So far, we have explored our “inner Home for Happiness,” its foundation, and its four walls or pillars. Now let’s add the roof. As we complete our home we are counseled to “live a life inspired by purpose.”
Habits associated with leaning into our purpose include “find your passion,” “follow the inspiration of the moment,” and “contribute to something greater than yourself.”
Try one or more of the following three exercises:
1. Acting From Inspiration
Think of inspiration as being plugged into spirit-being led by your soul throughout the day. A wonderful way to act from inspiration is to start your day by asking yourself the following questions, adapted from the book, A Course in Miracles.
1. Close your eyes, and take a few deep, slow breaths
2. Ask yourself these three questions:
- a. What would Spirit have me do?
- b. Where would Spirit have me go?
- c. What would Spirit have me say, and to whom?
3. As you move through your day, use the answers you receive to “light the 200 feet in front of you” on your way.
2. Find Your Passion
1. Analyze what you love doing or what you would love doing.
2. Ask yourself: “What makes me come alive?” “What is my calling?” ““What makes my heart sing?” Am I called to serve in some way?”
If you listen to your inner voice, answers will come to you. Don’t let fear and self-doubt overrule your inner knowing. Investigate what it would take to make one or more of the calls. Then commit to acting.
- The Passion Test: Are you one of the 80% of people who are not living their life’s passion? Are you ready to uplevel your life by living into meaning?
If you need more specific direction, try this exercise: make a list of 5 things that make you come alive personally. List five things that make you come alive in your work (this could also be a volunteer job or something you do at home such as caring for a family member.
Then pick one thing to work on. It’s okay to do it in baby steps. Do the chosen act for a couple of weeks and notice how you feel.
3. Complete “The Passion Test”
- List ten things that will make your life and your work ideal. Complete the sentence: “When my life is ideal, I am . . .”
For example, “When my life is ideal, I am inspiring others with my love of writing” “I am feeling healthy, fit, and energetic” “I am enjoying healthy relationships with my friends and family.”
If you’re stuck, think of things you absolutely don’t want to have in your life, then turn them around. For example, if you feel, “When my life is ideal, I will never be around people who lie, cheat, or steal,” turn it around to “When my life is ideal, I will always be surrounded by people who are honest, have the highest integrity and love to give.”
2. Now, think of four people you know who are not enthusiastic about what they’re doing in their lives. What do they talk about? Where is their attention focused? How do they treat the people they spend time with?
Then list at least five behaviors you notice in these people. Do you see any of these behaviors in yourself? Can you see how any of these behaviors might sabotage your ability to live a purposeful life?
3. Finally, list five things you can do in the coming week to start changing these behaviors to begin aligning your life with the things you wrote down in the first step so you can live the passionate, purposeful life you deserve.
This is the first step of getting clear about what really matters to you. When you go through the complete Passion Test, you will discover how to identify your top five passions, and how to align your life with them.
You can find the complete test in the book, The Passion Test by Janet Attwood and Chris Attwood, or go to ThePassionTest.com.