How Can You "Find" Purpose
Purpose is something much greater than oneself. When you serve a purpose you’re fulfilling a void in your life that’ll enable you to feel more satisfaction and joy.
When I wrote my book, I was originally going to focus only on money and how to help people make better financial decisions. I knew, however, that people are driven by more than just money. Regardless of the stories you hear, we aren’t striving to get the most dollars in the bank (well for the most of us), but dreaming of living a fulfilling life — a life of meaning.
Unfortunately, many of us spend mindlessly, preventing us from spending our money on the things that matter. Then, we’ll complain that we don’t have the money, to do the things we want. So we’re forced to work more hours, then complain we do not have the time to spend with our family.
It’s a vicious cycle.
It’s one that I learned to break. It’s a skill I am continuing to develop because we live in a world that consumerism and consumption is required and expected.
If you’re not consuming, you’re not living, is the belief perpetuated in our society. What this has caused — you’re purpose is only to consume. And, when you consume as much as you can, you’re supposed to be happy. If you’re not consuming or unable to consume, you’re meant to feel less of a person. You’re made to feel inadequate.
If consuming was your purpose, then look around you. You’re staring at your purpose and it’s probably illuminating your face as you read this post on your smartphone or tablet, or it’s collecting dust on your shelves and taking up room in your closets.
Purpose is something greater than things and greater than yourself.
It is not about the things you’ve bought or the things you’ve experienced. It’s how you affect your personal world and the greater world around you. It is greater than one’s self.
You can create and live a meaningful life — a purposeful life — and it starts with changing your money beliefs, improving your financial behaviors and envisioning the actual life you want to live that is representative of your values.
My book, You Only Live Once: The Roadmap to Financial Wellness and a Purposeful Life comes out on June 7, 2016, and can be preordered today from all major online and independent bookstores.