Life Lessons—Living on Purpose

by Reba J Hoffman, PhD

I talk to people everyday who say they would like to do this or that but just can’t find the time. I understand their plight.

There are some days when I feel as though I need to hold my breath to open up a spot in my day.

It’s a wonder we get anything done in our busy world. Remember when summer days seem to stretch into infinity? You could lay in the grass for hours on end watching the upper winds blow puffy clouds by.

John Maxwell says life is like a roll of toilet paper: the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. That has proven to be true in my own life. I’ll bet for you as well. In today’s action dense world, if you are to accomplish those things you wanted to in life, it’s critical that you live your life on purpose.

That means you have to be intentional about how you spend each day. Here are some things that will help you get the most out of life and live your dreams.

Practice the Rule of Fives.

I got this from John Maxwell and live by it with great fervor. Here’s how it works. If you wanted to chop down a tree and each day you went out and took five swings at the tree with an ax, eventually, you’d chop down the tree. Guaranteed.

You must determine what five things you must swing at each and every day that will get you where you want to be. Then, each day do those five things. Here are my five:

• Pray. Without that, I’m sunk.

• Read. Not just anything, but rather those things that will enrich my life and journey.

• Write. That’s why I write a daily blog. It keeps me centered around that which is important.

• Alone. In order to be at my best, I must spend time alone with my thoughts each and every day. If I’m on a trip with others, they know I will steal away for that intimate time with my thoughts and ideas.

• Journal. It is cleansing for me. If I’ve had a bad day, I get it out onto paper and away from my tender heart. It’s also a great way to monitor my progress toward my goals.

I also don’t live my day until I’ve planned my day. Without a roadmap I will wander aimlessly through twenty four hours and wonder what happened to them.

Planning my day also helps me take advantage of the little snippets of time that open up between other happenings. I can dive into a little task and conquer it quickly IF I have planned for it.

Granting you the gift of life each day is on God. Living on purpose is all on you. Spending your day intentionally will help you live a fulfilling life with no regrets!

Do you live on purpose? How so? Share it here.

Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @RebaJHoffman.