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How to Create Purpose in Your Life

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Discovery

The central theme of life lies in it's discovery. We float along, succumbing to the monotones of social norms - never questioning the purpose out loud. It is easy to resist change. Patterns and acceptance are a form of salience. It makes us happy to do what is expected of us. It is even better when we do it well.

But the question is what happens when the path we all have laid out for us is not the path that makes us happy? What happens when we sit back and really question the validity of what we are "supposed to do?" This is the moment when you have the chance to make changes to create purpose in your life.

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Thought

A common exercise in discovering what you are meant to do is to consider what you would be doing if you had all of the money required to support your lifestyle. Would you spend more time traveling? Would you take up fiddle playing? Stop and seriously consider what you would be doing with your life if you didn't have to worry about the 9-5 of supporting yourself.

Believe it or not, there is a way around most of these problems. Every problem has a solution. It just takes creative thought to work your way past the obvious barriers. Most of the time it is simply fear that holds us back from living our dreams - fear of change, fear of failure, etc. You name it; there is probably a fear of some sort hiding out in the crevices of your big, beautiful notion of how life should be.

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Your time is limited,

so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.
~ Steve Jobs

Action

Life is best lived in action. You could sit around analyzing the purpose of your existence until your brain weaves itself into an intricate spider web. Guess what? Your thoughts will just get stuck. Pick something and just go with it. Move and move often.

What do I mean by moving? I mean both physical and mental motion. It is important to constantly get out and explore your environment - to engage your world. If you are not constantly taking in fresh air, sunshine, culture, voices around you, and/or new smells, you will find yourself mentally stuck. Keeping active physically keeps your brain moving forward. Moving forward is good.

Plan for Spontaneity

Make sure you are always prepared to be spontaneous. Pack an "adventure kit" and keep it in the trunk of your car. Keep snack, bug spray, a water bottle, sunblock, etc. in your adventure kit. For those things that you can not keep in your car, make sure they are always ready to go when you decide to head out.
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Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself -- at the university's 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005.
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Remembering

that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
~ Steve Jobs

Are you satisfied with your life?

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Resistance

It is predictable that there will be people around you that may resent positive changes in your way of thinking. As I said before, people fear change. Do not let other people hold you back from doing what you love.

So what if you have never picked up an instrument in your life? When you are breathing in those last breaths of life, it is not what other people think that will haunt you. It will be what you DO NOT DO with your life.

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Benefits

Creating purpose in your life can have a number of benefits - most of all, happiness. Everyone wants to be happy. Imagine a life that brings true and complete satisfaction. Imagine waking up every morning with the true intention to do as much with each second as you can possibly do. This is embracing life.

Take every chance. Reject every defeating thought. If you think to yourself, "No, I can't do that," challenge that thought! WHY can't you do that? You will be amazed at how often the answer holds no weight at all.

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