By Robert Clements
Discover Your Purpose..!
The other day while speaking at a function on why we need to find a purpose in life, I noticed a young lady putting her head down most of the time.
I met her afterwards during the tea break: “You don’t seem to be interested in the topic?” I asked her as she smiled sheepishly, “You are different Bob,” she said, “you’re a writer, I’m only a banker!”
“If you’ll permit me,” I told the audience, after the tea break and as I gave the same young lady a smile, “I’d like to repeat a small story! A cop story, told by a cop.”
“It was some years ago that I stopped a man about thirty years old for speeding down a country road. As I approached his car, I could tell he was upset with me, with life, or with whatever. As a rule I have always tried to treat the public as I would want my family treated. I admit I haven’t always succeeded, but I’ve tried, and I tried to do so with the young man!”
“I told him life was too good to blow it up with havin’ an accident while speeding. A few weeks later I was called to my Captain’s office before the start of my shift. He had in front of him a letter from the man I had stopped and another addressed to me.”
“I thought to myself, “Oh boy, here we go. Now I have to defend myself for doing my job. But to my amazement I was so completely wrong. In the Captain’s letter he thanked me for my professional conduct and for writing him a ticket. In my letter he thanked me for my conduct and for the advice I’d given him and the concern I had for him.”
“He went on to say I’d saved his life: It seemed his life that day was spinning out of control, and he’d made up his mind to end his life by crashing into something at a high speed. He was stopped by me, and what changed his mind were my kind words to him, he was surprised someone cared enough to talk him out of speeding!”
“Of all the letters and cards I have ever received in my life, I cherish this the most; whenever I feel down and wonder about my job, my life and future, I look at it and know I’ve been put here by my Lord and I’ll always be in the right place at the right time, even if I’m only a cop!”
There were tears in the same young lady’s eyes as I finished, and as I continued my talk I saw new enthusiasm in her face as she realized there was a divine purpose in her being a banker!
I continued my talk and now she listened.
Finding one’s purpose can be a lifelong journey, filled with twists and turns. It requires introspection, self-awareness, and a willingness to explore and learn. Here are some key aspects to consider when searching for your purpose:
Reflect on your passions: What activities bring you joy and make you feel alive?
Identify your strengths: What are your natural talents and skills?
Explore your values: What matters most to you in life?
Consider your impact: How do you want to make a difference in the world?
And why should we have a purpose in life I continued and found the young lady leaning forward eager to learn, because, there’s Power in Purpose, having a clear sense of purpose can bring numerous benefits, including:
Direction and focus: Purpose gives you a sense of direction, helping you prioritize and make decisions.
Motivation and drive: Knowing your purpose can ignite a sense of passion and motivation, driving you to pursue your goals.
Fulfilment and satisfaction: Living a purpose-driven life can bring a deep sense of fulfilment and satisfaction.
Resilience and perseverance: Purpose can help you navigate challenges and setbacks, giving you the strength to persevere.
I then gave them some inspiring stories of modern people who had a sense of purpose and told them that throughout history, individuals have discovered their purpose and made a profound impact on the world. Consider the stories of: Malala Yousafzai: A young Pakistani activist who fought for girls’ education, surviving a Taliban assassination attempt and becoming a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She could have easily decided that living in a country which hardly gives women a voice, hers was a life of silence, but no, she found purpose.
Jane Goodall: A British primatologist and conservationist who dedicated her life to protecting chimpanzees and the environment. Why would she do that? She could have just loved her pet dog or cat, but no, she decided to spread that net of love far and wide.
I ended with Nelson Mandela: A South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who spent twenty seven years in prison, only to emerge and become the country’s first black president, advocating for reconciliation and forgiveness. He could have come out and spent the rest of his years at a beach resort, no, he came out with a blazing sense of purpose and preached through living it out the ability to build a nation through forgiveness!
Yes, dear reader, there’s a purpose in life for all of us, waiting to be discovered and fulfilled. By exploring our passions, strengths, values, and impact, we can uncover our purpose and live a life that truly matters.
So don’t think of yourself as “I’m just a …whatever.” Discover your purpose wherever you’ve been placed and maybe like the cop, save lives..!
The Author conducts an online, eight session Writers and Speakers Course. If you’d like to join, do send a thumbs-up to WhatsApp number 9892572883 or send a message to [email protected]