June 20, 2006

 

 

 

A recent news story reminded me of what author Jack Canfield said are the four stages of life one goes through and how they affect your happiness:

1. You want more stuff.  This is the stage where you accumulate stuff and when you find yourself unhappy you buy more stuff figuring that will make you happy.
2. You buy better stuff.  Okay, if Stage 1 did not make you happy, then you figure you must have bigger and better stuff.  So, you accumulate even more and find that this still doesn’t work.  Happiness is eluding you.
3. You buy different stuff.  When Stage 2 doesn’t fulfill you, then you figure you must have bought the wrong stuff, so you go out and buy different stuff, thinking that will be the difference.  Guess what?
4. You have a purpose.  You realize that stuff is not the answer to having happiness in your life.  Canfield says “I believe each of us is born with a life purpose.  Identifying, acknowledging, and honoring this purpose is perhaps the most important action successful people take.  They take the time to understand what they’re here to do – and then they pursue that with passion and enthusiasm.”

 

Microsoft announced on June 16 that effective July 2008 Bill Gates “will transition out of a day-to-day role in the company to spend more time on his global health and education work at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.”   He must be in Stage 4.

 

What is purpose?

• When you are living with purpose you feel alive and joyful.
• It is why you wake up every morning.
• It is the foundation upon which you build your life.
• Your purpose inspires excitement and commitment in your life.
• Purpose comes from your heart.
• Your purpose brings meaning to your life.
• It is not a goal; it is a way of life.
• Being off-purpose leads to a tumble off the balance beam.

 

Take a look around at the proliferation of storage sheds.  Many people spend their life accumulating stuff (Stages 1-3) and then purchase more in the hopes that happiness is just around the corner.   It isn’t.  You will not find contentment having a house and storage shed full of stuff.   Many wake up and realize their material possessions, their status, and their climb up the ladder are not bringing them happiness.   They examine their life, wonder what it has all been about, and begin to make changes and new choices.    Purpose becomes their new passion. 

 

When you are on purpose, life just seems to fall into place.  People show up, things happen, and life “works”.  You are doing what you love to do and are good at it.  You are fulfilled.  You are balanced on the beam.  What feeds your fuel?  What brings you your greatest joy?  Is it the stuff or the purpose that keeps you going?

 

What is your purpose?

 

 

 

“The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no man.  Having a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.”

            Thomas Carlyle

 

“Decide upon your major definite purpose in life and then organize all your activities around it.”

            Brian Tracy

 

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”         

            George Bernard Shaw

 

“Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”

            Helen Keller

 

 

 

I know that I spent too many years in Stages 1-3 looking for happiness in all the wrong places.  Accumulating stuff occupied much of my focus, all the while I was building a dental practice.  Don’t get me wrong.  I spent many years practicing dentistry and served my patients well.  That was my purpose.  My practice was most gratifying and brought me much happiness, but looking back over those years I still find that I was too wrapped up in acquiring material possessions.  There were countless times I was knocked off the balance beam because of it.

 

Now I find my purpose in helping others in a different way.  I inspire and empower them to find joy, fulfillment, and balance in their life and then share it with others.  This is why I wake up every morning. 

 

Have a fantastic week and be on purpose.

 

Stephanie            

www.7steps2abalancedlife.com                                   

stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com

 

I am conducting research for an upcoming project.  If you or someone you know is a white collar female who is married to, or has been married to, a blue collar male I would like to speak with you.  Please email me at drszh@7steps2abalancedlife.com  Thank you in advance for your help.

 

 

© 2006 Stephanie Houseman, DMD    

 

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