This is really good stuff. Really, really liked it. I especially liked the “important points…” section, highlighting the universality to focus, think, reach and act OUTWARDLY, not inwardly, by helping, loving and serving others. That’s key, and critical to discovering one’s real, TRUE purpose for their life.

I went through a “deep cleansing”, soul-searching “what’s-my-purpose” quest about 3-4 years ago, after my business – and then my marriage – cratered. My coach and mentor through that process (well, there were several, actually, that provided real and true value) was largely Bill Farrell, well-known author and leader crusading for marriages, families and relationships with his wife Pam here in San Diego.

I want to share a key ingredient that I learned in/through this process that may be helpful and useful to encouraging you and your readers to go deeper!

Bill introduced a simple but powerful 2-step process: firstly, how each and every one of us has been given from birth – that’s right, we don’t “choose” or “decide” – a large set of innate gifts, skills and talents that are unique and special, those things that we are just naturally great at, making each of us “excellent” and “genius” in a sense in unique and specific ways. Your concept of “understanding yourself deeply” is key to unlocking what these are, which in turn point and direct us to our purpose, and unleashing their true and full potential. Take some time to focus inwardly on these, and inventory them! Write them down, and speak to a close, loved confidant about them! This is hugely important, as these are “clues” that point each of us toward – scream out really – our purpose.

Secondly, as you so rightly point out Jayson, we must seek, search and discover the deepest desires of our hearts, and align and integrate these with our innate gifts, talents and skills. This, too, requires the deep introspection that you mention, but as above focused in a very specific way. It is written that our deepest desires have been written on our hearts by our Creator – again, given to us, as a gift! These typically go hand-in-hand with the gifts we’ve been given, bringing further clarity and sharper focus on our life’s purpose. Again, write them down, and speak them into existence!

Then couple these two together, and add to it the knowledge and experience(s) that you’ve been given – together, these are the brother and sister to which each of us has already been committed in our lives. Ever notice that the things you love to do (your passions) tend to line up with the things you’re really good at?!? It’s no accident! This points us directly towards our purpose, and illuminates the path! Now look outwardly, towards others, and how you might use these gifts and passions to help and serve them: a bright lighthouse beam has just been turned on your life’s purpose! If we hold fast to these, we shall not fail in our mission!

One other perspective Bill shared on purpose is surprising but very clear: if you can envision fulfilling the purpose that you have articulated above on your own strength/by yourself, then it is TOO SMALL! He provided ample evidence that we are meant to live out our purpose in, out of and through faith, reaching beyond ourselves and our abilities, and also acknowledging and depending on “relationship” – leaning and depending primarily on your Creator and secondarily one another, in love, in order to accomplish our purpose.

Tracking closely with this is the “B-HAGS” (Big, Hairy, Audacious GoalS) philosophy: A person will work towards a goal, but never past it, so, setting a huge challenging goal will organically and inherently cause us to raise our own bars and games to a level commensurate with achieving at a much higher level – i.e., even if we fall short of the BHAG, we will end up achieving far more than ever imagined before!

Humbly,
Scott