INSPIRATIONS

by

YES, YOU CAN FIND YOUR LIFE PURPOSE

There are three deceptively simple questions that hold the key to your life purpose:

Who am I?
What do I want?
Where am I going?

At first glance, they seem straightforward. But sit with them long enough, and they begin to unlock something deeper—something powerful. Because buried within those answers is your Purpose.

But here’s the catch: before you can figure out where you’re going, you need to know where you stand right now. Not someday. Not in some ideal future. Today.

And that’s where most people get stuck.

We all want meaning. We crave happiness, achievement, fulfillment. Yet too often, we chase these things without ever defining what they actually mean to us. We run hard—but in no clear direction—and then wonder why we feel unfulfilled.

The truth? You can discover a Purpose that gives your life clarity and momentum. You can build a life that feels meaningful and aligned. But the journey doesn’t begin “out there.”

It begins within you.

That means taking a hard, honest look at your beliefs. Your values. Your inner compass. Because together, those form the foundation of your Purpose.

Now, it would be nice if Purpose just showed up one day—clear, complete, undeniable. No confusion. No searching. Just certainty.

But that’s not how it works.

There are no trumpets. No divine scroll delivered at your feet. No one is coming to tell you what your life should mean.

And honestly, that’s a good thing.

Because your Purpose isn’t meant to be handed to you—it’s meant to be created by you.

Yes, that responsibility can feel heavy. Even overwhelming. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once suggested, we often wish someone else would simply tell us what we’re meant to do. But that power—and that burden—belongs to you.

You can treat your life like an unsolvable riddle…
Or you can step up and define it for yourself.

If you don’t, life will define it for you—through circumstance, through habit, through other people’s expectations.

And that’s a risk far greater than the uncertainty of choosing your own path.

As children, we didn’t need to think about Purpose. Life was structured for us. Decisions were made. Paths were laid out.

But adulthood changes everything.

Suddenly, the question becomes: Why am I here?

It’s a profound question—but not always the most useful one.

Instead, try asking:
What am I here for?
Or even more simply:
What would make me want to get out of bed tomorrow with energy and intention?

That’s where Purpose begins to take shape.

For centuries, thinkers have wrestled with this idea. Aristotle believed that what we seek most is happiness. And while that’s true, it’s only part of the story.

Happiness isn’t the goal of Purpose—it’s the by-product.

A life of Purpose isn’t just about feeling good. It’s about being useful. Being honorable. Being compassionate. It’s about knowing that your life—however big or small—made a difference.

When you live with Purpose, something shifts.
You gain direction.
You gain resilience.
You gain a reason to keep going—even when life gets hard.

Purpose becomes your internal compass. It guides your decisions, shapes your priorities, and fuels your energy. It influences how you manage your time, your relationships, your work, even your health.

In many ways, it sustains you.

History shows us this in its most extreme form. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, discovered that those who held onto a sense of Purpose—even in unimaginable suffering—were far more likely to survive. As Nietzsche famously said:
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”

So if Purpose is this powerful—if it shapes your happiness, your success, even your survival—how do you know when you’ve found it?

The answer is both simple and frustrating:
You feel it.

Purpose isn’t always logical. It’s not always easy to explain. It doesn’t always fit neatly into a sentence.

It’s the thing that pulls you forward.
The thing that feels right, even when it’s hard.
The thing that aligns with your deepest sense of integrity, honesty, and meaning.

And here’s something important: your Purpose isn’t fixed.

It evolves.

What drives you at 25 may not drive you at 45. Early in life, Purpose may center around career and ambition. Later, it may shift toward family, contribution, or spirituality.

It grows as you grow.

You may even have multiple purposes—different forces shaping your life at different times. But among them, there is usually a dominant thread—the core driver that matters most.

And that thread is woven from your values, your beliefs, your relationships, your talents, and your sense of what truly matters.

Purpose isn’t found in possessions.
It’s not handed to you by others.
It’s not uncovered through logic alone.

It emerges from awareness—your awareness of what you care about, what you stand for, and what you want your life to represent.

As you begin to understand your values more clearly, something powerful happens: your Purpose starts to take form.

Your values become your expectations for life.
Your beliefs become your internal guide.
Together, they form the foundation on which everything else is built.

And from that foundation, your Purpose becomes a choice.

A deliberate, meaningful choice.

Because the real danger isn’t choosing the wrong Purpose.

The real danger is having none at all.

As Thomas Carlyle warned, “A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.”

So the secret to a meaningful life isn’t complicated—it’s just demanding:

Know who you are.
Know what you want.
Know where you’re going.

And then—this is the part most people avoid—
pursue it with energy, courage, and conviction.

That is your Purpose.

by

IS YOUR HAPPINESS EVEN POSSIBLE?

Happiness is not a place you arrive at—it’s the way you move through the world.
—Margaret Lee Run

If you’re honest, it can feel like happiness is out of style.

Turn on the news, scroll your phone, or skim a morning headline, and you’re immediately surrounded by everything that’s going wrong. Tragedy shouts louder than kindness. Conflict spreads faster than compassion. Even in arenas meant to celebrate success—sports, business, achievement—the spotlight often lands on scandal instead of triumph.

It’s no wonder happiness can start to feel distant… even unrealistic.

You might catch yourself thinking: How am I supposed to feel joyful in a world like this?

And yet, that question reveals something important.

Because despite everything, you still want happiness.

The Illusion of “Someday”

Many people live with a quiet belief: real life hasn’t started yet.

It’s just around the corner—after the next obstacle, the next responsibility, the next problem solved. There’s always something in the way. Something to finish. Something to fix.

Alfred Souza captured it perfectly: we spend years waiting for life to begin… only to realize those obstacles were our life all along.

And that realization changes everything.

Because if life isn’t waiting somewhere ahead—then happiness isn’t either.

A World That Has More… Yet Feels Less

We live in an age of incredible advancement. Technology has promised us convenience, freedom, and more time than ever before.

And yet many people feel more rushed, more anxious, and more overwhelmed than any generation before them.

We’ve gained speed—but lost stillness.
We’ve gained access—but lost connection.
We’ve gained more—but somehow feel less.

So again the question rises: Is happiness even realistic? Or is it just wishful thinking?

The Truth About Happiness

Happiness isn’t optional—it’s fundamental.

You were born wired to seek it. To move toward joy. To avoid pain. It’s part of your design.

But here’s the shift most people miss:

Happiness doesn’t appear when the world improves.
It appears when you decide to create it—despite the world.

Opportunities for happiness aren’t rare. They’re everywhere. Quiet. Subtle. Often overlooked.

The real challenge isn’t finding happiness—it’s recognizing it… and choosing it.

The Ripple Effect

Happiness was never meant to be hoarded.

It spreads.

When you bring light into someone else’s life, you don’t lose it—you multiply it. As James Barrie said, those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves.

Imagine if happiness became intentional—not accidental.

If people chose it, shared it, prioritized it.

Not as a fleeting emotion, but as a way of living.

It would move outward—from you, to your home, to your community, and beyond—like a ripple that never stops expanding.

Is That Idealistic?

Maybe.

History shows us that even our best intentions fade. Movements rise, inspire, and eventually give way to old habits—self-interest, distraction, complacency.

So yes, we may stumble. We may drift. We may repeat old patterns.

But not forever.

Progress doesn’t require perfection—it requires persistence.

The Balance of Being Human

Here’s another truth we often resist:

Happiness cannot exist without its opposite.

Joy means something because we’ve known sorrow. Love matters because loss is possible.

A world without pain wouldn’t feel like paradise—it would feel empty.

You weren’t meant to live in constant euphoria. You were meant to experience the full range of life—the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

The goal isn’t to eliminate unhappiness.

It’s to balance it with deeper, richer joy.

The Courage to Seek It Anyway

Would you avoid love just to escape heartbreak?

Would you stop searching for truth because lies exist?

Would you give up on courage because fear is present?

Of course not.

So why abandon happiness simply because it’s sometimes buried beneath struggle?

Happiness isn’t handed to you—it’s discovered. Unearthed. Chosen.

Again and again.

Becoming Your Higher Self

Your real purpose isn’t to chase a perfect life.

It’s to become someone who can create peace within an imperfect one.

That’s what it means to grow into your Higher Self—not to eliminate stress, but to rise above it. Not to control the world, but to master your response to it.

When you reach that place, something shifts:

You stop being pulled into every storm…
Because you’ve become the calm at the center of it.

And from that calm, something powerful emerges—

A steady, grounded, resilient kind of happiness.

Not loud. Not fragile. But real.

And once it’s real…

It doesn’t just stay with you.

It flows through everything you do.

by

HOW DO I STOP DRIFTING AND START ACTING?

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood… Make big plans; aim high in hope and work…”

— Daniel H. Burnham

There is something electric about those words—something that refuses to sit quietly in the background of your life. They challenge you, almost daring you, to stop thinking small and start living with intention. Because deep down, you already know that small plans don’t ignite anything. They don’t move you. They don’t transform you.

Self-empowerment begins at that very moment of realization. It is not just motivation—it is inspiration set in motion, deliberately aimed in a positive direction. It is the unmistakable surge of energy that rises from within when you feel aligned with something meaningful. In those moments, obstacles don’t disappear—but they lose their power. You stop seeing barriers and start seeing pathways.

When you are truly self-empowered, something extraordinary happens. Your focus sharpens. Your energy intensifies. Time itself seems to loosen its grip. You become immersed—fully engaged, almost weightless—as if you are being carried forward by an unseen current. There is no strain here, no forced effort. Instead, there is a natural rhythm, a quiet certainty. It is the rare state where self-awareness and action merge—where you are not just thinking about your life but actively living it with clarity and purpose.

If you’ve ever experienced this, even briefly, you recognize it immediately. It feels like flow. Like alignment. Like stepping into the version of yourself you were meant to become.

And yet, for most people, this state is fleeting.

Why?

Because it is far easier—far more common—to drift than to direct. Instead of moving with intention, we wait. We react. We allow pressure, deadlines, and external demands to dictate our actions. We don’t act because we are inspired—we act because we feel we must.

Days become checklists. Tasks get completed, but without meaning. You move from one obligation to the next, not with purpose, but with compliance. And at the end of it all, there is a quiet, unsettling realization: time has passed… but little else has truly happened.

This is not failure. It is something more subtle—and more dangerous.

It is the slow erosion of purpose.

Without self-empowerment, life begins to flatten. You drift into routines that require little thought and offer even less fulfillment. What matters most becomes blurred, then distant, then forgotten altogether. You may call it procrastination. You may call it laziness. But at its core, it is neither.

It is a lack of purpose strong enough to move you.

When purpose is absent, urgency is outsourced. Other people’s priorities become your priorities. External events dictate your decisions. You surrender authorship of your life—not intentionally, but gradually, almost imperceptibly. It becomes easier to react than to lead, easier to comply than to choose.

And so you exist in a kind of passive rhythm—managing responsibilities, fulfilling obligations, waiting for something to happen. Like a bridge tender watching boats pass, you lift and lower the gates of your day… but you are not directing the traffic.

This may sound severe, but it is not an accusation—it is a recognition. Many lives are full, busy, even productive… yet quietly lacking in meaning. Because meaning does not come from motion alone. It comes from intention.

If your actions are not aligned with what matters most to you, then you are not truly moving forward—you are simply moving.

You are sacrificing effect for lack of cause.

When you fail to act with purpose, you are not just unfocused—you are disconnected. When you wait for something to happen, you are revealing that nothing compelling is happening within you. When your time is filled with the routine and the mundane, it is not because opportunity is absent—it is because vision is.

Yes, you may go to work. You may manage your responsibilities. You may even carve out moments of rest and leisure. But without intention, these moments blur together into a life that feels managed rather than lived.

As Paul G. Thomas wisely noted, “Until input (thought) is linked to a goal (purpose), there can be no intelligent accomplishment.”

Purpose is the link.

It is the force that transforms thought into action, and action into meaningful progress.

To live with purpose is to live by design. It is to consciously choose your direction rather than inherit it from circumstance. It is to define your vision, commit to your mission, and align your daily actions with both.

This is where self-empowerment truly begins.

Because when you focus—when you deliberately center your life around what matters most—you reclaim control. You stop reacting and start creating. Your behavior becomes intentional. Your results become predictable. Your life becomes yours.

Your Higher Self depends on this alignment.

Know your purpose, and you will know who you are.
Clarify your vision, and you will know where you are going.
Commit to your mission, and you will ensure that you get there.

And once you begin to live this way—fully focused, fully engaged—you will discover something remarkable:

You were never meant to drift.

You were meant to direct.

by

YOU’RE AT THE END OF LIFE – ANY REGRETS?

Most of us can recall the steady, reassuring voice of Franklin D. Roosevelt declaring, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It’s a line that has echoed across generations, especially in times of uncertainty. But there is another, quieter insight of his that may be even more personal—more confronting, even:

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

That line doesn’t speak to nations. It speaks directly to us.

It resonates deeply in my work with those stepping into retirement—a phase that is often imagined as freedom, but in reality can feel like standing at the edge of a vast, unmarked landscape. What I hear, again and again, are not bold declarations of possibility, but the subtle, persistent whispers of doubt:

What if I make the wrong choice?
What if I lose my sense of purpose?
What if it’s too late to start something new?

These “doubts of today” have a quiet power. Left unchallenged, they don’t just linger—they shape behavior. They keep people from taking chances, from exploring new identities, from stepping into the fullness of this next chapter. And over time, those doubts harden into something far heavier: the “regrets of tomorrow.”

And regret, unlike fear, doesn’t just whisper. It lingers.

If you were to ask most people what they might change if they could rewind their lives, the answers would come quickly: I’d spend more time with my family. I’d take my education more seriously. I’d choose a different career path. These are meaningful reflections—but interestingly, they don’t quite capture the deepest truths revealed at life’s end.

Palliative care nurse Bonnie Ware spent years listening to those in their final days. What she discovered cuts through all the noise of daily life and gets to the heart of what truly matters. The most common regrets were not about missed promotions or financial decisions, but about something far more human:

  • I wish I’d lived a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
  • I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
  • I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
  • I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
  • I wish I had let myself be happier.

There is a quiet ache in those words—but also a profound clarity. These are not regrets of action as much as regrets of inaction. Not things done, but things left undone. Not risks taken, but risks avoided.

And then there is the beautifully simple reflection from Nadine Stair, who at age 84 said:

“I wish I had waded in more mud puddles.”

It’s such a small image—but it carries enormous weight. It speaks to spontaneity, to joy, to letting go of perfection and embracing experience. It reminds us that life is not meant to be observed from the sidelines—it is meant to be stepped into, splashed through, and fully lived.

Living without regret doesn’t mean living perfectly. It means living intentionally.

It asks something of us. It asks us to decide—not someday, but now—what kind of life we truly want. And then, just as importantly, it asks us to act on that decision. Because a life unlived is not the result of a lack of time, but often a surplus of hesitation.

We all live within a finite timeline. That’s not a limitation—it’s a source of urgency and meaning. It invites us to ask better questions:

What risks am I still willing to take?
What dreams have I quietly set aside?
What would my life look like if I trusted myself more than I doubted myself?

Imagine, just for a moment, reframing your fears—not as warnings to retreat, but as signals pointing toward growth. What if those very doubts you carry today are not barriers, but invitations?

So the real question becomes this:

Will you answer these questions for yourself… or allow others, circumstances, or fear to answer them for you?

Will you move forward cautiously, guided by doubt… or courageously, guided by possibility?

And if you choose courage—what will “it” look like for you?

What do you want the rest of your life to feel like when you wake up in the morning?
What stories do you want to tell?
What moments do you want to create?

Now—not later—is the time to begin shaping those answers.

Because one day, whether far off or closer than we expect, we will all look back.

And when that moment comes, the greatest gift we can give ourselves is not a life free of mistakes—but a life free of regret.

by

YOUR LIFE: BORING OR PASSIONATE?

What if we stopped drifting—and started living on purpose, with fire?

At some point, we must confront a simple truth: the reasons we choose to live should be powerful enough to ignite us. Passion isn’t a luxury; it’s the engine. The more deeply we feel it, the more naturally we act in alignment with who we’re meant to be. When that happens, Purpose is no longer something we search for—it becomes something we live.

And really, what kind of purpose is worth having if it doesn’t consume us, move us, electrify us? If it doesn’t pull us forward with urgency and excitement, is it truly ours? The things that genuinely motivate us are never dull—they stir something alive within us. That spark is not accidental. It’s direction.

Life was never designed to be endured—it was meant to be experienced. Fully. Deeply. Boldly. We weren’t made to sit on the sidelines, uncertain and hesitant. We were made to believe in something so strongly that it shows up in everything: how we love, how we work, how we contribute.

Think back to a moment when you felt unstoppable—when something inside you burned so brightly that nothing could stand in your way. In those moments, weren’t you completely immersed? Didn’t life feel richer, sharper, almost electric? That wasn’t luck. That was you, fully activated.

Inside your mind exists a staggering power. The human brain—this small, unassuming organ—holds the capacity for extraordinary emotion, creativity, and drive. It produces its own “highs,” releasing endorphins that can elevate us into states of focus, strength, even euphoria. The same system that fuels a runner’s high or a moment of heroic strength is already within you—waiting to be directed.

Now imagine being able to access that intensity at will.

Some people do. Every day.

They’re not superhuman, and they’re not rare anomalies. They’re individuals who’ve learned to align their lives with what matters most to them. They don’t chase motivation—they generate it. They immerse themselves so fully in their purpose that their energy rises, their focus sharpens, and their actions become unstoppable. Passion, for them, is not occasional—it’s a way of being.

You can recognize these people instantly. They carry a certain vitality. A presence. They don’t just exist—they engage. As George Burns once said, “I would rather be a failure doing something I love than be a success doing something I hate.” That kind of conviction changes everything.

Picture this: it’s early morning, still dark, a storm raging outside—and yet you’re already awake. Not because you must be, but because you want to be. You’re energized, humming, ready. You feel it in your chest: I love my life.

Unusual? Maybe. Impossible? Not at all.

There are people who live exactly like this—not because their lives are perfect, but because their mindset is powerful. They’ve taken ownership of their direction. They’ve built a self-image rooted in belief, not doubt. They act, decide, and move forward with intention.

They are, in many ways, living at the highest level of human potential—what Abraham Maslow described as self-actualization: the ongoing pursuit of becoming the fullest version of oneself.

And here’s the truth—we all have access to that path.

When we challenge ourselves to discover what truly matters, and then commit to it, something shifts. Confidence grows. Energy builds. Life becomes something we actively shape, not passively accept.

Imagine waking up and genuinely loving your life—your work, your relationships, your future. Imagine feeling grateful not just for the big things, but for the simple act of being alive: breathing, learning, experiencing. Imagine believing—deeply—that you are valuable, capable, and moving toward something meaningful.

It might sound like a movie. A perfect ending scripted by Walt Disney Company.

But here’s the twist: you’re the writer.

The meaning of your life is not assigned—it’s chosen. If you decide your life is small, it will feel that way. If you decide it is significant, purposeful, and full of possibility, you begin to act accordingly—and that belief starts shaping your reality.

As William Shakespeare wrote, “There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

Your thoughts matter. Your attitude matters even more.

Because in the end, the life you live will reflect the expectations you carry—and the passion you’re willing to ignite.

by

MY ENCORE YEARS – THE NEW BEGINNING!

I was once struck—and admittedly amused—by a woman who had just entered retirement. With a calm sense of certainty, she described the rest of her life as being “on her next-to-last dog.”

In her mind, the timeline of her future wasn’t measured in dreams, goals, or experiences—but in the lifespan of two more beloved pets. Two dogs, she figured, meant roughly 24 to 30 years left. That, to her, was the horizon.

On the surface, it sounded quaint—even endearing. But the more I thought about it, the more it revealed something deeper. Beneath the humor was a quiet resignation: a life measured not by possibility, but with passing time. Yes, she anticipated years ahead—but there was little sense of intention about how those years might be lived.

And she’s not alone.

Many baby boomers approach what could be called their “second adult life” in much the same way. There’s a vague hope that things will somehow fall into place—that there will be time for a few pleasures, a bit of travel, maybe some golf, perhaps volunteering for a worthy cause. It’s a passive vision of the future, one where fulfillment is expected to arrive on its own.

But when retirement finally comes, reality often tells a different story.

Instead of freedom, many encounter unexpected challenges. Financial pressures linger longer than anticipated. Aging parents may require care. Health issues can quietly reshape daily life. And perhaps most surprising of all is the emotional shift—a creeping sense of insignificance that can arise when a long-held professional identity suddenly disappears.

Equally impactful is the loss of structure. For decades, work provided a rhythm to life—a reason to get up, a place to go, people to see, problems to solve. Without that built-in framework, days can begin to blur together. Social circles change. Purpose feels less defined. What once felt like a well-earned reward can slowly turn into boredom, frustration, or even a sense of drifting.

I understand this not as an observer, but as someone who has lived it.

As a retiree myself, I experienced the initial thrill—that honeymoon phase where freedom feels limitless and responsibility fades into the background. No alarm clocks. No deadlines. No obligations. It was, for a time, exactly what I had imagined.

But that phase didn’t last.

Before long, I found myself asking deeper questions: What now? What matters? What am I building toward? The absence of structure began to feel less like freedom and more like a void that needed to be filled with something meaningful.

So I began searching—not for ways to pass the time, but for a renewed sense of purpose.

And fortunately, I found it.

What I discovered changed everything: retirement isn’t an ending—it’s a transition. Not a winding down, but an opening up. It’s an opportunity to redesign your life with intention, to pursue passions that were once postponed, and to contribute in ways that align more closely with who you are now—not who your career required you to be.

In fact, I’ve come to believe that the word “retirement” itself does us a disservice. It suggests withdrawal, retreat, even irrelevance. Perhaps it’s time we retire the word altogether.

Because this stage of life—these so-called “encore years”—can be the most exciting, purposeful, and rewarding chapter yet.

So instead of measuring life by the years—or even by the dogs—why not measure it by impact, growth, and fulfillment?

The question isn’t how much time is left.

The real question is: What do you want to do with it?

by

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

The end of history will be a very sad time. The struggle for recognition, the willingness to risk one’s life for a purely abstract goal, the worldwide ideological struggle that called forth daring, courage, imagination, and idealism, will be replaced by economic calculation, the endless solving of technological problems, environmental concerns, and the satisfaction of sophisticated consumer demands. In the post-historical period there will neither be art nor philosophy, just the perpetual care taking of the museum of human history.

Francis Fukuyama – The End of History and the Last Man

Are we drifting—or racing—toward something we barely understand?

It feels as though the world is moving faster every day yet somehow losing direction. We’ve built more, achieved more, connected more—but to what end? Somewhere along the way, we seem to have misplaced a shared sense of purpose. And when purpose fades—not just for one person, but for all of us—the consequences don’t arrive quietly. They ripple through everything.

We may be living in what some call a post-industrial, hyper-connected age, but connection is not the same as meaning. When profit outweighs compassion, when instant gratification drowns out deeper fulfillment, we begin to shape a future that reflects those choices. And that future may not be one we truly want.

Look around. We chase success until we’re exhausted, only to find ourselves surrounded by things that quickly lose their value. We educate our children, yet struggle to teach them how to think, to question, to understand. We’ve traded front porches and conversations for screens and isolation. We’ve engineered convenience into every corner of life—and quietly engineered out presence, patience, and reflection.

We consume the world at an unsustainable pace, damaging the very systems that sustain us. We celebrate innovation, yet fear the jobs it replaces. We expand knowledge, yet neglect wisdom. We watch more, scroll more, buy more—but feel less.

And still, we ask: Why does something feel missing?

Decades ago, Al Gore described a world of artificial comforts—sealed windows, constant noise, synthetic environments, and endless distraction. A world designed to simulate life rather than deepen it. Today, that vision feels less like a warning and more like a mirror.

We are surrounded by illusions—of happiness, success, connection. And yet, beneath it all, many of us are still searching. Searching for meaning. For peace. For something real.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: all our progress—technological, scientific, economic—has not solved the most human of problems. We are still searching for purpose. Still longing for belonging. Still asking what it all means.

Why?

Because somewhere along the way, we forgot the simplest, most powerful things: how to love deeply, how to give without expectation, how to share without calculation, how to live for something greater than ourselves.

Purpose cannot be downloaded, purchased, or engineered. It has to be chosen.

Right now, too often, our purpose begins and ends with personal comfort. We hesitate to sacrifice, to commit, to stand for something beyond ourselves. And in that hesitation, something vital slips away—not just for us, but for the generations that follow.

Our children are watching. Learning. Inheriting.

And the world they step into will be shaped by what we choose today.

So the question remains:

Can you make a difference?

Not alone, perhaps. But no change ever begins with everyone—it begins with someone.

Maybe it begins with you.

by

WHAT FUTURE IS CALLING YOU?

Pause for a moment and look out at your horizon—not just with your eyes, but with your awareness. Beyond the visible landscape lies something more powerful: your perception of what’s to come. Does your horizon feel expansive, filled with possibility and quiet excitement? Or does it carry a weight of uncertainty, even a hint of fear? When you think about the road ahead, what do you truly see—opportunity unfolding, or obstacles waiting to test you?

This question matters more than it might seem, because the way you imagine your future doesn’t just reflect your mindset—it actively shapes it.

Hope is often misunderstood as something soft or passive, a fleeting emotion that comes and goes. But in reality, hope is a force. It influences how you move through the world. When you believe that something good is possible, you begin to act differently. You prepare yourself. You stay open. You take chances you might otherwise avoid. You invest energy into growth, connection, and progress. In subtle but powerful ways, hope pulls you forward.

On the other hand, when your expectations lean toward disappointment or struggle, that outlook quietly reshapes your behavior too. You hesitate. You second-guess. You avoid risks that might actually lead to something meaningful. Without realizing it, you begin to withdraw from the very future you want to create. It’s not that obstacles disappear or appear based on your mindset—but your willingness to engage with them changes everything.

This dynamic is often described as a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” It’s not magic or wishful thinking. It’s the natural result of alignment between belief and action. What you expect influences what you do, and what you do influences what happens next. Over time, your expectations start to echo back to you as reality.

That’s why the question isn’t simply, What does your future look like?
A more powerful question is: What are you choosing to see?

Because in many ways, that choice is yours.

You can approach what’s ahead with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to grow—even when things are uncertain. Or you can approach it with doubt, guardedness, and fear. One perspective invites movement, learning, and possibility. The other creates hesitation and keeps doors closed before you ever reach them.

This doesn’t mean ignoring challenges or pretending everything will be easy. It means recognizing that your perspective is a starting point, not a fixed truth. It’s something you can shape. And when you shape it intentionally, you begin to shape your path as well.

So pause again. Look at your horizon, not as something distant and predetermined, but as something responsive—something influenced by how you engage with it.

Choose your perspective carefully.

Because whether you realize it or not, your future is already listening.

by

I LOVE MY LIFE!

At 4:45 on a freezing winter morning, the alarm clock exploded into the darkness.

For a moment, Mark lay perfectly still. Outside his window, the wind howled and snow rattled against the glass. The warmth of the bed wrapped around him like an invitation to stay exactly where he was.

Most people would have hit the snooze button.

Mark didn’t.

He swung his legs out of bed, stood up, and stretched like an athlete about to enter the arena. As the coffee brewed, he turned up the music and began humming the theme from Rocky. He shadowboxed in the kitchen, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning.

His wife wandered in half-awake and asked the obvious question:

“Why are you so happy at five in the morning?”

Mark laughed.

“Because I get to do what I love today.”

The truth is, Mark wasn’t famous. He wasn’t wealthy. He wasn’t running a billion-dollar company. He was simply someone who had discovered something many people spend their entire lives searching for:

He had found work and a purpose that lit a fire inside him.

And that fire changed everything.

Every so often, life invites us to pause and ask a powerful question:

Why am I here—and what truly sets my soul on fire?

Most people move through life without seriously considering that question. They follow routines, meet expectations, and pursue goals they were told were important.

But the people who live with genuine enthusiasm—the ones who radiate energy and purpose—have usually done something different.

They have taken the time to discover what deeply matters to them.

The more clearly we connect with the reasons that make life meaningful, the more passionately we begin to live it. Passion fuels action. It sharpens focus, strengthens persistence, and transforms effort into enthusiasm.

And when passion aligns with purpose, something extraordinary happens:

Our purpose becomes our passion.

And really, what other kind of purpose is worth pursuing?

A true purpose should engage us completely. It should challenge us, excite us, and pull us forward like a powerful current. If our purpose, vision, values, and mission fail to stir something deep within us—if they don’t inspire us to act—then what meaning do they really hold?

Life was never meant to be dull, predictable, or routine.

Life is meant to be experienced.

It is meant to be tasted, savored, and lived with intensity. Standing on the sidelines—uncertain about what we believe or what we truly want—is no way to live.

Instead, we must believe in our purpose so strongly that it flows through everything we do—from the way we care for our families to the way we work, lead, and contribute to the world.

When purpose ignites passion, life changes.

Energy rises. Opportunities appear. And each day begins to feel like an adventure.

Think back to those rare moments when you felt completely driven by purpose—when a powerful desire pushed you forward and nothing seemed able to stand in your way.

Time seemed to disappear. Your focus sharpened. You were fully immersed in what you were doing.

In those moments, happiness didn’t come from outside circumstances. It came from something deeper—the exhilarating joy of being fully alive.

Remarkably, the human brain is designed for experiences like this.

This extraordinary organ—soft, pinkish-gray, and weighing only a few pounds—contains roughly 100 billion neurons, firing signals at incredible speed. Within its intricate networks are chemical messengers that influence how we think, feel, and act.

Among them are endorphins, powerful natural chemicals similar to morphine. Our bodies release them during moments of intense effort, excitement, and emotional engagement.

Athletes experience this phenomenon as the famous “runner’s high.” Parents have felt it when they suddenly summon extraordinary strength to protect their children.

These powerful states are not accidents.

They are part of how we are designed.

Now imagine being able to tap into that wellspring of passion more often. Imagine feeling energized and fully engaged simply because you are working toward something that truly matters to you.

The truth is—people do it every day.

Ordinary individuals unlock their passion by immersing themselves in meaningful work, ambitious goals, and missions that inspire them. They become so engaged in their pursuits that they lose track of time. Obstacles no longer feel overwhelming. Their minds and bodies surge with energy as their purpose fuels their passion.

Their actions become deliberate.
Their focus sharpens.
Their enthusiasm becomes contagious.

And their drive becomes nearly unstoppable.

Often this passion becomes most visible in a person’s life’s work. As legendary comedian George Burns once said:

“I would rather be a failure doing something I love than a success doing something I hate.”

Most of us recognize the truth in that statement. At some point in life, nearly everyone feels an inner pull toward something meaningful—a desire to create, contribute, build, or serve in a way that reflects who they truly are.

When we pursue work that genuinely matters to us, our purpose begins to reveal itself through our actions. The path becomes clearer. We understand why we wake up each morning.

We know what we are working toward.

And when you encounter people living this way, something about them stands out.

They carry a different energy.

A spark.

A sense that they are moving toward something important.

They are not waiting for life to happen.

They are creating it.

By strengthening their self-image and pursuing what matters most, they move toward the highest levels of human fulfillment—what psychologist Abraham Maslow described as self-actualization.

As we challenge ourselves to discover and pursue our deepest ambitions, we move closer to becoming the people we are capable of being.

And when that happens, something powerful becomes possible.

We can wake up each morning and say with conviction:

“I love my life.”

Imagine loving the work you do.
Loving the people around you.
Feeling confident about your health, your finances, and your future.

Imagine appreciating the simple miracle of breathing, seeing, hearing, learning, and growing.

Imagine believing that your life matters—that your ideas, your effort, and your presence in the world make a difference.

Imagine knowing exactly what you want and moving toward it with confidence.

Imagine believing that tomorrow can be even better than today.

It might sound like the script of an uplifting film produced by The Walt Disney Company.

But a life like this is not fantasy.

It is something we can consciously create.

It begins with belief—with the image we hold of ourselves and the meaning we choose to give our lives.

If purpose is the meaning we assign to our existence, then whatever meaning we choose will shape the life we experience.

Choose a small meaning, and life becomes small.

Choose a greater meaning, and life expands to meet it.

As William Shakespeare wrote:

“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”

Our thoughts shape our attitudes.
Our attitudes shape our actions.
And our actions ultimately shape the lives we live.

So the question is not whether passion exists.

It does.

The real question is whether we are willing to claim it.

Somewhere inside you is a spark—an interest, a dream, a calling that makes you feel more alive than anything else. When you find it, nurture it. Feed it with effort, curiosity, and belief.

Because when purpose and passion finally meet, life stops feeling ordinary.

It becomes meaningful.

It becomes energized.

It becomes an adventure.

And one morning—perhaps sooner than you think—you may wake up, step out of bed with a smile, and realize something remarkable:

You’re not just living your life.

You’re loving it. 

by

ARE YOU STUCK IN A RUT?

Do you ever feel uninspired… like you’re stuck in the same routine, watching life move forward while you stand still?

If that feeling sounds familiar, it usually comes down to one of two things:
1. You don’t really know what you want.
2. You know what you want—but it’s not important enough for you to act on.

Let’s start with the first one.

Know What Truly Matters to You

You must know what you want out of life. If you honestly have no idea, it may mean you haven’t taken the time to think about what you truly value.

But most of us do value something—our relationships, our purpose, our achievements, our growth. These values represent our deepest hopes, aspirations, and expectations for our lives. Take some quiet time to reflect and write them down. If thinking about them stirs strong emotions, you’re probably uncovering something meaningful.

Decide If It Matters Enough to Act

Knowing what you want isn’t enough. You must decide if it’s important enough to take action.

What you value most will never magically appear. Life doesn’t owe us anything. If we want something meaningful, we must claim ownership of our lives and pursue it. 

In the end, the quality of your life reflects the effort you invest in it.

The choice is simple: live fully—or let life drift by.

So Why Do We Get Stuck?

Even when we know what matters, it’s surprisingly easy to get sidetracked. Here are some common reasons people stay stuck—and what to reflect on if they sound familiar.

You Don’t Have a Plan
Once you know where you want to go, you need a roadmap. Living in the present is powerful—but first you must decide what kind of future you’re building. Create a clear path and commit to following it.

You Keep Waiting for “Tomorrow”
Procrastination quietly drains motivation. If you keep telling yourself you’ll start when the timing is perfect, you may never begin. The truth is simple: the right time is almost always now.

You’re Too Comfortable
Growth requires change and change often feels uncomfortable. Leaving your comfort zone may feel like a loss at first—but it’s usually the doorway to progress, confidence, and renewal.

You Don’t Believe in Yourself
Self-doubt is powerful sabotage. If you don’t believe you’re capable or deserving of shaping your life, you’ll hold yourself back before you even start. The words you repeat to yourself become the reality you live. Choose them wisely.

You’re Surrounded by the Wrong Influences
The people around you shape your thinking more than you realize. If you’re surrounded by negativity or low expectations, it can quietly limit your own ambitions. Seek out people who inspire you—role models, mentors, and friends who challenge you to grow.

You Confuse “Busy” with Productive
Working nonstop doesn’t always mean you’re moving forward. It’s easy to stay busy responding to daily demands while neglecting what truly matters. Ask yourself: Am I making progress, or just staying occupied?

You’re Not Taking Care of Yourself
Endless screen time, poor sleep, lack of exercise, and unhealthy habits can slowly drain your energy and potential. When you neglect your well-being, you’re also neglecting your ability to grow and achieve more.

You’ve Lost Your Passion
Passion fuels purpose. Somewhere inside you is something that excites you—something that sparks curiosity, joy, or meaning. It may be buried under years of routine, but it’s still there. When you rediscover it, you’ll find a renewed sense of direction.

Start Fresh Today

You don’t have to stay stuck. You don’t have to resent the direction your life has taken.

A new beginning can start today.

It begins with a decision: to think differently, to act intentionally, and to believe that change is possible. The biggest barrier isn’t circumstance—it’s mindset.

Change your thinking, and you’ll begin changing your life.

by

IS THERE HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE?

AN ALARMING PREDICTION

Human society appears to be moving down a dangerous path—and doing so with unsettling speed. As a global community, we are gradually losing something essential: a shared sense of purpose. When individuals live without purpose, the collective loses its direction as well. The consequences are not isolated; they are shared by all of us.

This raises a troubling question: Are we approaching a turning point in human history? If our post-industrial, hyper-connected world continues to value commercial success and personal gratification above compassion, generosity, and meaningful purpose, we may ultimately face the outcome we are unconsciously choosing. A civilization that forgets why it exists risks losing the very right to continue. It is a difficult thought—perhaps even an uncomfortable one—but the signs of this possibility are increasingly visible around us.

We now live in a culture often driven by greed, immediacy, and weakening values. The moral awareness that once guided communities—our belief in something larger than ourselves—has faded in many places. We work longer and harder than ever, yet often find ourselves with little more than growing debt and possessions that lose their value almost as soon as we acquire them.

We educate our children, yet worry about their declining ability to reason deeply or engage with ideas. The front porches where neighbors once gathered to talk have disappeared from our lives; instead, we retreat indoors to interact with glowing screens and electronic distractions.

We damage the natural world in pursuit of profit and then express shock when the consequences arrive—when fisheries collapse, coastlines erode, and once-quiet parks overflow with crowds. We celebrate technology almost like a new religion, only to discover that the machines we created are replacing the very jobs we depend on.

Scientific knowledge about ourselves has grown dramatically, yet many of our cities continue to decay from within. Instead of reading, creating, or exploring ideas, we increasingly consume endless streams of entertainment. Video games and devices often occupy our children more than conversations do, and we later wonder why meaningful communication seems so difficult. We invest more resources in prisons than in universities, and then struggle to understand why crime persists.

In many ways, we have become a society of contradictions—a culture full of paradoxes. Despite remarkable advances in technology, medicine, science, and government, our deepest problems remain unresolved. We still search for peace, fulfillment, and happiness, yet these goals seem as distant as ever.

The reason may be simpler than we want to admit. Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten how to love deeply, to give freely, to share generously, and to live for causes greater than our own comfort. Purpose has shrunk to the boundaries of personal satisfaction. Sacrifice for something higher—community, humanity, or future generations—has become rare.

And the greatest victims of this shift may be our children. The world they inherit could be far different from the one we hoped to leave them. In pursuing the convenience and gratification of today, we risk squandering the values and purpose that once sustained our culture.

Time is not unlimited. But neither is hope lost.

There is still time to change our direction—if we choose to rediscover purpose, responsibility, and our commitment to something greater than ourselves.

by

PURSUE LIFE SATISFACTION, NOT HAPPINESS

IT’S SATISFACTION, NOT HAPPINESS THAT WE SEEK

Happiness is wonderful. It sparkles, it lifts, it lights us up. But it is also fleeting — like a light bulb that flickers on and off. One moment it shines brightly; the next, it dims. We chase it, celebrate it, miss it when it’s gone.

But happiness is not the same as life satisfaction.

Life satisfaction runs deeper. It is not a passing emotion but a steady conviction — a quiet, grounded belief that your life is meaningful and good, even when it is hard. Unlike happiness, it does not disappear when your mood shifts or circumstances change. Once rooted, it becomes a foundation. And from that foundation, happiness rises more often and more naturally.

If happiness is the weather, life satisfaction is the climate.

So how do we cultivate it?

Life satisfaction is not something we stumble upon — it is something we choose. It grows when we intentionally shape the beliefs and attitudes we live by:

  • Accept who you are, instead of chasing who others expect you to be.
  • Recognize that life is good — not because it is easy, but because it is meaningful, even with its challenges.
  • Embrace change as a natural and necessary part of growth.
  • Trust yourself and have faith in the greater unfolding of life.
  • Reconnect with your authentic, genuine self.
  • Discover and honor your real purpose.
  • Stay true to your core values.
  • Notice the grace in everyday moments and the beauty that surrounds you.
  • Share your talents and gifts — they are meant to serve more than just you.
  • Remember that your life holds profound significance, and you are the one steering its direction.
  • Live fully in the present instead of replaying the past or rehearsing the future.

Happiness cannot stand alone. It flourishes best when rooted in a broader sense of satisfaction with life itself. When you build that deeper foundation — when you choose meaning, authenticity, and faith over fleeting emotion — happiness becomes less of a chase and more of a companion.

So seek life satisfaction first.

Let happiness follow.

by

QUESTION YOUR SELF

No doubt it is inconvenient and maybe a little disquieting for us to do a self-examination of our beliefs, feelings and values. But to get to the core of our authentic selves, we need to spend some time doing these self-reflections. A good starting point would be to sit quietly under a tree or on a beach chair and give some serious thought to each of the following questions:

1.  What would I do to change myself?

2.  What would I do to change the world?

3.  What thing am I most proud of about myself?

4.  What would I rather be doing next week? Next year?  5-10 years from now?

5.  What is the funniest (saddest) experience I ever had?

6.  What is the dumbest (smartest) thing I ever did?

7.  What do I like to do most in my free time?

8.  What book affected the most in my life?

9.  What job do I like (dislike) most?

10. What type of game gives me the most pleasure?

11. What is the greatest success (failure) I’ve had in my life?

12. Who do I love (hate) the most (least)?  Why?

13. When did my life feel the most hopeful (hopeless)?

14. Where do I want to live?

15. Who is my hero?

16. Who taught me the most about life? About myself?

17. What makes me laugh? Cry?

18. What is the best present I ever received?

19. Where did I come from?

20. What happens to me when I die?

21. What kind of vacation do I like to take?

22. What makes me most angry?

23. What am I best at?

24. What would I do if I had a million dollars?

25. What would I do if I knew I couldn’t possibly fail?

26. Who is God to me?

27. What movie affected me the most?

28. What is my deepest secret?

29. What would I be willing to die for?

30. Would I let my best friend read my diary?

31. What personal motto do I live by?

32. On what issue would I never change my mind?

33. What do I want said about me at my funeral?

34. What was the biggest turning point in my life?

35. What one thing would I like to be better at?

36. What was my biggest disappointment in life?

37. What is my worst habit that I would like to break?

38. What do I want to do different, starting tomorrow?

39. What is the first thing I would do if I oure President?

40. How would I sum up my philosophy on life?   

by

THE HIGHER LIFE – 25 PRINCIPLES

Live Higher 11x14 jpgLife mastery is not difficult once we believe in its possibility and also desire to achieve it. Following are my top 25 principles for living a higher life and I hope you find them to be a helpful guide:

  1. Worry Less – Laugh More

  2. Sit Less – Move More

  3. Analyze Less – Feel More

  4. Text Less – Talk More

  5. Work Less – Volunteer More

  6. Complicate Less – Simplify More

  7. Rest Less – Sleep More

  8. Conceal Less – Discover More

  9. Discriminate Less – Understand More

  10. Complain Less – Appreciate More

  11. Consume Less – Give More

  12. Waste Less – Save More

  13. Think Less – Act More

  14. Abuse Less – Support More

  15. Eat Less – Taste More

  16. Critique Less – Love More

  17. Follow Less – Lead More

  18. Amuse Less – Learn More

  19. Blame Less – Value More

  20. Control Less – Flow More

  21. Doubt Less -Trust More

  22. Hesitate Less – Risk More

  23. Watch Less – Read More

  24. Resist Less – Accept More

  25. Plead Less – Pray More

by

HAVING NO REGRETS

I think most of us can recall FDR’s famous quote “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” But his less well known quote is “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

This resonates with me because coaching new retirees always involves hearing about their “doubts of today.” And sadly, these fears and uncertainties will often lead to their “regrets of tomorrow.” If, however,  they could overcome their present doubts they would likely find their future lives to be much more fulfilled.

Most of us would agree that at the end of our life we’d like to go back and re-do a few things that could have been changed – maybe spend less time at the office to make more time for ourselves and our families, taken our studies more seriously, made better career choices, etc.

And while these are important considerations, these are not the main reflections of those at the end of their lives. According to palliative expert Bonnie Ware, the top five regrets of the dying are:

1. I wish I’d lived a life true to myself,  not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

And I’d like to add that Nadine Stair on her 84th birthday said, “I wish I had waded in more mud puddles”.

Living with no regrets places the responsibility upon us, not just to decide what we want out of life but to then go and live it. Since we have a finite timetable for life, why not decide today what risks we are willing to take and then begin the process of taking them. Why not reframe our current fears and self-doubts into a more positive and optimistic outlook for the future.

So will we answer this question for ourselves, or will we let others answer it for us? Will we act out of fear or out of courage? If we decide to go for it, what will It be? What do we want the rest of our life to look and feel like?

Now would be a good time to answer these questions.  The choice is ours . . . to be able to look back one day at our life without any regrets at all!

by

KEEP IT SIMPLE

No Cares jpgFor some baffling reason, we have gotten caught up in an insatiable need for more stuff – from clothes, cars, houses, electronic gadgets, toys, furniture and fixtures to new hairdos, pedicures and tummy tucks. We want to possess everything imaginable and never seem to be content anymore with the basics. According to comedian George Carlin, we even need to own stuff to put our stuff into. We like to take our stuff with us wherever we go, and when we get there we have to buy more stuff so we can take it home to be with other stuff!

Our fascination with stuff, however, is not the problem. It is the lifestyle that we must pursue to acquire, maintain and manage our stuff.  All of this stuff is the antithesis to a sane, balanced and purposeful life. While we tend to believe that our happiness emanates from our possessions it is, in fact, these same possessions that become the bane and curse to a joyful and meaningful life. According to Elaine St. James, Wise men and women in every major culture throughout history have found that the secret to happiness is not in getting more but in wanting less. Only when we make it our purpose to not make stuff the measure of our contentment, will we truly understand how simply beautiful (and beautifully simple) life can be lived.

by

A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE

Orange Sunset jpg

We often don’t appreciate the quality and value of our lives because our vision is too limited or even blocked.  To see our real possibilities we must see it from a new viewpoint, much like Robin Williams offered his students in the movie, The Dead Poets Society. When he asked all of the students to get up and stand on their desks, they came to realize that their previous views had changed, that everything looked different from their higher perspective. In order for us to transform to lives of greater significance, we must change our point of view, to see our lives from a different and higher perspective.

by

THE WINNING ATTITUDE

Discovering our true Self comes not only from answering the hard questions about who we think we are, but rather by molding the self-image of who we want to be. Self-imagining is a powerful tool for determining our feelings about success and what we want our lives to actually look and feel like. It is well documented that if we hold ourselves in low esteem, this self-concept will generally lead to a series of life-long failures, whereas an attitude of supreme self-confidence and self-worth will generally lead to greater life success and happiness. Whether we choose to feel inferior or superior is a matter of personal choice.

This is not to imply that we can just flip a few switches and then radiate supreme confidence, but we can with practiced effort over time develop a mental picture of ourselves as achieving, purposeful individuals. As we carry a higher sense of self-confidence around with us and act as if we are unstoppable, we will find that our string of small victories will build upon themselves, creating even more momentum for success. When Dwight Eisenhower was asked how he would feel if his invasion forces had been turned back in Normandy, he said, I don’t know. I never let that thought enter my mind. We, as well, can develop mental pictures of ourselves as always winning, gaining, enjoying, succeeding, and those powerful suggestions will more often than not produce those exact results.

Conversely, we can take a self-defeated attitude. That self-suggestion will lead to failure, in itself, as that is exactly what we will have imagined for ourselves. Again, the choice is ours: We can either feel that we have a strong Purpose and a passionate life force within us, or we can feel that we are merely victims and our lives serve little meaning or Purpose. Either set of feelings will determine the results we are seeking.

by

SEEING YOUR PURPOSE

Purpose Image 3

  • If we see hunger, our Purpose must be to find one family to feed.

  • If we see hatred, our Purpose must be to offer kindness. 

  • If we see greed, our Purpose must be to counsel. 

  • If we see ignorance, our Purpose must be to teach. 

  • If we see pain, our Purpose must be to comfort. 

  • If we see pollution, our Purpose must be to cleanse.

  • If we see sadness, our Purpose must be to cheer.

  • If we see loss of hope, our Purpose must be to encourage.

  • If we see helplessness, our Purpose must be to support.

  • If we see chaos, our Purpose must be to calm.

  • If we see deceit, our Purpose must be to inform.

  • If we see war, our Purpose must be to make peace.

     

by

SHARE YOUR PURPOSE

Sharing Your Purpose JPGIt is important to understand that our Purpose, while uniquely ours, is not fully manifested until we find cause to share it with others. We cannot find true meaning in life without connecting ourselves with something larger and more pervasive than we are.  Existing in isolation of the larger world will only turn us inward, while our Purpose needs outward expression to find its fulfillment. It is said that no man is an island because no one of us can find lasting peace and happiness through any other channel than participation in the greater world in which we live.

Our Purpose can find expression along two major pathways: First, giving of ourselves to others; and second, having a cause to live for. Our greatest opportunity to feel totally alive and significant is to share ourselves to the larger community, to have something meaningful to believe in and stand for. We celebrate our Purpose by discovering the many ways in which our life can significantly impact and improve the lives of others.  We will not have to look far for these opportunities. Likewise, if we possess a deep commitment to a cause, a crusade or a conviction that we hold fundamental to our Purpose, we will possess the most exciting, rewarding reasons to exist while ensuring great meaning for our life going forward.

We do not have to live in a world characterized by empty values, unabated greed, hatred and unintelligent gratification at the expense of our collective well being. Not unless that is our Purpose, and we must believe that should not be our Purpose. Our Purpose should center upon our caring for the world that our children will inherit. We can find great Purpose in giving of ourselves with selfless love. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, Love is everything. It is the key to life, and its influences are those that move the world. If we cannot accept the world as it is becoming, we can make it our Purpose to change it.

Through giving of ourselves to others and to a cause that we deeply believe in, we will find our Purpose. There are infinite opportunities to make our lives more Purposeful as we extend ourselves out to the world community. All anyone needs to do is just look around . . .

by

WHY HAVE A PURPOSE

Purpose provides us hope and inspiration.

Purpose gives us an intended, clear direction.

Purpose offers us promise for the future.

Purpose teaches us our values and goals.

Purpose provides us a daily roadmap to follow.

Purpose puts passion into our life.

Purpose gives us control of our destiny.

Purpose is the total source of our spirituality.

Purpose sustains our commitment to achieve.

Purpose creates our self-confidence and self-esteem.

Purpose provides meaning and significance to our life.

Purpose is the basis for our happiness and joy.

Purpose focuses our efforts and gives us perseverance.

Purpose creates productivity by managing time for us.

Purpose provides us balance and harmony.

Purpose is the source of our strength and inner peace.

by

IT IS OUR LIFE

 

We have been given that marvelous gift to do with as we choose. It is life itself that we should embrace. It is ours to live. Too often, we lose sight of this miracle called life. We take it for granted. We abuse it. We waste it. We criticize it for its difficulty. We believe we didn’t get our fair share. We fault our opportunities and condemn our lack of good fortune. We feel that the best of what life has to offer rarely comes to us. But with all this blame and criticism of our life, we rarely believe it is our fault. We expect happiness to come our way, and if it doesn’t, then the rest of the world is whom we indict for its unfairness. Yet, we alone create the good fortune that we will receive. We cannot wait for our ship to come in. We must swim out to it. We should not waste another moment agonizing over how unfair life can be; rather we should rejoice that it even exists.

by

DESIDERATA

Expressions-12

The following quote from Max Ehrmann is probably the best self-help piece ever written. If we all lived our lives with the following words in mind, we would have no need for any other advice:

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Nor be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann