PAGE 7
 Choosing Your Purpose

"I've been searching for my purpose my whole life," said Sheila, a 44-year-old-housewife. "And no matter how much I search, I still can't find my purpose."
"What would you like your purpose to be?" I asked.
"I don't think I understand the question," said Sheila.
"Well, if searching for a purpose isn't working, I recommend you choose a purpose."
"How do I do that?" asked Sheila.

The way to discover your purpose is to live a purpose-centered life. In practical terms, this means focusing on and being receptive to the highest purpose of every situation you find yourself in. For example, before you attend a meeting, you might say a prayer like, "Dear God, show me the purpose of me being here." Or, before an important conversation with a friend, you might want to connect with your heart and think about what the real purpose of your friendship is. Or, before you even get out of bed in the morning, you might want to choose how you want to feel today.

Exercise 6: Wherever you find yourself—in a meeting, driving your kids to school, on a date, waiting for a bus—make it a habit to be as open as possible to what is really happening. This will help you to be truly present and receptive in your life. Also, be mindful of how you are being and what you are giving, and make sure your choices are aligned to what you most want to experience. Your purpose is something you live each day, and it's something you give from you heart to the world.

Robert Holden, PhD, and his innovative work on happiness and well-being have been featured on The Oprah Show and Good Morning America and also in two major BBC TV documentaries, The Happiness Formula and How to Be Happy, shown to more than 30 million TV viewers worldwide. He is the author of the best-selling books Happiness NOW!, Shift Happens! and Success Intelligence. His latest book, Be Happy, is published by Hay House. Robert lives in London with his wife and daughter.

Keep Reading More from Robert Holden:

Recession-proof happiness
10 ways to find happiness in life
What every parent wants

NEXT STORY

Next Story