Have you ever wondered why you were born? Have you ever wanted to figure out if you had a true purpose for being here on this spinning planet we call Earth?
This question is probably the most important and most profound question you could ever ask yourself, and it is likely the most difficult to answer. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t born realizing what our purpose is. We have to work hard to find true meaning and happiness. We have to find the missing key to unlock our calling.
So, how does one get started? We can learn a lot from the life of Joel Brown, founder of Addicted2Success.com. His website is the number one motivational website online, and he strives to help others find their true meaning in life just as he found his not long ago.
Get Past your Self Limiting Beliefs
Sometimes all it takes to find happiness and purpose in life is to realize that you are the only one standing in your way. We all have nagging self-doubt, uncertainty and fear that will hold us back if we allow it to. Those self-limiting beliefs will sabotage your success and keep you from identifying your mission in life and unlocking your true potential.
Joel had to overcome his own limiting beliefs in the early days of building his business. Looking back, he admits he believed that everything needed to be perfect, and he thought that he was the only one who was able to operate the business correctly. Because of this belief, Joel was working around the clock and burning the candle at both ends. Once Joel was able to gain control and turn his thoughts around, he was able to adapt to the changes required for his company to grow. Now he has a staff that helps build upon his vision and allows him to focus on more important tasks.
Find your Why
Achieving big goals is hard work. No matter how dedicated you are to your dream, your motivation will begin to fade at some point in time. In order to keep the momentum going, Joel suggests that you reconnect with your “why.” Sacrifice will be part of the journey and having a commitment to why you got started will help you push past the temptation to throw in the towel. Get in touch with your vision for success and why it is so important to you. Commit to that vision and let it discipline you. Your vision is what should choose your friends and plan your days. Your vision will let you know when to say “yes” to opportunities that serve your end purpose and “no” to everything else.
Joel’s best tip to entrepreneurs is to “Get clear on who you really are and why you are in business. Never forget why you started your business in the first place. You have to define your why and what success means to you and run in a relentless pursuit to get it.”
Chunk Down your Goals
Once you find your true purpose in life, it is tempting to throw all of your time and energy towards its pursuit. However, this is typically not practical in the beginning. You may have other commitments (like a full time job and family) that still require your time. In order to make the most out of the time you do have, Joel suggests chunking down your goals in a strategic approach that makes them more achievable. Focus on the tasks that move you quickest towards your end target.
When Joel was building his business, he was also juggling a full time job. He put a plan in place and carefully scheduled his time around bite sized goals. He spent 70% of his available time marketing and the remaining 30% creating unique content. He also interviewed highly successful people. By chunking down his goals and focusing on the tasks that created the most value, he was able to grow his business quickly while balancing other priorities in life.
How will you know?
You may be wondering how you will know when you have identified your true life purpose? How do you know whether it is real or just something that sounds appealing at the moment?
Once you have unlocked the answer to life’s most profound question, you will know. Mystical things will amazingly just start happening in your life. Resources will find you in the particular moment you need them. Obstacles will simply become part of the journey instead of stop signs. Once you have found your calling, you will be flooded with a feeling you’ve never experienced before. You may feel strangely peaceful and at ease.
According to Joel, the moment he stepped into his purpose and gained the clarity he needed, he knew. Joel recounted the day in April 2011 when he casted a 10 year vision for his life and business. “This was the day I really felt alive; this was the day my vision shadowed my fear.” He had found his purpose in life, and there was no question in his mind.
In Conclusion
Have you found your calling? Do you know why you were put on this earth? Or are you still looking? If you haven’t found it yet, don’t worry. Identifying your purpose is a personal and unique endeavor, and the journey will be different to everybody. Once you find it you can also enjoy the fulfillment and success that comes with a purpose driven life.
Originally published at medium.com