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We’ve all seen those medical television programs where the patient is brought into the emergency room. They have some sort of trauma and then they have cardiac arrest. The doctors and nurses all go into action. They start the chest compressions and put on the air bag. The inject some medicine into the the patient. Then they get the defibrillator to shock the heart and get it pumping again. Then there is a small heart beat. Giving a glimmer of hope to the doctors. Then just as they are about to relax, the heart stops again. And the process starts all over again. They work on the patient for an hour or more trying to save their life. Then someone says that it’s no use the person is dead. To add to the drama someone else just has to try a little harder. Eventually, they need stop. The person cannot be revived.

Perhaps you’ve watched a boxing match. It been hyped for months. It’s for the championship and a lot is at stake. It gets around the fifth round and one of the fighters is getting beat very badly. Their legs are wobbly, they can hardly stand. Their punches miss their mark. The bell rings and the fighters go their corner. The trainer checks the eyes, see his condition and suggests calling the fight. The fighter say no, they still have some fight left. They go out for another round. They barely make it. The trainer seeing the condition of the fighter and see no hope of winning, and to save the fighter from further injury will make the decision to “Throw in the Towel”. Essentially, ending the fight.

I have a friend who for years was constantly “saving the life” of the company they worked for. With enormous stress, they would move, adjust, plead, beg and borrow to keep things running. They did this for years. It was a constant up hill battle. As it seemed that whenever there was a glimmer of hope that everything would work out, something would happen that set in motion another tailspin. With this stoic attitude they were for years able to dig the company our of the hole. They finally made the decision to “Throw in the Towel”. The stress became too much for them.

Making this kind of decision is extremely difficult to make. The thoughts of the time invested weighs heavily on you. The dedication and investment put into the activity is mulled over in your mind. Thoughts of failure may even enter your thoughts. That is why it is so difficult for some to make the leap. Perhaps there is something in your life that you need to “throw in the towel”. Don’t think of it as quitting. Think of it a way to liberate yourself for the next thing you were created to do.

Technorati Tags: ideas, Life, Life Purpose, Personal Relationship, Society

“He who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incident, chaos will soon reign.”
– VICTOR HUGO

Have you ever wondered why you exist?  Do you feel like you wander aimlessly though life?  These are questions that each individual has pondered.  I believe that each one of us in the world has a unique and special purpose.  And with that in mind I wanted to write about this discovery process.  The get started, here are two stories about two individuals.

The first story is about a man call Maxwell. He decides he wants to go on a trip.  But he doesn’t plan his trip.  As a matter of fact, he doesn’t care if  he heads north, south, east, or west. His attitude is to let the wind take him where ever it may take him. He gets in the car and puts on and actually puts on a blindfold.  He presses the accelerator and is off on his trip. Miraculously he misses the telephone pole at the end of the driveway. He immediately turns right. However he ends up on the wrong side of the road. Cars are honking, swerving to get out of his way. Well, doesn’t take too long before Maxwell crashes into the neighbor’s living room and thus ends his trip in disaster.

Now let’s look at the second character in our story about Alvin. He also wants to go on a trip. However, he believes it is best to plan the trip ahead of time. For sake of example let us say. Alvin is going to go to the grocery store. His purpose of course is to buy food to feed his family. Alvin prepares by deciding which store will best suit his needs. He makes sure he has enough resources to get there. Things like enough money to buy food, gas, oil, water, air in the tires. He even checks a street map to find the quickest and easiest way to help him get to his destination. He prepares a list of items he is going to buy. Within an hour he has completed his task successfully.

Now if you were to examine these two men you would notice quite a difference between them. One was successful the other was not. Each had a different philosophy for their life. The primary difference between these two men is simply a matter of having a well defined purpose.

Through this is a simple illustration we can see how important it is to have a purpose before beginning any task. To know and understand your life purpose is just as vital in building the basic foundation for successful living. Without any purpose there is no direction and the ultimate destiny is frustration.

What is your Purpose in life?

Each one of us on this planet was created to exercise our life purpose. Having your life purpose clearly defined makes it easy to envision your future. Plans are easily made. In addition, it is easy to understand your role and contribution to mankind.

An excellent example of a statement of purpose that we are all familiar with is the Constitution of the United States of America. Within this timeless document lie the values, principles and the philosophy by which Americans live. We determine the laws of the land through this document. It gives each citizen an understanding of what this nation stands for and believes.

Using the Constitution as an example.  We can apply it to our own lives by creating our own Personal Constitution. This would be a document to  help you define your Life Purpose. It helps you set goals. It helps you make important decisions. It provide life direction.  It will help you succeed.

What Is Your Life Purpose?

To help you get started in your quest I have compiled a series of questions to help you. Once you have answered these questions, write out a Personal Mission Statement that will reflect your answers. At this point it is vital for me to say this exercise will require tremendous effort it may take weeks, months or even more to develop. Set aside a special time where you can concentrate and not be disturbed. Once you have begun this project you will soon learn that the benefits you will reap will be more than you could ever imagine. It is also a good idea to look at other Mission Statements for inspiration. Take the challenge today.

1. Write out some things you want to do with your life.
2. List what you would like to be.
3. List the talents and strengths that have great value in your life.
4. List all the attitudes that best reflect your life
5. List those qualities that are most important to you.
6. Complete this sentence: When I examine my life in perspective these are the activities I value most….

Hopefully this will help you in defining who you are and discover your unique purpose in life

Resources

Technorati Tags: Constitution, encourgement, Goals, Life, Mission Statement, processes, Purpose, Victor Hugo

By Parker Jaymes

One of the ways we can develop greater health and greater success is to develop some of these habits below. These habits have secular origins, but I believe that they demonstrate the truth in Scripture.

Psalm 77:11-13 (King James Version)

I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

One of the lessons in our e-book discusses the process of recalling all God has done. It comes from Psalm 77:11-13 and I believe exercising in this does several things. Some of these insights come from reading a decidedly secular book called “Learned Optimism.”

Again, because the origin comes from a psychologist shows that the outcome is true with empirical evidence, even if their attribution of the practice is not from a Christian world view.

Recall positive outcomes from the past

“Surely I will remember Your wonders of old” instructs us to try to see the past that shapes us with wonder of God’s hand. This creates resiliency for our current circumstances.

See the negatives as temporary

“You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble” puts into perspective that even the worse situations we may be facing are temporary. When we allow that mindset, we become more resilient in the world and trusting in God. In fact, it strengthens the faith we need today to see his faithfulness of yesterday.

Freedom from helplessness

“I cannot stop thinking about your might works” gives us the ability to act and confidence that we are not alone and helpless. Helplessness (often learned helplessness) leads to disempowering states like depression. But when we follow these words and meditate in what God has done, we begin to see everything else in a different optic.

These three aspects come from living a life that recalls all that God has done. They’ve shown that people who take the types of actions which can be derived from this mindset are more successful and live longer.

How often do people meditate on God’s “wonderful deeds of long ago“?

Parker Jaymes
Author: “Hundredfold Now!”
Free 7-Day Course at: http://www.HundredfoldNow.com/7Days

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Technorati Tags: abundant life, Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus, Life, meditation, Personal Relationship, prayer, Scriptures