Who am I Made to be? Why am I here? What Energizes me?
I'm not sure I've ever really thought about these questions -- is it too late? -- I'm 58 -- what's left to work with? Should I now embark on seeking answers and finding a "life word" or will I just be looking at what could have, should have been? How does one get to this age and realize that life came year by year, leaving little time or space to plan how to live it intentionally?
"Far too few people live in the present with the future in mind."
"Legacy is all about people. It's defined by what you leave behind that lives on in others. Each one of us plays a number of roles in life and every role matters...Ultimately, the value of your life and your legacy is revealed in the stories that those who were most important to you—those who knew you best—will tell."
"Ken Blanchard summarizes it best: “The journey of life is to move from a self-serving heart to a serving heart. You finally become an adult when you realize that life is about what you give, rather than what you get.”"
Purpose of "life word" = direction and drive, mission and meaning
"Some qualities you are naturally born with'we call these “gifts.” Others are developed over time with effort and experience'we call these “strengths.”"
Define your Power: What do you naturally excel at? What unique characteristics describe how you are naturally wired? What strengths have you developed over time? What gives you joy when you do it?
Power: I have the power of believing, learning, intuiting, organizing, creating, writing, empathizing, and bouncing back
live on purpose every day
a sense of calling and investing in a cause
"Calling is when you have a sense of “I'm made for this!” It's when you find the thing to do that makes you feel most alive. Your Cause is found when you're able to say, “I'm moved to do something about this!”"
"Living on purpose is about investing your life in the things that matter most so that you live a life of mission and meaning."
Determine your Purpose: What does the world need? What am I made to do to help fill this need? What can I do to make a difference and leave a positive mark? What breaks my heart? What's at risk if I don't do what I am called to do?
Am I a wife or am I my husband's helpmate?
Am I a teacher of English or am I an English teacher for my students?
Am I a co-worker or am I my co-workers' partner?
"Your purpose is ultimately something that frees you, challenges you, inspires you, and gives you a sense of mission and meaning. It's found by doing the things that make you feel most alive."
So my purpose is to be my husband's helpmate, and my students' teacher, and my co-workers' partner.
Or
My purpose is to be a helpmate to my husband, a teacher to my students, and a partner to my co-workers.
"When passion is directed productively for the benefit of others, it can change the world for the better; it can give you the fuel you need to overcome obstacles and challenges, rebound from disappointment of failure, and fulfill your God-given purposes. Passion is filled with optimism and belief."
"Passion is often driven by your conviction and energized by emotion. But passion is always about helping others and making a positive impact."
Discover your Passion: Where do I invest most of my time, energy, and money? What matters to me deeply? What energizes me to take action and motivates me to make a difference?
I'm passionate about learning how to do what I do better. Is that passion that leads to purpose?
"When your Life Word comes to you, it may be an action word, character trait, virtue, attribute, or even a value."
"For those near the “half-way” point on your journey, this focus may be just what you need to reorient, reprioritize, and reinvest your time, energy, and resources around the things that matter most! It may also reinforce the path you are on! But be careful not to get bogged down with a sense of what could've or should've been; instead, put the past behind you, learn from it, and move on with a sense of renewed purpose and energy."
"And for those in the “fourth quarter” of life, this focus will help you maximize your wealth of life experience and pass on wisdom to the next generation. It may even help you repair relationships, overcome regrets, and finish strong. Use your renewed sense of urgency to focus and fuel you to make a difference for others. Right now, you may just be positioned to do the greatest good as you run with endurance and finish the race!"