Purpose Without Apology

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS feed)

Let's kick this thing off BIG and BOLD right off from the start today...make NO APOLOGIES for living a life OF purpose and ON purpose!

If people around you don't like it and/or ridicule you for doing so - rid yourself of such people. If they have that type of attitude about living a life of purpose then, obviously, they do not desire to be involved in living a life of purpose. And, that being so, why would YOU (someone that is now determined to live such a life of purpose) desire to have that type of influence in your life?

MAKE NO APOLOGIES for deciding that life is better spent in service to others rather than focusing on self. MAKE NO APOLOGIES for desiring to follow in the steps of Jesus by being a SERVANT rather than one being served). MAKE NO APOLOGIES for choosing to live a life that is full of happiness as one that is full of loneliness.

Get the point?

Hey, if you are a "stay-at-home-mom" DO NOT MAKE APOLOGIES for choosing to live that life! Society as a whole may try to make you feel as if you are not really living up to your full potential or "pulling your own weight" but, understand this - if you have chosen to be at home with your kids then you have chosen to live a LIFE OF PURPOSE! And that purpose is to be there to love, teach and train your children to grow up to be people focused on living a life of service and purpose.

If you are a single mom (or dad) and you're doing everything you can to provide for your family - MAKE NO APOLOGIES for doing so! Many may try to make you feel guilty for working two jobs trying to provide for your family while they stay with someone else. But again, understand this - if you are FORCED to be in this situation then MAKE NO APOLOGIES for doing what you have to do to provide a home and a way to live for your children. **NOTE: Notice that I emphasized the word "forced" in the previous sentence. Why? Because there is a difference in someone doing what they have to do and someone that is choosing to put themselves and their career ahead of their children. There is a BIG difference and I want to make sure you don't miss that.

DADS...make NO APOLOGIES for being a man of PURPOSE in being the kind of DAD that is not afraid to teach a boy to be a man and to show a daughter how a TRUE MAN loves a daughter without the fear of any kind of warped abuse. Let me tell you, I can get pretty worked up on this one! Let your children see that you are a DAD that is a great example of a MAN that knows how to love and respect the woman that they call "MOM" as well as all other women. Let them see in you a determination to provide for and protect their precious family. MAKE NO APOLOGIES for allowing your children to see you cry tears of joy as well as sadness. Bottom line: make NO APOLOGIES for BEING A MAN!

(The same is true for women but, hey, since I'm a guy I can speak more boldly and with some idea of what I'm talking about to men!).

Teens...MAKE NO APOLOGY for being one that stands out from the crowd by being one that has determined to focus on being a person of CHARACTER and one that shows respect to your parents, teachers and ALL adults that you come into contact with in your life. MAKE NO APOLOGY for purposing to live a life of honesty and integrity instead of someone that is always looking for the easy way out.

I could go on and on, but I won't. I think you get the point, right?

Decide to live a life of PURPOSE and do so WITHOUT APOLOGY!

And, as you do so, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

A Purpose in Life

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS feed)

We've been talking about living a life of purpose and what that means for each one of us in our own individual lives. We've talked about the fact that living a life of SELF is NOT living a life of purpose and that, in reality, this is a very lonely way to live. We then discussed the fact that we need to be living a life of service and that we don't need to be waiting for the opportunity to serve to arrive...it's around each and every day right where we are.

Today I want to discuss the idea of there being "A" particular purpose in life for you. Know what I mean? Sometimes when people have "near death" experiences they feel that God saved them and kept them here for "A" purpose and they try hard to try to discover what that purpose is. And, from my experience, these people get very frustrated trying to figure out what that one, singular purpose is for their life.

Let's compare it to this example: Have you ever heard the idea that some have that there is ONE "true love" out there (where the heck is "out there"?) and that they will be happy ONLY if they find that ONE true love. Hey, what happens if that person dies before you have a chance to meet them? What happens if that person lives on the other side of the world and you never get the chance to meet them? Does that mean that you can NEVER be happy? OF COURSE NOT!

I believe it to be the same when it comes to having a purpose in life as opposed to living a life OF purpose. "A" denotes one, singular purpose and the idea that this is the ONLY purpose that fits you and your life. I really don't believe that to be true. Let me share a personal example of the struggle that can come from this type of thinking.

Back in the summer of 2009 my wife had a heart attack - a "one-in-a-million" type of heart attack that has nothing to do with cholesterol or bad eating habits, blockage or ANYTHING like that. She had a vein split in her heart and she nearly died. I'm not exaggerating - she had to be "shocked" back to life on two different occasions during this horrible ordeal. To make this short, she not only survived but she is doing extremely well, has had NO after effects of the heart attack and no damage to her heart at all. Yeah, I DO believe in miracles.

She, like many in situations like this, felt that God kept her here for a reason - a particular purpose - and, in her emotional state following this "near death experience" she became very frustrated trying to figure out what this ONE particular purpose might be for her life. She kept trying to figure out what it was that God had planned for her - what it was that she needed to do to fulfill this purpose that he saved her for. I finally got through to her (or at least I think I did) when I told her that maybe she needed to stop thinking of some BIG purpose and to maybe consider that God kept her here because I needed her, her children needed her, her parents needed her, her friends needed her. We ALL needed her to be with us and to continue to be a blessing to us and to continue to bring joy to our lives. I think that finally hit home to her...the idea that, perhaps, her purpose was to be a blessing anywhere and everywhere she went.

That's living a life OF purpose ON purpose.

I want to encourage you to do the same. Don't wait. Stop waiting. Realize that you have an opportunity to live a life of purpose each and every day. Live life ON purpose and PURPOSE (determine) to do this everyday, everywhere.

Remember that list that you put together yesterday? Don't forget that and don't forget to approach each and every day ON purpose and as your purpose for life today.

Stop waiting. Start doing, start sharing, start living.

And, as you do so, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Purpose in Serving

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the  RSS feed)

We've already discussed the fact that living a life of SELF is NOT a life of purpose and, more than likely, it is a lonely life.

So, no need to discuss that further, right? Let's move on now to what living a life of purpose DOES consist of in our lives. SERVING OTHERS! I've already talked recently about the importance of taking our eyes off of ourselves and noticing those around us and using our God-given talents and abilities to reach out and help. I've also recently shared the emphasis given in the Bible about not being here to BE served but TO serve.

Please, whatever you do, don't wait until ___________________ (you fill in the blank) happens before you begin to live a life of purpose through serving others. Some are waiting until they get enough money (rich?) to be able to do BIG things before they start. Some are waiting until this and that.....and, all the while, opportunities to serve pass them by every day.

DON'T LET THAT BE YOU!

Don't miss the opportunities you have right before you with your family - especially your children. Let them see - TEACH BY DOING - you involved in serving others and help them learn the importance of living a life of purpose that involves something/someone other than themselves.

Look at those around you - yes, even your coworkers and brainstorm ways that you can PURPOSE your time with them to be a blessing...an ENCOURAGEMENT. On more than once occasion my wife has begun working a new job to be warned about different people (especially in management) that were grumpy and that never smiled. My wife would actually take that on as a challenge with a determination (a PURPOSE) that she would make sure that she talked to them, was kind to them and got them to smile at LEAST once every time she worked. And, guess what? She did and they did. She did what she set out to do and they DID smile at LEAST once while working with her. As a matter of fact, one female manager who was known to be a "sour-puss" got to where she would light up with a smile every time she saw my wife at the start of a shift and she even ended up knitting my wife some sort of a "throw" to be used while lying on the couch or sitting in a chair.

Pretty cool, huh?

Now, on Monday I asked you to be jotting some things down on paper as to what this whole idea of living a life of purpose meant for you in your life. Here's where you can get down to the "meat" of the matter. Make a list of as many people as you can that you normally come into contact with on an average day. Your family, neighbors, co-workers, bosses, garage attendant, your child's school bus driver, teacher, etc. Make as an extensive list as you can and then take a moment and be amazed at how many people you impact each and every day. Then, take some time - maybe do five at a time - and write down how you can PURPOSE to be a blessing in that persons life beginning NOW.

Hey, some of you will, some of you won't but it doesn't change the fact that ALL of you (us) CAN and, quite honestly, SHOULD be seeking ways to serve more.

Yes my friend, there IS purpose in serving. And, if being selfish is a life of loneliness then I would think that SERVING would be a life of happiness!

Check it out. Put it to the test and see what you find to be true. Let me know - I'd love to hear from you!

Join me tomorrow as we continue this discussion but, until then, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Selfishness Is NOT Purpose

If you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the blog from yesterday as I began this discussion on "Living a Life of Purpose" before you go on with this one. Well, go on.  Well, I mean, you don't HAVE to do that but it might help as you read today's blog entry.

In tomorrow's blog I'm going to begin talking about what a life of purpose really is but I thought I'd spend a little time today talking about what it is NOT. And, as you can tell from the title of today's blog alone with the graphic at the top, a life of purpose is NOT about SELF!

We definitely live in a self-centered world, don't we? Oh, I know - and am thankful - that there seems to be a shift among many in our world today toward understanding the need to live a life of service. But I'd suggest that for every person - especially younger person - that is beginning to understand the importance of this fact, there are maybe five that are still focused on themselves.

I've recently discussed how this may come about by never helping our children understand that, as a matter of fact, they really AREN'T the cutest kid in the world and they really AREN'T the smartest one, either. Again, I get being proud of our kids but, at some point, we MUST help them make that transition over to reality and a more meaningful purpose for their existence.

Me, me, me, me. Just listen to those around you as they talk and you will likely hear this word (or "I") more than just about any other. Wow, I get really tired of listening to someone that does that, don't you? As a matter of fact, I will usually tune them out rather quickly and move on to someone else for a conversation with some actual substance.

Many times self-centered people will try to convince you that they are happy and, hey, they may even have all of the"bling" to make you think that this may even be so! I mean, they have focused so completely on themselves that they had NOTHING to stop them from doing anything and everything necessary to collect all of the "stuff" that many want to attach to mean "success".

However, I truly believe that no matter how much they try to convince you or others that they are happy, they really aren't. Of even more significance is the fact that, regardless of how much they try to convince THEMSELVES that they are happy they are, more likely, very lonely and miserable.

Living a life of self is a lonely life. Why? Because there is no one else in your world but YOU. Oh sure, there may be some people around that enjoy getting the perks of being your "friend". But as soon as those perks "dry up" or you try to test them to see if they are there because of those perks or because they actually LIKE you... well, get ready for the echo of your own voice.

Listen friend, we are all here for something bigger and better than ourselves! Please - PLEASE - if you have any teens still at home (or even in college and still coming to your home) spend some time "picking their brain" to see where they are in this process. So many do nothing and expect EVERYTHING given to them. Oh, I do know that there are some exceptions but I'm talking about what I have seen as the majority.

And, while you are at it - do a little self-examination, too and see what you find. Hey, it's easy to get caught up in this "me" thing. But remember - a life of purpose is NOT a life focused on self.

I hope you'll join me again tomorrow and that you'll remember to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Living Life On Purpose

"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."

pur-pose [pur puhs] - noun     1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc. 2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal. 3. determination; resoluteness. 4. the subject in hand; the point at issue. 5. practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose

                                                                                                                                                                verb (used with object)  6. to set as a aim, intention, or goal for oneself.  7. to intend; design.  8. to resolve (to do something): He purposed to change his way of life radically.                                       (www.dictionary.com)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

I wanted to be sure to include both the noun and verb usage of this word because of the importance of these meanings in this discussion. I'll be referring back to parts of this definition throughout this article but I want you to take another look at it and put some thoughts into it in connection with the title of this article, "Living Life On Purpose".

Purpose is the "reason for which something exists" - we ALL have purpose in life. Notice I didn't say "a" purpose? We'll get to that in a bit. But here's what I want to discuss for now...are you living a life OF purpose?

You know, sometimes it's nice to not really have anything to do and just "wander aimlessly" through your day or even week. I'm not sure how often you've gotten to do that but, after a while - as good as it sounds - that can get OLD! We're really not "wired" to sit around and do nothing. We're really not "wired" to not have focus and direction.

That being said, we need to be living a life OF purpose!

Why do I keep emphasizing the word "of"? Because there is a big difference between living a life OF purpose and having A purpose in life. But, for now - TODAY - I simply want you to ask yourself if you are living a life OF purpose.

Again, go back to the definition above and ask yourself if you are living a life of determination and resolution. A life of FOCUS. You might want to take out a notebook (old school, I know) or whatever way you choose, and write your thoughts down as they come. Don't worry about organizing them for now - just write down what comes to mind.

The thoughts, the questions, the discoveries...write it all down and then join me tomorrow as I continue this discussion. One final thought on a life of purpose...it doesn't matter WHO you are, WHERE you have been or WHAT you have done. Remember, your past DOES NOT determine your future! You can still live a life OF PURPOSE!

Be sure to join me tomorrow as I continue these thoughts and, until then, jot down those ideas and, whatever you do, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
Mike