Finding Your Purpose
April 22, 2016
I recently received a book that reminded me of a class I took last year (thanks for sending Diane Calcaterra!) called Finding Your Purpose. The class was taught by a fellow inmate and covered a lot of ground about how to get the most out of life. But at its core there were three questions:
1. What do you love?
2. What do you want?
3. How can you do what you love and want while benefitting the most people possible?
It is a very interesting exercise and one I had never really done before. You might want to give it a try! When thinking about things you love, try to think of things you love to do that you would love doing even if someone didn't pay you to do them; that you would bounce out of bed in the morning to do with a smile on your face. As the book Diane sent points out, sometimes it helps to thing about what you loved to do as a child or teenager before everyone started telling you what you SHOULD do!
I feel very fortunate in that there are many things I love to do. Below are my current lists of the things I love and want. This exercise can be helpful in evaluating your current job. Are you doing what you love? Does it allow you to do what you want? If not, maybe it's time to figure out how you can do what you love and want. One of the keys of the exercise is to take money OUT of the equation and really be honest with yourself. Not always easy! And if you are like me and don't have a job, it is helpful in evaluating what you might want to do next. Maybe you can't make a change today but you can start working towards a change. It is never too late to start over!
What I love:
- Mentoring/helping people to be the best version of themselves
- Fighting discrimination/injustice (especially for LGBT rights)
- Travel! Meeting new people, seeing new places, experiencing new cultures
- Hiking/being in nature
- Working with a talented, passionate group of people towards a shared goal
- Gardening/planting
- Helping people get the best, and most appropriate, health care possible
What I want:
- To spend time with Kenny!
- Get together/stay in touch with closed friends
- Explore the US and Canada in a retro trailer with Kenny and Tito Puente!
- Read and continue to learn and absorb knowledge
- Be continually present and aware
- People to appreciate and celebrate each other's differences
- People to respect the planet and move towards sustainable ways of living
- Not to worry about money
Also thanks to Vicki Swenson, Sharron Walker and Maureen O'Connell for sending books recently. I have received other books but there were no notes enclosed! I really appreciate the books!
All my very best!!
David
David,
Enjoying your Blog very much, think your journey is very interesting as you find your true self!
You are welcome for the books, always happy to help support a fellow reader’s habit!
Sharron