Your Need To Know

This is the third installment from 25 TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE in 2009

TIP #3 – When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement: “My purpose is to  (Fill in the blank) today.”

- or – My purpose is to… be the best person that I can be…wear a smile all day and make someone else smile….do something special for someone else…to work toward my major goal of_____ ….to tell someone I love them…work on being more patient….empty my inbox today…..

My Purpose for Today vs. My Purpose for My Life

A ‘Purpose for Today’ is a great way to start the day on a good note which generally carries on throughout the day.  A ‘purpose for today’ will often set your mood for the rest of the day.   Such a small thing to do compared to the possible rewards.  This is true because as we know, we become what we think about. Even if we are thinking of something for only a short time, it has and does make an impact on our subconscious.  Making a ‘Purpose for today” statement WILL effect your actions and choices that day.

As I have said before, everything is a habit. It has been said it takes about 30 days to form a new (or break an old) habit. Try the simple habit of waking up in the morning and professing “My purpose for today is_______.”  Make this something that will make a difference, however small, in your life or the life of someone else.  After all, self-improvement or living a better life doesn’t have to be an all-consuming task.

To awaken each morning with a smile brightening my face; to greet the day with reverence  for the opportunities it contains; to approach my work with a clean mind; to hold ever before  me, even in the doing of little things, the Ultimate Purpose toward which I am working; to  meet men and women with laughter on my lips and love in my heart; to be gentle, kind and  courteous through all the hours; to approach the night with weariness that ever woos sleep, and  the joy that comes from work well done – this is how I desire to waste wisely my days.  Robert Louis Stevenson

My Purpose for My Life

You may have a purpose similar to the examples above for each day, and you may have a grander, greater purpose that is your Life’s Purpose.

Why do you think you are here on this earth? Most of us want to feel what it means to be alive.
“Man is not in search of the meaning of life, but what it means to be alive. Joseph Campbell”
Brian Tracy says, “The purpose of life is to develop loving relationships. If we can learn to love ourselves and others, we can then go on to the full realization of our human destiny.”

Do you have a purpose or do you have a feeling of purpose?

Many people feel as if they have no meaningful purpose. Some even feel as though their life on earth is a punishment of some sort.  If they make the right choices, do the right things, they may get to move on to something better someday.

Having a purpose is essential. Having a purpose is more important than your talents and abilities in creating and shaping your life. Defining a purpose in life is one of the most significant steps you can take in achieving personal success. 

I’m not necessarily talking about money when I talk of personal success as money alone does not make you a success in life (although being financially free is a worthy goal – after all, we can’t enjoy life if we’re worried about not having enough money). I’m talking about successfully fulfilling your dreams, being happy and content, and having peace of mind.  Success is a feeling of personal fulfillment – a feeling we are becoming everything we are capable of becoming. Success is a journey, not a destination. Ben Sweetland

Living With Purpose

Living with purpose is one of life’s greatest joys. The desire for purpose exists in every human being.  We can begin to grow and improve as human beings when we seek our purpose, and our purpose intensifies the more we pursue it.  Knowing your purpose, while being true to yourself to work toward it, is the best way to prepare for a life full of worthwhile accomplishments.

Having a distinct purpose will help you to be the person you would like to be. We all have an ideal self that we are constantly trying to emulate.  We want to be like that person.  We continually have thoughts and mental images of the person we would like to be and we are constantly adjusting our actions and behaviors trying to be more like that person.

To help you define your purpose, ask your self these questions: What do I want out of life? What does it mean for me to be alive? What do I do well?  What would I love to do?  What would I do without being paid for it?  What do I want to accomplish in my lifetime?

A dear friend of mine tells me her purpose is to be a wonderful and loving wife and mother; to raise her children to be happy, productive members of society; to teach them to live with honesty and integrity.  I thought it was wonderful that she knew what she wanted to do and be. And I think it’s wonderful that her days are centered around that purpose.  Living her purpose is the thing that makes her happy.  Her success is measured in her happiness and in the happiness of her family.  She will be remembered for the impact she has made on the lives of others.

You should not feel as though your purpose in life is to go to work every day, toil your entire life at a job you may hate, just so you can retire some day living a meager existence, just hoping that somehow things will work out.  Life is much grander than that.  Pursue your dreams and goals.  Know your purpose.  Search your heart and you will find it.

Living without purpose allows other people’s purpose to influence and direct our lives. If we are living without purpose that is exactly what is happening. We need to make sure we are in charge of ourselves. We must be self-reliant and our success is assured.

Steve Pavlina (Personal Development for Smart People) offers some insightful reading on your life’s purpose and how to discover it.  How to Discover Your Life Purpose in about 20 Minutes.

Do you have a “Purpose for Today?” Have you uncovered your purpose in life?  Please share with me and my readers and let us know how “Living with Purpose” has changed your life.

Gina

Technorati Tags:Personal Development, Self-improvement

This is the second installment from 25 TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE in 2009

TIP #2 - Sit (alone) in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

Do you ever take a few minutes to simply relax and do nothing? Do you ever just get away from all the noise, distractions and hectic pace of everyday life?  If not, you may be missing out on one of the simplest methods of pure relaxation and stress reduction.  If there ever was a simple pleasure, this is it.

Although this is one of the simplest tips on the list, don’t dismiss it as being too simplistic because it really isn’t.  Many of the best things we can do to improve our quality of life are very simple.  Like thinking positively, eating healthy, getting enough exercise, etc.  The problem is, we never take the time to actually do them.  These wise and well-known suggestions are very simple, but only a small percentage of us take advantage of them.  Sitting in silence is one of them.

There is much to be said about being alone, in silence, intentionally doing nothing.  It helps to balance out the noise and confusion that fills much of our days.  It is rejuvinating and peaceful and certainly worth the small effort involved.

There are many ways to accomplish this. Whether it be locking the bathroom door and taking a 10 minute bath, a walk alone in nature, or having your private “retreat” area where you are afforded silence and privacy. I’m not talking about the ride into the office on your way to work.  Although, if that is the only time you can muster on a certain day for some reason, by all means use it, but turn off the radio. Any time is better than no time.  I’m talking about taking time to recharge your mental and spiritual batteries.Taking time to listen to that still, small voice within us that many times holds the answer to all our life’s problems.
 
Taking this a step further, you can practice meditation or yoga.  Unlike sitting in silence, meditation is a way to silence the mind.

If you are already a meditator, then you know the power of this vehicle.  If you have thought you would like to start meditating, but haven’t yet, by all means start now.  If you are a “sometimes” meditator, on again, off again, then it’s time to make meditating as important as anything else you do during the day.

If you would like to meditate, but are unsure how to go about it, there are many free resources online to help.  A simple Google search for “how to meditate” returned the following results: www.how-to-meditate.org and www.wikihow.com/meditate and many others.

Quiet Quote: Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.  Robert Louis Stevenson

Everything is a Habit

Let me repeat that and think about it for a minute.  Everything is a habit.  Form the habit of taking quiet time for yourself every day.  Our peace of mind is dependant on the habits we form.  Especially the habits of mind.  As they say: Form good habits and make them your masters.

Gina

Technorati Tags: Self Improvement, Meditation, Quiet Time

A loyal reader and subscriber submitted the following list of 25 Tips for a Better Life.  She thought I should share it with all my readers.  I couldn’t agree more.  In fact, I think it is perfect for a series of articles expanding on each tip. 

25 TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE - 2009 

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. 

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.  Buy a lock if you have to. 
 
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,  ‘My purpose is to _______ today.’ 
 
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. 
 
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli and almonds. 
 
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 
 
7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment. 
 
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.  
 
9. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.  
 
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 
 
11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 
 
12. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 
 
13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present. 
 
14. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 
 
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 
 
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years will this matter?’ 
 
17. Forgive everyone for everything. 
 
18. What other people think of you is none of your business. 
 
19. GOD heals everything. 
 
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 
 
21. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. 
 
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 
 
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________. 
 
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed. 
 
25. Remember: Thoughts become things…. choose the good ones! 
 
 
TIP #1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

Everyone is aware of the many benefits of a daily walk. There is something rejuvenating and peaceful about being alone and having some time to reflect, or simply enjoying the quiet. When you set aside a little quiet time for yourself, usually it makes all the difference in the rest of your day.  But what about the smiling part? 

There are many benefits to be received from a smile.  Yes, it certainly is an anti-depressant and smiling seems to automatically make you think pleasant thoughts.  As you walk around with a smile, enjoying life’s beauty,  you are reminded of all there is to be thankful for.  And when you pass a stranger, look them in the eyes, smile at them and say “Hello.”

Have you ever noticed how little eye contact most of us have with strangers?  What do you suppose keeps us from opening our hearts and smiles to people we don’t know?

Strangers are people just like you and me.  They have families and friends, troubles and good times, fears and aspirations, likes and dislikes just as you and I do.  Think of  strangers as being just like you and me and treat them with kindness, a smile, and eye contact as well.  You’ll notice how nice and grateful most people will be when you are the first one to offer a smile.

Do this, and you’ll notice some pretty nice changes in yourself and a greater feeling of inner happiness.

Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.

Gina

Technorati Tags:Self-improvement, Happiness, Personal Development