8 Steps To Activate Your True Purpose
That's all we really want for you. Happiness. From stepping into your own true purpose. We want to see you live out your journey in a way that makes your heart healthy and full. Watch you give it back to the world. So, we compiled some profoundly practical tools and skills from our HiEQ Curriculum to help you realize your purpose. A crash course of sorts. Grab a pen and paper. Let's do this.
1. Align With Your Inner Core Values & Beliefs
Starting from the very foundation of who you are, examine the identity upon which you stand. This identity is typically based on your personal ethics and ideals. Make a list of all the different kinds of values and beliefs that you want to see more of in your life and the world.
Examples: Generosity, Humor, Growth, Authenticity, Inspiration, Compassion, Community, Creative, Equality, Justice, Mindful, Accepting, Honest, Integrity, Passionate, Curious, Kind, Loving, Adventurous, Global Thinker, Universal Love, Autonomy, Learning, Respect, Balance, Beauty, Happiness, Responsibility.
There are so many more! List them out. Circle the ones that call to you the most and make you come alive. Focus on these personal values to build upon your character. Use them to develop your inner voice and express it to the world.
Journaling Exercise: How can you begin to identify more with your inner core values?
“The most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
2. Daily Education & Inspiration
Research, research again, and research some more. Never stop learning and educating yourself on a daily basis. Make a goal to devote a certain number of minutes every day to researching and reading about the local, global and ethical topics that interest you the most and that relate to your own core values and beliefs.
For example, if equality or freedom interests you the most, why not stay up to date on LGBT, women's, immigrants, minorities and/or civil rights? Or are you are passionate about earth conservation, climate change, animals, children, economy/ poverty, agriculture, media, health? The list goes on and on! Use your gut to pick 1-3 topics and keep learning every day.
There are no excuses. The (Google) Oracle and the world wide web have everything at your fingertips. Of course, don't believe everything you read. Listen to your own intuition and follow your natural curiosity. Make a list of your Top 5 favorite news and media sources to go to daily.
“Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.”
3. Address Your Fears & Rid Self-Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs are thoughts that hold us back and produce negative results. They are based on fears that we have subconsciously built over quite some time, usually since childhood. They show up in the form of "I'm not good enough, smart enough, or not ready," or "It's too hard for me! What if I can't do it and fail?" We all have our own personal programmed self-limiting beliefs.
Recognize your negative thought patterns. On a piece of paper create two columns- on one side, write down every one of those nasty little thoughts. Then, on the right side, jot down some new positive affirmations. For example, you can replace the subconscious thought, "I can't change my habits... I've tried too many times" with "I am powerful enough to change my ways, and patient enough to love and forgive myself for being perfectly imperfect along the way."
Finally, be a keen observer of those negative thoughts and practice intentionally replacing them with new affirmations. It takes a lot of practice! But, eventually, you will master this new way of thinking and being, and it will change the way you see yourself and the world around you.
Journaling Exercise: What Am I Most Afraid Of And Why?
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”
4. Deep Practice & Movement
Enhance your natural skills by pushing the limits and making mistakes. Practice deep practice. Deep practice is when you are walking the line of doing your best work, but also making mistakes at the same time. It's the sweet spot where you're intensely learning because you are challenging yourself, creating new neurological capabilities, and growing your skill level. Many researchers have noted that it takes 10,000 hours to create a master. So, get to work and learn by DOING. For example, if you enjoy math, drawing, outdoors, sports, talking, listening, writing, computers, organizing, piano, photography, story telling, dancing, building, designing, constructing-- whatever it is -- just keep developing your skills in that area daily. Write down five skills per day that you want to work on. Be bold and create new hobbies that make your heart jump.
Also, make time to travel and have little adventures. Move around. Create memories. See new cultures, hear new languages, learn about other systems, other life stories. It'll expand your life perspective and self awareness. It'll boost your health and raise your emotional intelligence. It'll help you embrace new challenges, find new passions and cultivate inner fulfillment.
“I challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. I challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk.”
5. Why am I Here?
Your brain might have immediate answers and thoughts to the question, “Why am I here?” or your brain might need more time to ponder. Either way, this question marks a pivotal step in your journey to discover your purpose. Don’t worry about finding the “right” answer or the answer you think you should provide. Why you are here might not necessarily translate into what you’d consider a career or some sort of ‘perfect’ picture of the future. In fact, most of the reasons we are here are not to fulfill a career or meet some sort of societal expectation, but to fulfill something greater than ourselves.
Why are you here? Think of all the reasons you are here and write them down. To dance? To be an exceptional friend? To love? To learn? To eat delicious food? To create balance? Stare at the stars? Explore? WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR??? List all the big and small reasons you can think of why you are here on this earth. Get creative and let your inner child play!
Why Am I Here Art Collage: Use your list, draw pictures, write a letter, song or poem, cut out words, letters and pictures from magazines—basically do anything you want to explore your own answers to the question,“Why am I here?"
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
6. Enroll Mentors, Role-Models & Support Team
You need to create an inner circle that you can count on to help guide, support and challenge you. Enlist a few friends who can help hold you accountable for reaching your milestones. Open up about your newfound intentions and tell a friend or family member, teacher or professional helper.
Recruit at least one mentor, the more the merrier. Write letters, make phone calls, send emails. Request for a weekly or monthly check-in. Learn from their expertise and experience. Ask for help with strategizing your action plan.
Seek out your favorite role models, people who are doing what you want to be doing. Follow them on social media sites and check in with them daily. They will keep you motivated, and inspire you to develop your skills, and build a like-minded community.
“Your greatest self has been waiting your whole life; don’t make it wait any longer.”
7. Visualize Goals & Embody intentions
Dream BIG or go home. Your dreams should scare you a little bit. If they don't, they are not big enough. Your goals and dreams need to rip open your heart and build your grit. Grit is defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals." Your dreams need to inspire you from the inside out.
Take time to meditate and visualize your specific goals from start to finish in vivid detail every morning. Create some of your own unique visions to express your core values and beliefs with the world. What would it like look like to accomplish your hearts inner most dreams? Journaling questions to get the creative juices flowing: What problems is your local community facing relating to your inner values and beliefs? Is there anything you can do to help out using your natural skills and talents? What are all the different problems you think we are facing on a global level? List and write about as many as you can. Circle which ones spark your interest.
Also, take time to embody your intentions every day, and feel your way to success. When you intentionally feel what it would feel like to accomplish your dreams, you, in essence, become your dreams. This is how you EMBODY your dreams. The deeper you go into the emotion, the easier it will be to attract all the necessary resources and people you need to reach your dream.
Meditate. Visualize. Embody.
“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe. Find your calling. Know what sparks the light in you so you–in your own way–can illuminate the world.”
8. Be LOVE IN ACTION
To get you “walking your talk,” write down “Five-a-Day’s”- which are 5 small tasks you can do every day to draw yourself closer to your dreams. These five things should be very manageable, align with your intentions, and always reflect how you want to feel. Remember: the most important part of setting a goal or an intention is to always ask yourself, “How do I want to feel when I complete this task?” By asking yourself how you want to feel for each task, you are more likely to stay motivated, be accountable, and follow through. You can do this for as many dreams as you want! For example:
Dream: __________________________
Task 1:_________________________ Desired Feeling:___________________
Task 2:_________________________ Desired Feeling:___________________
Task 3:_________________________ Desired Feeling:___________________
Task 4:_________________________ Desired Feeling:___________________
Task 5:_________________________ Desired Feeling:___________________
Share Your Gifts & Tell Your Story. Your personal power is defined by your ability to give. Be generous with your skills, talents and passions. Use them to share your personal story, collaborate with others, and express your core values and beliefs with the world. This is the highest form of creative self-expression-- the expression of unity and interconnectedness. Some of your gifts are those you are born with, but most are willingly and mindfully developed throughout your life. It is this place of (intentional) giving where you are being Love In Action.
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
Hopefully, you will commit to practicing these tools and skills, and they will help you uncover your own answers to the big questions along the way. We know you have what it takes to live your most meaningful, purposeful, creative life. You are guided by the highest power that is CREATION, and as a child of creation, you too ARE CREATION. Go shine bright! Be the light. Make mistakes, be imperfect, and give from your heart. You got this.
By: Nadine Nicole
