WHAT STOPS US FROM CLARIFYING OR LIVING ON PURPOSE
Author: Life On Purpose Certified Coach, W. Bradford Swift

Recently during an interview for The Inside Success Show, (http://www.TheInsideSuccessShow.com), the host, Randy Gilbert, asked me, "What is it that stops people from knowing and living their purpose?"

What a great question, I thought, in part because I knew the answer.

Here are the 4 primary obstacles I've learned in over 10 years as a life purpose coach that keeps people from clarifying or living their life purpose.

NOT KNOWING TO THE ASK THE QUESTION

In my observation of the world, it appears there are still a lot of people who aren't even asking the question, "what is my life purpose?" Obviously, it's hard to become clear about your life purpose, much less live true to it, unless you're asking this question.

Yet, in our culture, many people seem too busy to stop long enough to reflect upon such a question -- a classic case of placing the cart before the horse.

MISIDENTIFYING WHAT YOU DO AS YOUR LIFE PURPOSE

Since founding Life On Purpose Institute in 1996, I've asked thousands of people one simple questions -- What is A life purpose? I've found it's revealing to look at what a person's perspective is regarding life purpose since it plays an important part in how they address the primary question, "what is MY life purpose?"

In asking this question, I've found that 60-70 percent of the people who responded had a similar theme to their response which is:

“A life purpose is what I'm meant to DO while on earth.”

And for most of these people that equates to either their job, career, profession, or a primary role in life such as parenting, being a good spouse, employee or community member. What people don't seem to notice when looking from this perspective is that a life purpose is meant to impact ALL of one’s life, not just a portion of it.

The good news is that there is another perspective of what a life purpose is that will allow you to live true to your life purpose in all areas of your life, making it possible to live on purpose in each moment of your life. Consider your life purpose from this Life On Purpose Perspective:

** Your life purpose is the context, vessel, or container into which you pour your life. **

(For more about this perspective, visit http://www.lifeonpurpose.com)

LIVING A LIFE SHAPED BY FEAR

The truth is that this is the #1 obstacle to people knowing and living their true purpose because it is what often keeps people too busy to ask the question, "why am I here on earth," as well as keeping themselves focused only on the 'doing' aspect of their life.

In other words, instead of their life being shaped by their divinely inspired life purpose (which is based in love, abundance and flow), their life is shaped by their 'Inherited Purpose' which is based in fear, lack consciousness, and a need to struggle to survive.

In fact, I've worked with many clients who already had a clear sense of their true purpose, but without having done the work of clarifying their unique Inherited Purpose, it acted as a 'master saboteur'. Each time they tried to move beyond their comfort zone to live a more purposeful life, their Inherited Purpose would sabotage their efforts.

NOT KNOWING AN EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR PURPOSE CLARIFICATION

Unfortunately, even after these 3 obstacles are overcome, many people still get stopped because they don't have a simple and effective process for clarifying their life purpose. The "process" they end up using is the old 'trial and error' approach which can result in years of frustration and effort with little results to show for it. That's why I asked for Divine guidance about 10 years ago to find a way to shorten the learning curve.

(The result of that guidance is now known as the Life On Purpose Process, a proven, systematic, spiritually-based approach that has helped thousands of people to clarify and live true to their life purpose. Visit http://www.lifeonpurpose.com for more information.)

HOW TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES

Hopefully, by this time you've started to appreciate the importance of clarifying your life purpose. If so, you've already overcome the first obstacle in that you're now asking the question, "What is my life purpose?"

And if you're willing to try on the Life On Purpose Perspective, you'll be greatly ahead of the game by acknowledging that your true life purpose is more than just what you do, although what you do -- your career or primary life roles -- can be great ways to express your true purpose once you've clarified it.

Here's a simple yet highly effective coaching assignment that will help you continue your journey along the Purposeful Path. As you go about your week, periodically stop and ask yourself this question: "In this moment, is my life being shaped by FEAR (lack, struggle), or LOVE (abundance, flow)." If it's being shaped by fear, then ask this question: "If in the next moment, I was to pivot and allow it to be shaped by love, what would be different?"

Then, take just 15 - 30 seconds to visualize a moment in your past when you were very present to love, abundance and flow. (For me, one such moment is when I first held my newborn baby girl, Amber, in my arms.) Then, bring that experience back with you and allow it to shape your next moments.

I also encourage you to visit the Life On Purpose Institute web site at http://www.lifeonpurpose.com where you will find a wealth of purposeful resources, many of them for no charge, that will assist you in clarifying and living on purpose. I look forward to meeting you along the Purposeful Path.

W. Bradford Swift founded Life On Purpose Institute so people could have more fulfilling and satisfying lives through clarifying their life purpose, which you can now do 24/7 from anywhere in the world with the Life On Purpose Process ONLINE Program. Learn more at: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=62493






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** Brad Swift was interviewed on "The Inside Success Show" **

Recently I was the special guest on "The Inside Success Show" and I revealed the inside success secrets to clarifying and then living your life's purpose. The show was hosted by Randy Gilbert, best-selling author of "Success Bound."

You can listen to this fun and rewarding interview by going to:

http://TheInsideSuccessShow.com/Brad-Swift

I recommend you become a Gold Member of The Inside Success Show, so you can hear all of Randy's great shows. I'm a Gold Member and I love it.
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