I was browsing around online and decided to check out Steve Pavlina's blog. If you haven't heard of Steve Pavlina, you should check him out at www.stevepavlina.com. Steve has numerous articles in regards to personal development.
After signing up for his forum and looking through a few articles, I ran into an article titled, "How to Discover Your Life Purpose in About 20 Minutes". I was thinking, seriously? I've been walking around clueless for years trying to figure out what my purpose was and there's actually a technique where I can figure this out in about 20 minutes? That's insane!
Anyhow, I decided to be open to it. I opened up WordPad and did exactly as the directions asked.
Within the first ten minutes of thinking and writing, I felt this urge to get up and walk around. I decided to stay seated and continue thinking since I read that the answer usually comes when there is most resistance.
After number seven, right at the 15 minute mark, I closed my eyes and sat still in deep meditation. Moments of my past began to show - Me as a child, running around smiling, laughing, and completely without a care in the world.
Then it hit me. While watching those moments of the past replaying like an old film in my mind, I saw my parents caring for me whenever I was sick, preparing meals for me when I was hungry, and thought about how much they've done for me throughout my entire life.
I also realized how much I haven't done for them and how much I want to show them that they truly mean everything to me. Time is running short and moments are passing away.
My last and final answer caused a stir in my emotions and made me drown in tears. I couldn't help myself. The words spoke through me and touched my soul.
"To show my parents that I truly appreciate the kindness, love, & compassion they have showed. It is them that I live for."
Now it makes sense to me that one's purpose has to be strong enough of an emotion to compel that person to make a difference.
If you'd like to discover your life purpose in about 20 minutes, give this exercise a shot. Take out a piece of paper or open up a blank word document. I chose to type it out since it was faster for me. At the top, write down, "What is my true purpose in life?". At the bottom of it, write down the first answer that comes out the top of your head. From there, continue a list of answers and don't stop until you've reached an answer that makes you cry and completely overwhelms you. You may have moments where you feel touched by an answer, but it won't be your true purpose in life. Keep writing until you've reached an answer that drowns you in tears.
This exercise may take you more than 20 minutes but don't let that bring you down. After several minutes of writing you may also have a feeling of strong resistance for continuing further, but break past that point. Typically your answer is right around the corner from here. If you need to stop and breathe to think and meditate, go for it. Then continue writing from there.
What's your true purpose in life?