If you are reading this, you have a purpose.
No. Not simply because you’re reading this. I’m not that cocky! haha!
But whether or not you have discovered what that purpose is, everyone has one.
More often than not, the paths that we choose are connected to a passion that we have. Everyone has a dream; a grand vision of the kind of lives that they wish to lead. We also have untold amounts of God given potential within us.
Yet, despite being capable of so much, it is normal to occasionally become discouraged and begin to doubt if we really can accomplish all of the goals that we have set for ourselves. It doesn’t matter if you’re a college student or a Fortune 500 CEO. Maybe you’re unemployed, under-employed or even gainfully employed at a job that leaves you reminded that there is something more fulfilling for you out there.
Below are 5 friendly reminders that I hope will re-awaken the possibilities that are within you and continue to push you towards reaching your place of personal fulfillment.
I use the word “reminders” because I’m not professing to unearth some top secret information that you don’t already know. I’m no guru.
I’m just a guy who knows from experience that we can all use a little help remembering just how great we can be.
1. YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND!! so JUST DO YOU!!!
In today’s world, we adore the concept of an exclusive.
It can be a pair of limited edition gym shoes (sneakers for you east coasters out there). There are million dollar sports cars with only 50 to be made and sold . Gaudy purses. Rare pieces of art.
Top dollar is paid for items that are hard to find or duplicate.
What if I told you that there is no commodity more rare or exclusive than the one reading this article right now.
That’s right! IT’S YOU!!
You are a 1 of 1!!
Isn’t that a powerful feeling?
There are approximately 7.4 billion people on this planet.
Not a single one is exactly the same as you are. There have been countless billions, perhaps even trillions who have walked the earth and been born into this exhilarating experiment called life.
Not one of them has been just like you. NOT A ONE!
Again I ask, isn’t that powerful?!! Doesn’t that make you feel good?!
The realization that you are uniquely made should excite you out of bed everyday with a James Brown shout and motivate you to leave your own unique stamp and contributions on this world.
Because you are uniquely made, stop making unhealthy comparisons between yourself and others. Should there be people that you look to for inspiration, advice and guidance? Absolutely! But your admiration of someone else’s life journey should not cause you to devalue your own. You have a unique story to tell. You have your own trail to blaze.
Just do you!
2. LET LOVE BE YOUR GUIDE
British singer Sam Smith has seemingly shot out of a canon over the past couple years. Most know him for his smash hit “Stay With Me”. As great as that track is, my favorite song from his debut album
would have to be “Money On My Mind”.
It’s an uptempo, house groove in which Mr. Smith repeatedly assures the listener that he doesn’t sing, record or create with money on his mind but he says rather, “I do it for the love”.
Don’t do it strictly for the moula. Don’t even do it for the Vine.
Do it for the love. When you really love something, you’ll do whatever it takes to pursue and protect it. You will be willing to endure all of the trials and hard times that come with the particular path you’ve chosen where as someone who isn’t really that committed to it will likely give up when the going gets a little rough. And guess what?
By sticking to something that you’re committed to because it’s something that you feel a personal connection to, you are more likely to make money from it than if you were driven by money alone.
At the end of the day, sure. Lots of money is great. But give energy and service to whatever your passion or skill is.Let that be the engine that drives you. You will feel so much more fulfilled because of it.
3. TIME IS AN ILLUSION
It’s NEVER TOO LATE to pursue your happiness.
I repeat.. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE : )
Don’t get me wrong. Time is incredibly an important idea and construct. For one, it holds us accountable. We rely on time to know when we should report for work, arrive at meetings and appointments and to maintain crucial deadlines.
Time also serves as a marker of great milestones and achievements.
Your 20th year at a job. 3 years of sobriety.
A 10th wedding anniversary or a 93rd birthday
(shoutout to Bill Bertha a.k.a. grandpapa).
But when I say that time is an illusion, I’m referring to moments when we use time to tell others and even ourselves that we shouldn’t expect success.
You’ve heard it before..
“You’re too old to go back to school”
“You’re too young to start your own business”
“You can’t start a new career now. You’re too old”
“It’s too late for you to get married and have the house of your dreams”
“Oh. You’re not famous yet? It’s too late for you to be a successful dancer, singer, or actress.
Anyone who attempts to base the value of your passions on your age is someone who you should think twice about listening to. This lack of imagination is one of the leading reasons why so many dreams are deferred.
Baseball hall of famer, Satchel Paige is the source of one of my favorite quotes that deals with this very idea. He asked,
“how old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were”?
Satchel acknowledges a very powerful notion. That age, much like limitations can be just a state of mind. As long as you still have the fire burning inside of you and the ability to accomplish your goals,
True passions have no expiration date. Your dreams are always worth investing in.
This is not to say that you should waste time.
Yes, your dreams should be as boundless as the sky, but you should still have a realistic and responsible usage of your time.
That new career isn’t just going to just fall into your lap while you’re playing video games (this coming from a serious PS4 player).
The husband and family of your dreams is going to be a little harder to come by if you waste weekend after weekend in the club,
champaigning and campaigning until you decide to settle down at age 45.
If you find yourself wasting countless hours caught up in attitudes and activities that aren’t conducive to the achievement of your goals, then rededicate your efforts to things, ideas and people who can help you realize your best.
4. DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE COURSE IN ORDER TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION
Let me start this one by saying that I hate flying!
I really, really don’t like it. Being 20 – 30,000 feet in the air aboard a man made machine, subject to Mother Nature and human error?
Not a fan.
So much so that I have probably driven somewhere around 20,000 miles in the past 2 years just to avoid the convenience of air travel.
However,despite my best efforts, there are occasions in which flying is unavoidable since it can provide the most practical means of transportation to satisfy both my professional and personal obligations.
Yet even though air travel renders me more terrified than Deandre Jordan at the free throw line during clutch time, there is something that I really appreciate about the airline industry.
It is the constant stream of communication about the best way to get to where they want to go.
Air traffic control, pilots and weather experts all work together to find the safest and most efficient means to get the passengers and crew to there destination.
If some tumultuous weather patterns can be predicted and otherwise avoided, flight times and patterns are subject to change.
I’ve never been on a cruise ship before but I imagine they operate the same way.
Would you want your captain to steer you right into the eye of a hurricane? Of course not!
Much like the pilot of a plane or the captain of a ship, don’t be afraid to shift preconceived strategies to get you to where you want to go. This doesn’t mean that you should change plans the moment you come across a few obstacles. Even when you are making all of the right choices, you will still face some adversity. In this case, have patience. Your time is coming.
But there are times when your course of action should be reevaluated.
Don’t rule out the possibility of approaching things in a different way.
It doesn’t make you a quitter. It doesn’t make you a failure. It actually is a sign that your dreams matter so much to you that you are brave and patient enough to start anew or to take the road less traveled.
5. THE TIME IS NOW!
When it comes to making significant advancements and changes in your life, there is no time like the present! Remember that it’s a blessing to see another day.There are many people who don’t get another opportunity reach new heights or to realize their potential.
As long as you have breath in your lungs and blood running through your veins that signals another opportunity for you to try, to fail, to learn from your shortcomings and to move one step closer towards achieving the accomplishments that you have envisioned for yourself.
So you have this goal,right? This burning desire to realize incredible dreams. Why not act on it today? Look at yourself in the mirror or into the lens your camera smart phone in selfie mode and ask yourself…”why not today”?
Just Do You performed by India.Arie of Motown Records
soulbird.com
Money on my Mind performed by Sam Smith of Capitol Records
samsmithworld.com
tIme iS nOw performed by pUrPlE wOnDaLuV of Soulstar Music Co.
iamagroup.com
the conscience cloud 