall, you're going to devote some time and considerable contemplation (brain and soul power) into it. You had better know why!
Finding meaning and purpose is one of our spiritual needs. We all need to feel that we matter and that our actions realy mean something for us and for others.
Well Being Through Spirituality
Purpose and Meaning
Having a meaning and purpose to our lives gives us something to hold onto-every day. Challenges happen, but if we feel we are on purpose, those challenges or obstacles are always surmountable. So, there is no mountain too high.
Well Being Through Spirituality
Purpose and Meaning
That doesn't mean that every day is easy, even if you are following what you believe to be your purpose. I work as a nurse practitioner. There are days (most days) filled with joy in being able to help and love others in need.
Sometimes the greatest needs of my patients are a big hug. Hey, that's easy enough. I didn't need a master's degree for that, but... There are days when I feel like I'm being tugged at in many directions. These are usually the days that I wish I could be home taking care of myself, and I probably should be. I remind myself that I'm 'on target' and doing what I should be doing. I look forward to those days to take care of myself, but meanwhile, I'm on track.
I know this because it feels right-not a perfect ride, but I'm certainly not swimming against the current.
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
How will you know if you are on target?
You will take opportunities to enrich others and leave a positive imprint for others. If you provide care to others,
in either big or small ways, without immediate thought of personal benefits, you are starting the road to purpose.
In the Power of Focus, the authors encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:
What am I doing with my life?
What is my life's work all about?
What legacy will I leave behind when my time is over?
These are great questions to ask yourself. How will you answer them?
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
Goals=Purpose?
Goals are important. They help keep us on track, also. However, our purpose is a much more broad concept.
For instance, one of my goals is to write a website to help people learn about holistic health.
My purpose is to promote well being through holistic health and help people incorporate holism-even if in small ways.
I have many goals that serve as stepping stones toward my overall purpose. This purpose gives my life meaning. You can have more than one purpose.
I knew before I even started college to be a nurse that one of my purposes in life was to be a mother. I didn't know how many children I would have or if I would have my own child or children or adopt. My strong desire to be a 'Mom' was my driving force to be my best. This was more than a goal because it was a decision in my life that I could never take back or even take a 'day off' from. I have been somewhat of a personal development junkie so that I could be the best I could possibly be for myself and for my child. I ended up only having one child, and I'm proud to say that I raised a strong, kind young man.
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
Do you need some guidance with regard to your purpose and meanings?
The Power of Focus lists three key points.
1. Align your purpose with your natural ability.
Discovering what you are good at is one of the great joys in life. Trying new things can really spice up your life.
I have enjoyed experimenting with a variety of different things: I've taken art classes, learned to design clothing, published professionally, spoken both internationally and nationally, done medical-legal consulting, practiced as a sexual assault nurse examiner, nurses both kids and adults, gone scuba diving, kayaking, and I make rosaries and prayer beads in my spare time.
I don't have the time to do everything all at the same time, of course, but I learn and indulge and continue the things I really enjoy. I think these things make me an interesting person.
You don't have to do a whole lot of things or activities in your life, but you do need to be open to a variety of things and don't turn down opportunities without strong consideration.
Wonderful things have just landed in my lap when I least expected them.
Be sure your values and actions match up. Mixed messages (doing something that you don't really enjoy or you are not good at) can cause internal conflict and uncertainty.
What are you good at? What have you not yet tried to do, but think you may really enjoy it? What has stopped you?
2. Be determined
Be true to your purpose. Do not be distracted or influenced by others.
I've heard so many people talk about what they wanted to be when they were in high school. They say that they would've been this or that, if only someone would have encouraged them or if so and so wouldn't have discouraged them.
If your heart tells you about your purpose and this purpose brings you joy and meaning, be true to yourself. Be your own best friend. Be prepared for the work, though. Just because you've devoted yourself to your meaning doesn't mean that it will be easy. When people tell me how lucky I am to have my work, I remind them that when they were out partying in their 20s and even 30s, I was home studying and working to pay
tuition. Not fun. My purpose was clear, though.
Have a deep passion for your purpose. Those little day to day frustrations don't seem nearly as frustrating.
3. Maintain a humble attitude
An unhealthy ego can get in the way of you finding your meaning and purpose in life. If you make your major life choices based on the fame, fortune, greed and/or power, you are not choosing with your soul's purpose at heart. The joys felt from any of these are temporary and may even be empty.
If, however, you take the fame and fortune and turn it around into something that you have a deep passion for and brings you long term joy, then you are on the right track. Consider the actor who loves to entertain and brings happiness to others through their acting. You can substitute the actor for the sports hero.
The power and fame are by-products of the career choice. It might be fun to enjoy a stroll down the red carpet or see you name and face on the big screen. You can see how the drive for fame and fortune can't bring about long lasting joy. However, the money you earn, and respect you gain can catapult you into the position where you can help a lot of people.
If you can identify the many people who are behind your success, you are ahead of the game. That's where gratitude comes in handy. Be very grateful for those who have come into your life-even the ones who seem to be in your way. They are there for a reason-your growth.
Well Being Through Spirituality: Gratitude-an essential element.
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
What is YOUR purpose?
Most of us struggle with our purpose. It has been said that the key to life is in discovering your purpose.
That's big! I think that often times we sense what our purpose may be (and you have more than one purpose).
Why don't we follow where our senses take us? We don't always listen because it may mean big changes. Perhaps you feel that your purpose in life is to teach children. You see yourself as a teacher and mentor for children, but you know it would mean a huge pay cut. Your whole life would change in ways that may not seem so good. Therefore, you swallow that drive that tells you to seek out teaching.
The good news is that if you listen and are open to ways in which you could make this happen (teach Sunday school, teach adult education classes, volunteer with children's groups...) solutions will follow. If you think back on how many plans you've made in your life, you'll see that things rarely work out the way you had it planned. But, things worked out so much better than you could've planned! That is the exciting thing!!! Surrender and enjoy the ride. See where it goes and have faith.
Following your purpose shouldn't be a struggle. You should feel enthusiasm naturally. Working and playing on purpose is part of an optimal holistic lifestyle-you are at peace physically, mentally and spiritually. Work that is on purpose fulfills you in all ways, although maybe not all at the same time.
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
How do your work and play activities feel to you?
Do you feel on track and on purpose?
Do you struggle?
Are you exhausted after a day's work?
Do you love your work? (Notice I asked if you like your work-not necessarily your 'job.' There is a difference.)
What do you do for fun? Are those activities on purpose? Do you play with a purpose at times?
Do your work and play activities bring joy to others as well as to yourself?
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
I really recommend that you take a look at the many reference books about meaning and purpose. Living on purpose does take some soul searching. The good news is that this can be a lot of fun! You can find several to choose from by clicking on the photo.
One book I like is 'The Power of Focus.' They list something they call A Stop List.
Well Being Through Spirituality: Life's Fundamentals
Know What you want.
Know Why you want it.
Discover your Talents.
Use them Daily.
Work Hard
Work Smart
Give Unconditionally
Love Unconditionally
Find your Purpose
Live your Purpose
May favorite mantra to help me practice Well Being Through Spirituality: Keep it Simple!
If I'm ever unsure about what to do, which direction to turn, even if, when and what to purchase, I ask myself: Does this keep with my keep it simple rule. If not, I reject it outright. Just that simple!
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
I believe that part of our purpose is pre-destined. Our purpose and meaning in life is our soul's desire and our soul's work. There may be many ways to live on purpose, but to live on purpose is certainly why we are here. Thinking about meaning and purpose in these terms helps to make any decision quite easy. This takes some real listening to our hearts and souls either through meditation, prayer or contemplation.
Well Being Through SpiritualityHow can prayer help you? Click here to find out!
Well Being Through Spirituality
Meaning and Purpose
Your True Identity
an exerpt from Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality
Everybody is searching for their identity. But the real you only emerges when you are united to God. You need His grace, and without it you are stumbling in darkness. Everybody wants to know who they are, where they're going, and what they're doing. Yet the realism of Heaven and God, that invisible reality, never enters the equation. Identity is becoming. It's an understanding of who you are, and why you were created by God. YOu can only understand it by knowing Him, because He has a very speical plan for you. And that special plan makes its own demand: that you be faithful-faithful to the duties of your state of life.
Reading inspirational and sacred text is a great way to support your quest for Well Being Through Spirituality.
Meaning and Purpose
Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality is one my favorite books. I can sit and read it for a few hours or a few minutes. Either way it gives me a tiny taste of inspiration that I need so much.
Spending time in your sacred space can help you to live on purpose. Find out how.
Contemplation and meditation quiet the mind so that the soul can be heard. Click here to learn more.
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