"...We are put in this life to fulfill a life purpose for our own soul's evolution, not to save the planet or "do" for others. This was liberating to me. It gave me permission to be me without worrying about others. Ironically, I believe that when we're most in tune with our own purposes is when we ARE most helpful to others because we are all connected and it's all part of the universal grand plan." - Ann Zuccardy.

What would you do if you knew why you were born? I imagine that regardless of your faith you probably pondered the purpose of existence. When I found the answer to my purpose I was very liberated by it.

For the sake of argument, let's accept that there is a universal purpose to all existence. I believe all humans were born to:
Experience emotions Express themselves Connect with others and with spirit Learn lessons Make a contribution Do something specific
Let's also accept that you have an individual life purpose, something you were born to do here. Still with me?

If you don't know your life purpose, you are not alone. Many people don't know. I believe it's because it was forgotten.

Why would many of us forget? There are many reasons:

Preoccupied with surviving childhood Busy getting our basic human needs met Distracted by trying to overcome our shortcomings.
Do you recall anyone ever reminding you to remember why you are here? Me neither.

It isn't until we get lost and disconnected that we start asking questions about what we came to earth to do.

The question I hear all the time is, "what am I supposed to do?"

"The gift of the succinct expression of my purpose has affected me at a core level. It's feeling an even more solid place of alignment in the inner/outer world of my Self/self and a surprising feeling of a resting excitement in this place of knowing. It is good. It is very good." - Lucrezia Mangione

Life Purpose Discovery Methods

How does one who has forgotten remember their purpose? It can be done by yourself or with help. I've developed a systematic process that includes a 3-hour interview, a thorough analysis, a written report that contains your life purpose, strengths, values, and other important information, and another hour-long follow-up session.

Here are some sample questions I use in my process that you can ask yourself:

What are your natural strengths and/or talents? What would those who know you well say are your strong points?

What makes you feel energized and alive?

What comes easy for you, that others even might find difficult, but you often take for granted?

Have you thought or felt you were "compelled" to do something?

What are you passionate about?

Here are five items from a list of 15 criteria I use to help you identify your life purpose. As you work on your life purpose statement apply these criteria to it:

It's what you are here to "do". It involves action, and is expressed by using verbs. It's something you've been trying to do, or have been doing all your life. You can do it everyday, and almost always in different ways. It's what you spend your time and energy on when you are not being driven by fear or healing. You may feel compelled or pulled to do it.

Because my life purpose is to explore, I love going on journeys with people to re-discover their purposes. Those I've helped have found it more effective to have a trained professional draw out the information.

You are here for a reason, you do know what that reason is, and when you remember or re-discover it, you'll be liberated from being driven by anything other than that purpose.

"What a wonderful process you took me through yesterday! I was consciously letting go of all preconceived ideas of what I thought my purpose should be and allowed your process be my guide and just follow your lead. Quite amazing! I'm still in wonderment about it." - Kristiina Hiukka

"Your life purpose process offers a unique approach which left me with fresh insights and an opportunity to reclaim forgotten parts of myself."- Jan Burke.

Copyright 2006 Richard Rusdorf, CPCC, The Courageous Way Group. All rights reserved.