What's Your Personal Purpose

The question of purpose came up for me several times last week. I attended a motivational speakers evening where there were six speakers who had 10 minutes to express a lesson they learned that impacted who they are today. Two of the speakers and the host for the evening made reference to what's your purpose. The topic of purpose also came up in a business meeting just yesterday. This all gave cause for me to review my written personal purpose that I will revel later in this article.
If money is on top of your goal list that's something you may wish to reflect upon. The question I ask what's the money for? Is it life style? Taking your family to Disney World? Buying a boat or an RV often appears on a list of goals. These are all things we want to have. Things we can do with our families. I believe that money provides you the choices to do what you want and who you spend that time with in your non working time. That's the real goal as I see it. Going through this exercise determines the nuts and the bolts of what you want. It will bring you closer to finding your purpose.
The bigger question remains why you want these goals and what is your purpose in life. My take on personal purpose is what moves you to be who you are and how do you want the world to look at you. Yes, in many cases we do it because it makes us feel good. I send it back again. Why does it make us feel good. My first go around on writing a personal purpose was five years ago after reading Jack Canfield's " The Success Principals". Jack was insistent that you will not lead a truly happy and successful life until you discovered your purpose. So I began the process. I did some research on how to begin and how it should be worded so it spoke to who I am. It was not until a year later that I got it fine tuned to this.
"My Personal Purpose is to be a role model of giving, love, wisdom, credibility, learning, happiness and joy that will inspire my family, friends, customers and associates."
That's it. It seems simple but it took allot of time to get the words just right that speaks to who I believe I am. We all want love and respect. Love and respect can come from a variety of areas and that is why I chose to broaden my personal purpose to include family and my business life. I believe your Personal Purpose should speak to who you are 24 hours a day. Enjoy the journey of writing your personal purpose. You will be glad you did.

Does Your Positive Attitude Run On Automatic?

Recently while attending a Rotary District Leadership weekend, I found myself in a room full of people with high energy and positive attitudes. People who want to effect change and make the world a better place both at home and in countries in need. It's one of the many reasons I belong to Rotary. My article this week is not about Rotary but it's the people of Rotary who planted the seed for this weeks positive attitude article.
I find personally that I focus on the positive result and not the act of being positive. Spend the energy on the result. The only way to obtain the positive result is with a positive attitude. This means that you are already in the positive attitude mindset. Say good-bye to that voice in the back of your mind saying, " I have to be positive, I have to be Positive". Do you see what I mean by this? One of the keys to getting to this space is to be cognitive of your thoughts. If your thoughts are positive outcome based, it's about the outcome.
I often refer to myself as the opportunity salesman. Do you suppose you can be the best you can be with a limp attitude? I don't think so. Do you want to go through life without becoming better than you are today? I would hope not. The human race is evolving. Do you suppose that evolution is taking place because of the doubters and negative minded types. I don't think so. The can do positive minded individuals are leading the charge. To use an analogy. Many of us in North America are disgruntled with politics and politicians. So what happens. We vote leaders and governments out. All the energy is spent combating the other political party. I ask you. What do suppose would happen if all were pulling in the same direction? I expect the social and business agendas would be met. That's why I don't watch the news. It's counter productive. I get my news from the internet. My reading includes business news and good new stories. There is no room for negativity in my mind. Yes I would agree that we can not go through life with blinders on however I prefer to spend time in the space that I have some control over.
Here are some simple tips that will certainly get your head in a positive state of mind.

1. Start a gratitude journal and write in it every morning. You will discover you have much to be thankful for.
2. Review your goals. To do lists are good however they are activity based and not big picture. I caution you not get your to do list and goals mixed up. You may find that if your trying to change a habit that is related to a goal you will need to put this on your to do list until it becomes automatic.
3. Look for a couple of inspirational web sites and save them on your favorites list. Read a few of these each morning.
4. At the end of each business day write down what you will do first thing in the morning. Open your email second as that creates reacting to external forces. Yes you will have to deal with these emails but you should deal with them on your terms.
5. Look for positive minded new friends whether they are social or business.

It is my belief the can do people are those who have their positive attitude in automatic. All their energy is focused on the end result. The bonus is, that it's one heck of allot more fun to do than grinding through things you deem a pain in the butt. How are you going to start your day tomorrow? I know how I am going to start mine.

Add Gratitude To Your Positive Attitude

Many of us live in a world of abundance and don't know it. There is a tendency by most to focus on what you don't have adverse to what you do have. When one really considers it, they would say that on general, their life is pretty good. I am amazed why so many people focus on what they don't have when there is so much they should be thankful for.
This is where the positive attitude bashers just don't get it. The life is great crowd are outpacing them all the way to success. I believe that success is directly tied to your wants and desires. This drives you to achieve your goals.
I believe Gratitude is the missing link in looking for more in your life. You are not an ocean unto yourself. You can not accomplish great heights all alone. You need others to help you get there. In most instances hundreds of people touched your life and helped you obtain what you now have. I suggest that you do not get it all yourself. Personal heights are achieved through collaboration, leveraging partnerships, motivated employees and relationships. You are likely the king spoke in the wheel of your success. I recommend you be grateful of those people who help complete the circle of the wheel.
I am personally 10 days through the book "The Magic" by Ronda Byrne. You'll likely remember her as the Author of best selling book "The Secret". The Secret was all about the power of attraction. In short, put out your desires to the universe and you will receive what you ask for. I feel The Secret came up very short on the fact that it missed telling you that you also have to take action. I am certain that many readers came away feeling disappointed not having found results. The Magic on the other hand is a step by step 28 day work book on understanding and practicing gratitude and how it relates to the power of attraction. I hope that you see the connection to 28 days as it is commonly know that it takes 28 days to create a new habit. I should also state that I am in gratitude for my amazing friend Bruce who suggested I read the book.
The Magic opened my eyes to the fact that I was only scratching the surface regarding gratitude. This is where it gets personal for me. I've been writing a gratitude journal now for several years. It's my little daily ritual I do at the beginning of every day. Each morning I write all the things I am grateful for including people who have enriched my life, material things I have and the blessing of being able to help others. This exercise helps me focus on the 95% of my life that is great and diminishes the 5% of life that bothers me. I can't wait until I finish the book in 18 more days to feel the full results.
It is my firm belief by adding gratitude to your positive attitude that you will excel at all you do and live a happier and healthy life. Add gratitude to your power of attraction and good things will come to you at warp speed. Successful people are attracted to people who have a positive can do attitude. That speeds up the process. In my world, a positive attitude enriched with gratitude is a hard asset. Start your journal today. Watch and feel your worries vanish. Take special notice of all the great new things that come to you and remember to express your gratitude.