Here’s the issues with these layers: in most instances, they are not our own.  They are certainly constructed by ourselves, but it usually has less to do with what we REALLY stand for – our internal source, and more to do with external stimuli.  These layers are usually built upon the opinions of our close friends, family, environment, and social ‘norms’.  We create these layers because we believe the information that is presented to us is of highest quality, from the purest source, because that’s all we know.

As our awareness starts to expand, however, you start to realise that maybe you don’t agree with the opinions of your parents, social ‘norms’, friends, or the environment that surrounds you.  You start to look for both sides of the story, and begin to trust your own independent thought and analytical processes to make the best possible decision, rather than operating off the blind faith of your youth.

This may be the very thing that led you to this point in your life: you’ve started to question the very truth behind the ‘why’ of your chosen career path, and you’ve discovered that that belief doesn’t hold true any more.

So if that’s not the answer, what is?

Your deepest purpose.  That which thrust you to this point in your life from the outset.  You’ve just become more and more conscious of it now that you’re starting to look.

And you’re pretty close to it now.

The following exercise has been ripped straight from Steve Pavlina’s blog, and I bring it to your attention because this activity was what arranged all of the pieces of the puzzle for it.  It gave me direction, and an inner compass to guide my decisions by.  If ever I was uncertain about making a commitment, or which decision or option I should chose, I would ask myself: “Will this bring me closer, or further away, from fulfilling my deepest purpose?”.  The answer to that question would clear up any hesitation almost immediately.

So, the exercise for finding your deepest purpose in life, is exactly the same as discovering who you are.  In fact, there’s a possibility that you may have touched on, or discovered, your deepest purpose when you did that exercise.  There’s also the possibility that you came to no conclusion with that exercise, which is ok too: it was simply the warm-up to this baby.

So, without further ado, Steve Pavlina’s “How to discover your life’s purpose…”

Take out a sheet of paper, or open a new word document on your computer, and write at the top “My deepest purpose is”

Now just start writing.

And keep writing.  Whatever comes into your head.  Just the same with the “Who Am I” exercise.  It doesn’t matter if it sounds stupid, just write it and release it.
This process is allowing you to remove all of the layers that aren’t yours, that have actually been hiding your deepest purpose, or at least distracting you from it.

Again, be patient, and persevere.  You will know you have completed this exercise completely when you write something so profound, so deep and emotionally charged that you cry.  There may be a few things that feel like they’re going to make you cry, but when that occurs, just keep on writing until it actually occurs.  Steve says that it also feels as if these words have come from a different source, and I am definitely inclined to agree – I experienced all of the above when I performed this exercise.

Some people will complete this exercise in 20 mins, for me it took about an hour, and I wanted to give up many times.  But understand that you MUST keep at it, and when you finally reach your answer, you will know that it was well worth the discipline.
This one activity alone, has the power to change your reality from something you simply react to, into something you are creating and in control of.

That’s a pretty powerful shift, and something that will only aid you in the journey ahead: this will be your inner compass.

Now I know with the last post I recommended that everybody post their perfect day down, but this one may be a little hard for you to put into words initially.  I know it took me about 2 weeks to find the perfect words to do it justice.  And for all intents and purposes, this may be something you want to feel through first, get familiar and intimate with before you reveal it to the world.

You may also just want to keep it to yourself for now.

By performing, and completing this exercise, you will be taking a huge step in the direction you’ve always wanted to take your life, but have not been fully aware of.  If you don’t have too much of an idea WHAT you want to be doing, this will certainly shed some light on the answers.

You’ll also realise that it was never about the money… but that’s another story for another day.

I hope you have fun with this exercise, and I hope it is as revelatory for you as it was for me and friends and colleagues.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about focus.

Until then