-2.png)
You’d think it would be a no brainer. Even with all the research and studies showing that people who engage purpose in their life and work 1. LIVE LONGER ... 7 years on average! (Link if you want to see proof from the science) 2. ARE HEALTHIER Researchers found that people who scored higher on the purpose scale were significantly
Less likely to develop dementia,
Less likely to have mild cognitive impairment
Less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease (2.4 times less likely!)
Less likely to have a stroke or microscopic blood vessel infarcts that damage brain tissue.
“Purpose somehow gives your brain resilience,” says Patricia A. Boyle, PhD, a neuropsychologist with the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. How much would such a pill be worth on the market today?? 3. EXPERIENCE SUSTAINABLE HAPPINESS (Link if you want to see the science) 4. HAVE INCREASED MOTIVATION, ENGAGEMENT, EMPOWERMENT AND JOB SATISFACTION Add to this one a decrease in absenteeism and stress... AND... 5. NEVER LOOKS BACK ON LIFE AND SAY, “NUTS, I SHOULDN’T HAVE PURSUED PURPOSE IN MY LIFE!” Just the opposite, right? Why? Oh, why wouldn’t 2. PURPOSEFUL WORK GOES BEYOND YOU. Purpose will always include you…. but it must go beyond you to be purpose. As communicator and pastor Andy Stanley recently taught at a recent gathering called “Leadercast.” (May 2017)
“Purpose is a means to an end. It’s not the end. And most of us don’t want to be the means to the end. We want to be the end. Until we’re willing to be the means to the end, you won’t live your purpose.”
Stanley continued,
“Purpose is alway found just beyond the boarder of ‘What’s in it for me?’… Meaning means you have to have a means. And there is no meaning until you get past me.”
That’s the catch! Until we get past ‘me,’ purpose won’t happen. As has been said, “Your own glory is too small a thing for you to live for!”
We won’t find our life until we give it away, as Jesus so clearly taught “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
The Message version of Luke 6:38 says,
“Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back - given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
Make it all about you … your success… your achievement… your money…. and you may get that but, it’s much smaller thing than purpose…. And you’ll miss the incredible power of purpose!
There’s a price to be paid for pursuing your purpose. It’s the best possible life. It’s what you were made for! But, it’s still a price.
As long as you pursue purpose FOR YOU… you’ll end up being disappointed. “This purpose thing didn’t work Jeff.” “I tried that in the 90’s!”
However, as you ask questions like this, the power of purpose comes alive?
Who am I here to serve?
How can I uniquely make a difference?
How can I make someone else’s life better?
Who’s life will my work improve? Change? Transform?
Comments