“The Purpose of life is to experience and express the infinite love within in joyful service.” Linda Howe
Each of us has a purpose to share our gifts in service of others. Finding our unique contribution brings meaning and joy to one’s life.
Service refers to anything we do to help transform lives for the better or contribute to the greater good in our own unique way. Our purpose isn’t about making the most impact possible, but rather to realize our own greatest potential. Each of us is here to master our human experience – to embody greater love, peace, joy, harmony, and well being. As we do this, we expand all that is possible and become way-showers for others to do the same.
The Importance of Passion
The things we love doing bring energy to the service we provide. Without energy, it is hard to sustain over the long run. In contrast, when we are engaged and energized, it is much easier for us to stay committed.
I think about the days when I was asked to volunteer at my boys’ school in committees or events. I felt that it was important to do, and I knew I could help, but I wasn’t passionate about it. I helped out of a sense of duty, rather than joy. When I began a Green Literacy program to help kids connect with nature, I felt energized and fully engaged. As a result, I worked on this initiative for many years, never feeling liker it was an obligation or burden.
Leveraging Our Strengths
Great personal satisfaction comes from sharing our unique strengths, talents, expertise, and creativity. When we try to help by doing a task that we’re not good at, we feel uncomfortable and often become overwhelmed. Ask me to help with starting a business or discover a new career path, I am all in. But, ask me to fix something around the house and I’ll quickly call my repairman, because I know that even the simplest repairs will take me hours of frustration.
This is an important concept to remember, especially in retirement. Retirees will often help wherever they are asked… on their condo association, at a food bank, etc. But these tasks may not line up with their strengths or the expertise they have developed over their lifetime. My newly retired clients often share that have begun losing confidence, as they have strayed away from their strengths. When we can contribute in our own unique way, we are more empowered and perform at a much higher level.
Freedom to Choose
We often think of service as an obligation, something we must do. Our upbringing and cultural norms have instilled a deep sense of putting other peoples’ needs ahead of our own. Growing up in a family of five kids, my mother was very busy, yet whenever when her aunt called, she would drop everything. My mom never considering her own needs or the stress she was feeling as her work piled up while she listened to her aunt, sometimes for an hour at a time. Instead, my mother could have scheduled shorter calls when it was more convenient for her. When we lack the freedom to choose how we contribute, we tend to people-please at the expense of our own well being.
Wanted and Valued
Someone once described hell to me as the experience of giving something that is not wanted or valued by the receiver. When we offer advice we think is needed, but is not wanted, this causes tension and even resentment. When we offer our time and expertise and it is not valued, we feel unappreciated. In contrast, when we share what is wanted and valued by the other, we experience the best reward of service – joy. If we feel free to give in way that leverages our passion and strengths, and is valued, this is the ultimate win-win opportunity.
If you would like some help developing strategies to transform your work, build your business or enhance your leadership, set up a free, no obligation call with me.
I look forward to helping you reignite your passion, find the deeper calling of your life and attract great prosperity.
Contact Me Today!
Email: lianne@designingtransformation.com
Call: 514-825-073
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