Day of Birth and the Day of Purpose

To begin with let's be very clear about where our motivating mission comes from. Any one can find a goal that they can hang their hat on but to truly create something that is motivating, you'll have to dig much deeper than just finding a goal. A truly motivating mission comes from deeper, more hidden parts of our soul. Michelangelo used to teach that each of his different masterpieces (The David for example) were not created, but discovered. He believed that the masterpiece already existed inside of the slab of marble. His job as an artist wasn't to create the masterpiece, but to uncover it, to remove the excess marble. Our job then in trying to identify our motivating mission is similar. We are not supposed to go out and invent or create some incredible masterpiece which will impress everyone else, but instead we need to uncover our unique purpose and gift to the world. We need to detect what it is we can uniquely offer and to remove the excess from our life. The key to detection is to simply relax, remove the deadlines, the expectations and the goals of having a mission and begin to just let the mission come to you. Start listening to the quiet peace inside of you which will guide you to your higher purpose. Here are five places to look for inspiration to find your motivating mission; they are your Head, Heart, Hands, Home and Hopes Heads That See

This is the logical part of creating your motivating mission. This is where you get very practical view about who you are; your talents, gifts, abilities and self-awareness. Use your own sense of your self to discern both your strengths and your weaknesses. Identify what you do well and where you struggle. Notice what people discuss when they compliment you, what do people bring up when talking to you? Identify what you do in your free time and what you call a hobby. Become aware of your preferences socially. Are you outgoing or shy? Are you creative or logical? Are you more spontaneous or disciplined? One key to having a motivating mission is it has to be something that tests you and you like to do or do naturally, that way the pursuit to improve yourself in it will constantly create motivation.

· What have my unique talents, gifts and abilities prepared me to offer the world?

Hearts That Feel

Imagine that I had a magic wand and could make the wishes of your heart come true? But instead of wishing for specific things like a house, boat or money you could only wish for certain feelings to be felt continuously. What feelings would you go after? What are the feelings that matter most to you? Do you long for a feeling of peace in your life, confidence, hope? How about a feeling of more energy, drive and desire? Do you want to feel more accomplished, loved, secure or confident? What are the feelings that you notice most easily or are hardest to pick up on? In the end, what does your heart keep reminding you is important? What feelings truly matter most to you in the deepest corners of your heart?

· How do I want to feel and influence others to feel when I am around them?

Hands That Serve

The next area we'll go to for insight into our motivating mission is in the Hands or service area. Do you have the hands to lift and serve others? If you had all of the time, resources and benefits you needed to do nothing but serve other people, what kind of service would bring you the most joy? What work would you want to do with your life that would renew your soul everyday? How would you want to improve the world around you? Would you choose to work with children or seniors, the healthy or afflicted? Would you like your service to keep you at home or send you abroad? What existing service are you providing that tends to motivate you? Do you volunteer at church or school or with family members and what are the joys of service you feel in your life? Where are your hands most needed? Whose lives need your hands to lift them to higher ground and how?

· Whose life could improve or be made better if I just gave a hand?

Homes That Love

To continue the search for our motivating mission we must also look to the relationships that are most important to you. Think of the people you love to have around you, your children and grandchildren, your spouse and parents. In reality there tends to be nothing more motivating in the hearts and minds of a person than their family relationships. Use the feelings and desires for the legacy you want to leave your family to help you uncover your most important mission. What impact have these people had on your life and what lesson do these people need you to teach them? What do you want your family to be able to say about you at your funeral? What memories do you want your family to remember most about how you lived and loved them? What are the most important lessons that you want your children and grandchildren to learn, that only you can really teach them? What really matters most about your family?

· What do you want your family members to say about how you lived and loved in life?

Hopes that Inspire

The final way to find a motivating mission is to identify what are the highest values, principles and beliefs you wish to become. Let's say a television crew called you and wanted to interview you for a story that they were doing and only had three questions to ask you. They wanted you to think about it ahead of time because your answers needed to be concise. How would you answer the following three questions? Notice when you're answering them what happens to your heart? Do you see clarity in your purpose in life?

· What is your single greatest hope in this life?

· Why is this hope so important for you?

· What are you doing today to make your hope a reality?

In the end the process of uncovering your motivating mission is not something that is accomplished overnight, or by simply answering a few questions. The change must take place deep in your heart. Use the questions we've reviewed here to begin to open up your heads, hearts, hands, homes and hopes. Live your lessons daily and you'll begin to see the mission and purpose appear.

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