The HOW Behind the WOW

Imagine you have been working at uncovering your Purpose, you have done the reflection, connected the dots of life and WOW, it hits you. "Yes! This is my Purpose!" You look back over your life and indeed, it all lines up. This is what you have been expressing or trying to express in all contexts through your life.

"All persons are puzzles until at last we find in some word or act the key to the man, to the woman; straightway all their past words and actions lie in light before us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-82

It is always an honor to be in the role of the guide as a person puts the puzzle together and connects to the true power of their Purpose. The epiphany, the insight, the deep knowing that, "yes, this represents who I am and what I contribute to the world."

I am always moved and experience profound sympathetic joy as people realize these elements of themselves. It is like a graduation. The alchemical definition of "graduation" is "the process of tempering or refining a substance." In this case, the substance you have refined is you.

So the epiphany has happened, the realization seems true. Now what? How will you manifest this refinement?

Many people say, "I want to know my Purpose in life." To know it is one thing. To be willing to manifest it everyday is something else.

This is putting the HOW behind the WOW.

Your Purpose is about what you contribute to the world. When you know what that is, then you can seek out opportunities that naturally call for your unique purposeful contribution.

Joan's Purpose is, "I encourage and assist others in achieving independence, security and self-fulfillment." With this powerfully clear understanding, Joan was able to naturally commit to doing this in an ongoing way.

Joan had been ambivalent about her work and was thinking of making a big change. With the discovery of her Purpose, she recommitted to her career, which she realized was absolutely perfect for her (Joan's a Certified Financial Planner and Life Insurance Specialist.) Her focus is entirely on encouraging and assisting her clients in achieving financial independence and security as well as being sure their retirement is set so they can live in fulfillment.

Your Purpose is not just about your work. It can't be because whether you realize it or not, you are always seeking to manifest your Purpose. It is who you are. Again, Joan realized in most interactions, with her son, colleagues, clients and her partner, she was manifesting her Purpose in one way or another.

It took practice to remember to access her Purpose, because Joan, like the rest of us, has a life. As life happens, we have to be clear about our direction. The foundaton of Purpose helps Joan stay on course when life's unexpected storms descend around her.

EXPRESSION OF PURPOSE

It's natural to get temporarily blown off course when faced with challenges. When you experience loss, insecurity or worry and feel muddled or confused, STOP. Take some time to reconnect to the authentic you, the purposeful you. Like an affirmation, reconnect and read your Purpose statement aloud. Then, ask yourself, and answer, some of the following questions to get back to the HOW behind the WOW:

1. Where in my life would I like to manifest my n Purpose but am not currently doing so?
2. What might I gain by manifesting my Purpose in n these situations and how can I appropriately do n that?
3. What can I do to ensure that I express my Purpose n daily?n a. At work?n b. With my family?n c. With friends?n d. In my community?

Joan is successful when she reminds herself why she does what she does. She now knows her Purpose serves her so she can serve others.

My Purpose is, "I create and assist openings to possibilities and to Universal Truths." Being a coach and guide for others to uncover their Truth and Purpose is who I am. Living it, working with it and serving others is putting the HOW behind the WOW for me. Joan will tell you the same is true for her.

A friend from Denver told me, "Your job is to uncover your Purpose and then ruthlessly exploit it for the benefit of others."

Once you have uncovered your WOW, tempered and refined it, then ruthlessly exploit it as you contribute the truth of who you are for the benefit of all those whose lives you touch. nn? 2001, Robert Knowlton nnnn