Every one of us has our own gift, from the agile rock climber to the "fix-it genius," to the single mother who raises three healthy kids and maintains a full-time job. It is ironic but very true that we are often the last ones in the world to be able to see and acknowledge our own gifts or areas of intelligence. Most of us are pretty blind to the things we do best. -Shakti Gawain, The Path of Transformation: How Healing Ourselves Can Change the World As children, most of us dreamed about what we would do when we grew up. These dreams

changed almost daily depending on our activities and our exposure to new possibilities. As we grew older, the pressure to perform-at school, in sports, in our extracurricular activities-increased. Our plans for our future became enmeshed with the desire to be liked and to please others-our friends and peers, our parents and family, even our guidance counselors-and how we would earn a living. The hobbies we pursued were often recommended to make us look good or help get us into a certain college. For most, our dreams became a distant and often forgotten memory, replaced by the realities of fitting in and getting ahead.

Those dreams may have faded, but our uniqueness never did, and that is the key to rediscovering a life purpose. We each possess our own particular genius and the ability to make a distinctive contribution to our relationships, workplaces, and communities. The more we learn and gain clarity about our special gifts, talents, and passions, the closer we will get to that experience we sought when we were younger-doing something that is uniquely ours.

Rick Warren's national bestseller, The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?, suggests that millions of individuals are searching for greater meaning and purpose in their lives. Warren describes the metaphors in the Bible that teach us about the transient nature of life on earth and how we should remember that our lives are short-term assignments. "Earth is only a temporary residence," he writes. "You won't be here long, so don't get too attached." And yet he is quite serious about how important our short stay is. Warren goes on to say:

You were put on earth to make a contribution. You weren't created just to consume resources-to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. While many best-selling books offer advice on how to "get" the most out of life, that's not the reason God made you. You were created to add to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back.

When you are clear about your soul's purpose in this life, you more easily become self-directed, creative, optimistic, and even joyful. When you live your life purpose, you are much less susceptible to fear, anger, guilt or the need for approval. Your purpose provides direction and guidance; it motivates and drives your life. Materialism and the quest for more money and possessions are motivating factors for many, but such goals are not life sustaining. Achieving them provides only temporary satisfaction; they don't feed our souls. I believe this is the main reason why many people who attain a high level of financial comfort and/or career success, resort to mood-altering drugs to alleviate depression. In spite of their wealth and accomplishments, they still feel empty, as if something is missing, and the pain of that realization is too much to bear.

And so the challenge for each of us is to find that "missing" piece, to embrace our gifts and put them in service to a grander vision of who we can become and how we can contribute. Those with a clear life purpose are not as vulnerable to workplace stress and the pressures of day-to-day living. They are able to see the big picture and observe how the decisions they make either contribute-or not-to their own personal growth, the life they want to lead, and the impact they want to make on the world around them. When you integrate power, passion, and purpose-the essence of personal mastery-you can accomplish great things.

As a visionary catalyst, speaker, and author, Ann Roulac empowers people to transform their personal and professional lives. Ann's experience as an entrepreneur, coupled with her knowledge of personal mastery disciplines, give her a unique ability to support people to achieve their highest purpose and destiny.

Ann Roulac
Inspiring Visions & Strategies
709 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, California 94901
Phone: 415-451-4310
Toll Free: 866-951-4310
Fax: 415-451-4343
Ann@AnnRoulac.com
http://www.AnnRoulac.com



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