Purpose

Everyone is born with a purpose or a desire in their heart to accomplish things that bring fulfillment to their lives. These are the reasons for getting up in the morning and they are as diverse as the individuals themselves. That is a good thing. If everyone had the same drive the world would be a pretty boring place. Much of this sense of purpose is shaped during our childhood, influenced by the behaviors and attitudes of those around us. I won’t ignore genetics but in a lot of ways, our reason for being driven for certain things is a product of the environment that we were raised, and God’s purpose for our life. It is the thing that drives us. Unfortunately, some people give up on that in the face of adversity.

As children, we learn to speak by listening to our parents and to walk by watching them. We mimic these behaviors as a part of our development. As we grow, we pick up mannerisms and patterns from family, friends, and teachers. These mannerisms form our identity. How situations are handled is based on the example presented to us, positive or negative. This creates reference points in the mind. “In this situation, I take this action.” Our experiences create a roadmap that guides us through life. When faced with new situations, we often revert to the closest reference point we have. For instance, as an over simplified example, if we see our parents returning shopping carts after unloading groceries, we’re likely to adopt that behavior. Conversely, if we witness them neglecting such responsibilities, we may follow suit. If we never saw this in either direction, we would revert to our closest reference point. If you were required to put your toys away as a kid, or if you left them out and they were picked up for you probably will determine what happens to the cart.

On a more practical point, I will give a personal example. My grandmother was a chronic worrier, and from an early age, I learned to withhold information to keep the peace with her. If she didn’t know, she couldn’t worry. This was far easier, than having a difficult conversation, and dealing with the repercussions. This taught me that avoiding discomfort could seem like the easier path, but it also instilled a habit of deception. Though I believed I was protecting others, I was merely perpetuating a cycle that ultimately led to greater issues as I applied them later in life. Because I adopted this behavior, I also doubled it up and added her worry. I worried about peoples’ reactions, because I didn’t have the refence point of allowing them to have their own feelings and seeing what the outcome would be. This created a pattern for how I handled situations.

These patterns highlight how our reference points can drive our actions, often unconsciously. Whatever patterns are developed are the key to accomplishing the purpose that we have. This can be in life goals, careers, hobbies, relationships or really anything. To be able align our lives with our true purpose, we must change those reference points, that limit the ability to achieve the purpose. If our reference point is that we are afraid of heights, becoming a pilot is a challenging goal.  This transformation is not easy; it requires constant self-reflection, wise counsel, and dedicated action. It’s through this process that we can begin to recognize what truly motivates us.

Faith plays a significant role in this journey. When we anchor our purpose in God, we find the strength to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and make necessary changes. Our faith can serve as a guiding light, showing us that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. For instance, when I sought guidance, I discovered new perspectives that helped reshape my understanding of honesty and transparency.

As we strive to fulfill our purpose, the motivation to change our reference points becomes a driving factor. It’s a deep-seated desire to achieve the goals we were meant to fulfill. This desire fuels our actions, pushing us to seek growth and understanding. When we align our daily lives with our purpose, we create a fulfilling existence that honors both ourselves and God’s plan. The fear of heights doesn’t have to be the limiting factor to be able to fly a plane. Having a relentless pursuit of success, can overcome that fear it that is the purpose that is meant to be fulfilled.

Purpose serves as a compass, directing us toward meaningful change. Through self-reflection, wise counsel, and faith-driven motivation, we can navigate the complexities of life and strive to fulfill the tasks and goals that resonate with our true calling. It doesn’t guarantee success, but it puts it into motion. There will always be adversity. For me I would rather risk failure, than always wonder would have happened had I made the changes and went after my dreams with everything I had. I won’t quit.