Do You Remember Your Life's Purpose?

I've spent a lot of my life sleeping in the great outdoors - in tents, under plastic sheets, on the side of the road, under a zillion stars. This past weekend I was out in the wilderness again with rain strumming a delightful tune on our tent. It carried me back to my fledgling days as leader of a canoe tripping program with eighteen staff and hundreds of participants. I remembered how much I loved that program - the complete and utter belief I had in its power to transform and inspire the people who experienced it. Traveling by canoe in the wilderness had a profound impact on my sense of the universe and my self. I loved it with every ounce of my being; I loved the program and I loved the people. That's it! That's what triggered the memory of my purpose - love for what I was doing, where I was, and the people I was serving. It wasn't the money. (There's not much to go around a charity summer camp). It wasn't the prestige, status, power, influence. (What's the big deal about being king of the castle on a 8 hectare island?) It was the love, the passion, the purpose, and the fun and joy that rolled from living in happiness each moment of the day. And I'd forgotten all about that. That same passion had ignited my desire to start coaching in 2002. Coaching had transformed my life, and I knew it could help others. So what happened that I drifted off course? Serving and inspiring got bogged down in the focus on how to make more profits, design new programs, make more contacts...to work the machinery of a business. I forgot about the people. I forgot about the passion. I forgot about the love. I suspect I am not the only one out there who has been pulled off course... (sound familiar?) So, with all due care, and forgiveness, let's get back on track. Gently now... Do you remember your Life Purpose? Do you remember that feeling in your tummy that bubbled with excitement? Do you remember the complete focus and enthusiasm you had for a project or experience - where you were learning and being your best at the same time? Where the money always turned up, even when you didn't think about it? Where you laughed and played more than you ever 'worked'? Where your smile came easy, your eyes dazzled, and you felt such an enormous rush of love and passion for what you were doing and who you were serving that you felt swept along a strong and powerful river - being guided by its force and at once steering your way confidently... Do you remember any of this? This is your Life's Purpose reminding you of what you came here for - to love, and laugh, and feel joy and contribute. You did not come here to worry about your mortgage, the deadlines, the miserable boss, the surly supplier... You are better than that. You deserve better. The people you inspire and who look to you for guidance can learn so much more from you. So take a quiet moment and remember who you truly are, what lights you up, what moves you beyond the minutiae of tasks. If you don't remember, I want to talk to you about it!