Now that you are getting your finances under control and have less worry about making ends meet, you can give thought to other aspects of your life. What could make it more satisfying? Abundant life involves more than a lot of money in the bank or a lot of possessions. In fact the lives of many well-to-do, even famous, people show that while money can buy many things, it cannot buy happiness. This section touches on a few aspects of life which when brought into harmony with the laws of the universe will result in a satisfying life of contentment.
Leading life with purpose goes a long way. Discover what your purpose is – what did you come to the earth to accomplish during the few decades that you may have? This could seem like a daunting task, and might take time to truly understand. I believe that our purpose works on at least two levels. We all have a transcendent purpose, which I understand as being transformation by Divine Love into beings that are at-one with God. While the specifics of this are beyond the scope of this book, they are addressed in my book Jesus’ Gospel of God’s Love. However, we can start exploring our earthly purpose, which is easier to determine. Once we sense what our purpose here and now might be, life can become much more meaningful and enjoyable.
Often, an aspect of a person’s purpose has to do with what they are good at and love to do. Look at your life – both past and present. What have you enjoyed doing? Where have you met success? What have you felt attracted to – sometimes contrary to the wishes and expectations of well-meaning others?
Was it a painting you did at school that drew the admiration of the teacher and classmates? Was it a piece of writing that won you a prize? Or, do you enjoy creating things with your hands – sewing, sculpture, metal work, wood carving? Or, are you interested in tinkering with the insides of things to see how they work? Or, do you enjoy public speaking and teaching, or perhaps entertaining others? Or, are you at your best in a sport discipline? Or, are you interested in spiritual things and ministering to others in their suffering? We have all been given unique gifts and abilities. When we use them, even just here and there as a hobby, we’ll find an enjoyable addition to life. And if they are a part of your paid employment, you are blessed indeed.
If you are at the beginning or middle of your working career and your work is not quite in line with what you would really like to do, consider if you can turn your interests into a form of livelihood – perhaps even just on the side to start with. Can you sell your creations? Can you teach your skills? Perhaps you can offer a short weekend course at U3A (University of the Third Age) for seniors or at a summer camp for young people? Check what opportunities for sharing or contributing are available in your community, even on a volunteer basis. Sometimes volunteering can turn into a part-time, or eventually even a full-time, job.
Look at what occupies much of your time and if it is not already happening, resolve to make it as much as possible in line with your gifts and what you perceive to be your life’s purpose. If a job change is needed, it may not be feasible straight away – especially if the income is essential. However, keep dreaming, seeking, and also set some goals for incorporating what you enjoy into your life.
As mentioned, consider picking up a hobby to develop your talents, even if it is just an hour or two on the weekend to start with. Set a specific goal to spend time weekly or more often if you can and to create something using your given abilities.
Is there a group you could join or perhaps organize to bring others with the same interests together? When several people work together, their creations can be displayed and even sold.
One success coach defines goals as “go out and love something” – in other words, the goals we set should be in line with what we enjoy doing. An influential teacher advised to “follow your bliss”, or again, see how you can do more of what brings you joy. With time, you never know what doors may open as you keep your eyes open to opportunities where you can use your gifts and abilities.
Here are a few specific ideas regarding goal setting. See if you can convert your desires to use your talents into measurable goals. Our brain is a goal-seeking organism – the subconscious mind will work on any goal given to it to bring it about. Goals should be as specific as possible and have a time to be achieved by. They should be big enough to stretch us – to even give us a breakthrough.
Jack Canfield, one of the experts in the field of success, advises to write your goals down in detail and review them daily. Even better, create a goal notebook and illustrate each goal with pictures. Write the most important goal on a card and place it where you can see it frequently.
Three things tend to emerge during the goal setting process – considerations, fears, and roadblocks. The first two reflect our inside thoughts and feelings. Take time to analyse each of them and see if they are valid. If not, now that you are aware of them, they can be dealt with and reprogrammed. Roadblocks are external circumstances. Look at them as opportunities for overcoming and growth, and resolve that they will not hold you back.
Once your goals have been formulated and written down, set a time by which you’d like to accomplish each one. Even if you don’t meet your target date, at least you are moving toward one – and you can always set a new one.
To stay positive, motivated and focused on your goals. Also, make it a habit to spend some time at the end of each day on acknowledging your successes, reviewing goals, visualizing future success, and making specific plans for the next day. During the night, the subconscious mind will process this input in a powerful way. That’s why it is important to go to bed with positive, edifying thoughts.
Keeping a daily success journal is another tool for success motivation. Include five key events for each day under the following headings: Success (the event) – Reason (why successful) – Further Progress (what more can be done) – Next Action (specific plan).
Finally, visualize the next day the way you wish it to go. While you cannot control what the day will bring, see yourself performing at your best in whatever situation you encounter. Making this a daily habit will make a significant difference in your life.
Start working toward your goals with confidence, making adjustments as necessary along the way as you receive new insights – that is a part of the process. In a few months, or a year or two, you’ll be able to look back and be encouraged by what you have accomplished.
I will finish with a personal story. As a young child, I used to write poems. I ended up with two notebooks of them and even had one published in a youth magazine. Later in high school, my essay on the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia (my country of birth) in response to the Dubcek reforms got a special mention, being among the best three. That was a great accomplishment since I had then lived in Australia for just over a year and was still working on mastering English as a foreign language.
Later, in my working career, I was commended as a writer and editor of reports, procedural manuals, and various office documentation, as well as articles of spiritual nature. Later still, I returned to teaching, and found that creating lesson plans and student workbooks came to me much easier and was more enjoyable than the actual classroom teaching. From my writing during my teaching years actually came several academic books for students of English (co-authored with my husband).
On the side, as time allowed, I pursued writing on subjects of personal interest. I had hoped that one day I could publish my writings. Upon retiring from teaching now several years ago, I have been able to devote most of my time to writing and publishing – in the form of books and websites (see www.pathway-publishing.org). Even though the income from it is minimal, that is not of ultimate importance, as all our needs have been met. It is satisfying to see my writing in print, e-books or online, and know that others are being helped and edified.
Summing up, look at your life to see what you may be intended to accomplish while on earth. One aspect of our purpose is to use the gifts and talents we have been given to serve others. Once you know what your gifts are, take another look at your situation and set goals that are specific, realistic (though also stretching you), and to be reached by a target date. Keep these in mind, visualize the outcome, and move forward. Reward yourself when you have reached a goal and set a new one.