Purpose
Andro Donovan’s “Motivate yourself” is probably one of the best books on finding your purpose. If not the best, it is definitely the most practical.
Purpose is the new black
Purpose is the new black in business. It helps you to scale your company as described in “exponential organisations“, it helps you to be more productive (no purpose, no flow) as written about in “Stealing fire“, it helps with selling to your customers (“Loveability“), and it is good for the soul. Read “The code of the extraordinary mind.”
The great work of your life
Hence picking up “The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling” by Stephen Cope.
Some searching questions:
- Are you afraid that you will die without having lived fully?
- Have you come home to your true self?
- Is your soul awake?
- Have you found your Dharma or a true calling?
- What is your sacred duty?
Bhagavad Gita
The book follows the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture on finding your purpose and the ethical and moral struggles of human life. Going beyond wealth, power, fame, and leisure. Find fulfilment in profound engagement and mastery.
You are close
There is no need to inventing an entirely new life. As it turns out, most people are already living very close to their dharma. Unfortunately when it comes to dharma, missing by an inch is as good as missing by a mile. The aim is everything.
Dharma
Dharma comes from the soul. Not from your brain (read “Solve for happy”). Every person has a gift. Every person has a vocation to be someone: but he/she must understand clearly that in order to fulfil this vocation he can only be one person: himself or herself. Your own dharma is the equivalent to your own being.
Go for it
Once you found it, you should go for it. It is what you are meant to do. Do it with every fibre of your being. Bring everything you’ve got to it. Commit yourself utterly. And you will be fulfilled. Don’t worry about success and failure. Let go of the outcome. It will take care of itself.
The universe will provide
The moment one definitely commits oneself then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would come his way.
Sceptical
I can see lots of eyes going up to heaven. If you are sceptical, that is OK. I think it is a question of language and context. Replace “sacred duty” with “purpose in life” or “follow your heart” and you might get it.
The Lindy effect
I just would not dismiss ancient wisdom. It is ancient and called wisdom for a reason. It is called the Lindy effect. Look it up. Read “Antifragile.”
You have a choice
And yes, as “The Great Work of Your Life” will tell you that doubt, ambivalence, making hard choices, focus and a leap off a cliff in the dark are part of the game.
Intense involvement
However, gaming, neuroscience and human resource management will tell you that human beings are attracted to the experience of intense involvement. Why not live life to its fullest and give it everything you got?
Poke your box
And this could have been straight from Seth Godin’s “Poke the box”. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, Begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Go find your Dharma.
