Life’s Purpose

someone asked:

1. Why is it important to know your Life's Purpose?
2. What value does that bring to a person's every day life?
3. Can a person's Life Purpose change?
4. How do you know if it has changed?
5. Can a person be full even if they don't have a Life's Purpose?

Sonnie's response:

1. Life purpose is where we get the "drive" to pursue what we want to be, the "strength" that will keep us focused in the midst of life "storms". It is also the "force" that will keep us motivated even though there is apparent failure.

Life purpose is also called calling or destiny. An element of "Spiritual Intelligence" is needed to understand a person's purpose. An individual can determine his purpose in life thru: (1) his/her relationship with the divine. Jer. 29:11 said "for I know the plans I have for you…." (2) taking up an inventory of the "genetically encoded" abilities (unlike "learned" abilities that are acquired thru education/training, genetically encoded abilities are inborn though training can enhance these gifts). And (3) by recognizing the desires in his/her heart in the domain of "becoming" what.

2. "If the shoe does not fit, it hurts".

Deep in us, we know whether we are in our "topos" — place, office, position, service, stature. Where we are suppose to be, doing what we are supposed to do, and becoming a person that we should be.

3 & 4. Hmmm….. it is predetermined before we are born. But a purpose in life is not necessarily a job, and job change is not a changed of purpose. A purpose in life revolves around "becoming the who/person" and the "do/job" emanates from the "who".

additional reading

5. Everyone has a life purpose, and it is possible for a person not to be in sync with his calling. If fullness is defined on material and economic gain, yes it is possible to be full even a person is out of his destiny. If fulness includes peace, satisfaction and joy that emanates from within..but "if the shoe does not fit, it hurts".

Sonnie Santos is a Motivational and Self Help Resource Person, Human Resource Generalist, Trainer and Volunteer Worker. He has authored several anecdotes on work issues and career development in the context of life principles.

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