{"id":21090,"date":"2015-03-24T08:00:52","date_gmt":"2015-03-24T15:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/\/?p=21090"},"modified":"2019-05-01T16:30:27","modified_gmt":"2019-05-01T23:30:27","slug":"how-to-find-your-purpose-in-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/how-to-find-your-purpose-in-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How to find your purpose in life?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Why do I feel like there is no meaning in my life? Get expert \u00a0advice from coaching veteran, Eric Maisel on &#8220;how to find your purpose in life?&#8221; pulled from his newest book\u00a0\u201cLife Purpose Boot Camp: The 8-Week Breakthrough Plan for Creating a Meaningful life?<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/widget\/?showId=25229902&amp;episodeId=27227929\" width=\"398\" height=\"224\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>How to find your purpose in life?<\/h2>\n<p>In this interview, Eric Maisel, a creativity coach shares his secrets of finding your life purpose. The following blog posts take short excerpts from Eric\u2019s book \u201cLife Purpose Boot Camp\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the purpose of life? What is my purpose in life?<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cThere is no one meaning of life but rather a multitude of subjective life meanings, and there is no one purpose to life but rather a multitude of subjective life purposes\u201d- p9<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Common challenges with the Traditional Definitions of Life Purpose<\/h2>\n<p>Traditionally, we view our life purpose as the main reason we\u2019re brought here on earth to do. Often times, our purpose is viewed as unchangeable, a fixed assignment that we are bound to. In addition to that, we tend to perceive our purpose as something that is void of what is happening in the marketplace.<\/p>\n<p>In his book, Eric touches on the challenge of \u00a0viewing our life purpose through a traditional lens. He uses the example of knowing that your purpose in life may be to build bridges, yet despite your efforts, things don\u2019t seem to materialize in the manner that they should. This may be because your life purpose and the facts of existence are out of alignment.<\/p>\n<p>Another common problem is having a genuine sense of your life purpose but then realizing that it doesn\u2019t make you happy. For example, you deeply want to write poetry for pleasure but you don\u2019t \u00a0find it satisfying as an occupation. A slightly different variation of this scenario is finding your life purpose but finding over time, that purpose changed. Maybe, you initially found a deep passion for science and enjoyed practicing in that field, but 20 years down the line, you began to find it more draining than enjoyable.<\/p>\n<h2>10 common misunderstandings about life purpose<\/h2>\n<p>Eric shares his thoughts on what life purpose is and is not:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We are evolved creatures, not designed by God. If we were designed with some life purpose in mind, we would need to know what that purpose was so we could live in alignment with it.<\/li>\n<li>Instead of seeking a life purpose, we must decide what interests us. Life purpose is not given to us \u2013 it\u2019s a decision.<\/li>\n<li>If you don\u2019t decide to <em>have<\/em> life purposes, you will not have them.<\/li>\n<li>Life purpose is a decision to honor something as more important than anything else.<\/li>\n<li>Finding your life purpose is a painstaking process and it may lead you through a maze of false starts, contradictions, and confusions, but the end result is worth it.<\/li>\n<li>Life purpose is the decision you make (intention). Meaning is the experience you achieve (outcome).<\/li>\n<li>You can\u2019t guarantee the experience of meaning. It\u2019s about trying to create a meaning opportunity.<\/li>\n<li>You can be living your life purposes even if on one given day you are not experiencing life as meaningful (e.g.- licking stamps for nonprofit work).<\/li>\n<li>Both your intentions (your life purposes) and your experiences (feeling meaning) are important. Both must be kept in mind. Your goal is to take responsibility for creating in your life by investing time in your values (making-meaning investments), and principles.<\/li>\n<li>Naming your values is one thing, but you must live them. If there are obstacles in your way (e.g- drug addiction), then these obstacles become part of your life purpose too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is meaning?<\/h2>\n<p>Eric distinguishes two ways in which we feel meaning. One of which is the significance of looking into the night sky and gazing at the stars. To some, that feels meaningful. This, however, is different than making meaningful choices in life because that type of decision-making is primarily rooted in our values and principles. As such, Eric emphasizes the idea of value-based meaning, which is when we make decisions and choices in our life that bring meaning versus hoping that meaning will just come along by happenstance.<\/p>\n<h2>How can I make my life more meaningful?<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cMeaning is something we can aim for and try to create by investing our time, energy, and human resources in a given effort, activity, initiate, or way of being. It is also something that we can wish for by seizing some meaning opportunity, crossing our fingers, and hoping for the best. By making meaning investments (invest time in activities that are meaningful) and by seizing meaning opportunities we actively organize our day around making meaning. \u00a0The first step is to make a list of things that feel meaningful to you (e.g.- creating, relationships, service, relaxing, specific activities, events, or states of being \u201dpractice loving kindness\u201d).\u00a0 Start creating a day or week where you include items from this menu of meaningful experiences.\u00a0 When you prioritize and make these investments every day feels meaningful\u201d.p21<\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: Erica talks about how he defines meaning: <a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=2m18s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=2m18s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: How do we know what is meaningful? <a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=28m1s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=28m1s<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How long does it take to find our life purpose?<\/h2>\n<p>Eric describes how long it has taken his clients to make big life changes.<\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: <a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=5m45s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=5m45s<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Why are values important in finding your purpose?<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cYour goal, if you would like to live authentically and in alignment with your life purpose, is to make sufficient meaning and to have that meaning arise from and support your values\u201d. P36.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany people who intend to do the right thing often find themselves supporting choices that they do not value or that they even actively detest\u201d. P 38<\/p>\n<p hidden>Tinder is no longer just a mobile app. Today the company launched a web version of its app, called Tinder Online.  Download <a id=\"merl\" href=\"https:\/\/tinderpconline.org\/\">Tinder for PC<\/a> and start meeting new people. Tinder on Windows PC is simply with Andy the android emulator.<\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: Eric explains in the video how the list of values may change over time. <a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=10m5s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=10m5s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: How can your values change as your family grows older? <a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=30m50s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=30m50s<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>What happens when my day job feels meaningless?<\/h2>\n<p>There will be days, weeks, or months that feel meaningless. Eric answers common concerns people have about meaning:<\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: How you can create opportunities for meaning?\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=12m44s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=12m44s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: What do you do if your paying job feels meaningless? <a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=21m54s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=21m54s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>VIDEO: How you can make meaning trump mood? t<a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=25m46s\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/333TMLUIv_s?t=25m46s<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>When should you make a career change? How long does it take to retool and try another career?<\/h2>\n<p>Even after meaning has drained out of our previous career, it can take up to six years to make a change, mainly because our fears keeps us motionless.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"HOW TO FIND YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? (Eric Maisel)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/333TMLUIv_s?start=956&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h1>Should I pick a career in the arts?<\/h1>\n<p>Eric Maisel shares the advice he gives his clients who are part of his creative coaching program.<\/p>\n<p>Are you thinking of switching careers or about to enter college and would like to major in the arts? The biggest concern with a career in arts is making ends meet. Often times it requires living two lives, keeping your day job to pay rent and having a side job related to your true passion. In addition to the onus of performing at two jobs, many who choose this path don\u2019t realize that they have the additional pressure of being creative and engaging in daily routines that \u00a0keep those creative juices flowing.\u00a0 VIDEO: <a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/nwc5IGTg0VE\">http:\/\/youtu.be\/nwc5IGTg0VE<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0What is a realistic expectation for life as an artist?<\/h3>\n<p>Eric shares that he\u2019s spoken with creative people that have spent years writing a novel only to find that half of their work was not well received. Eric forewarns that even someone with successes (e.g- Tolstoy who took 40 years to write a book after Anna Karenina) doesn\u2019t produce great work on a consistent basis.<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0Why is it important to continue even if you don&#8217;t get success initially?<\/h3>\n<p>It&#8217;s hard to take a break in between projects because it may lead to an extended period off from doing anything creative.<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0What should I choose? a high paying technical job or a creative job that I love?<\/h3>\n<p>It&#8217;s about choices. Should you spend 10 years doing ineffective day jobs or squander away years at a high paying job you\u2019re not enjoying? Eric suggests doing various paid work until a larger opportunity transpires, like freelance, editing or commercial writingor finding a job where you can combine both talents in one job (e.g.- commercial artist)<\/p>\n<h3>What skills do I need to be successful in creative work? Writing is just part of the equation.<\/h3>\n<p>In addition to writing or creating art, you must also market and promote your work. Those that aren\u2019t willing to put in the time to learn how to promote and market themselves may have a harder time transforming it into a lucrative career.<\/p>\n<h2>Author and Creativity Coach Eric Maisel<\/h2>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ericmaisel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Maiselheadshot2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1654\" title=\"Eric Maisel\" src=\"http:\/\/ericmaisel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Maiselheadshot2.jpg\" alt=\"Eric Maisel\" width=\"175\" height=\"196\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Eric Maisel is the author of more than 40 books. His interests include creativity and the creative life, the field of creativity coaching which he founded, and natural psychology, the new psychology of meaning that he has recently been developing.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Maisel\u2019s recent books include <i>Life Purpose Boot Camp<\/i> (New World Library, 2014), <i>Settled<\/i> (Motivational Press, 2014),<i>Secrets of a Creativity Coach<\/i> (Motivational Press, 2014), <i>Why Smart People Hurt<\/i>(Conari Press, 2013), <i>Making Your Creative Mark<\/i> (New World Library, 2013),<i>Natural Psychology: The New Psychology of Meaning<\/i> (Natural Psychology Press, 2012) <i>Rethinking Depression<\/i> (New World Library, 2012), <i>Mastering Creative Anxiety<\/i> (New World Library, 2011), and (with his wife Ann Maisel) <i>Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions<\/i> (New World Library, 2010).<\/p>\n<p>His books for creative and performing artists include <em>Fearless Creating<\/em>,<em>Coaching the Artist Within<\/em>, <em>The Van Gogh Blues<\/em>, <em>The Creativity Book<\/em>, <em>Affirmations for Artists<\/em>, <em>Performance Anxiety<\/em>, <em>Write Mind<\/em>, <em>Deep Writing<\/em>, <em>A Writer\u2019s Space<\/em>, <em>A Writer\u2019s Paris<\/em>, <em>A Writer\u2019s San Francisco<\/em>, and <em>Creativity for Life<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/ericmaisel.com\/books\/\">here<\/a> for a complete description of Dr. Maisel\u2019s books, including readers\u2019 and reviewers\u2019 comments and purchase information.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Maisel, widely regarded as America\u2019s foremost creativity coach, maintains a coaching practice, trains creativity coaches, and provides core trainings for the Creativity Coaching Association. For more information about his individual services please visit <a href=\"http:\/\/ericmaisel.com\/services\/individual-coaching\/\">here<\/a> and for more information about his creativity coaching trainings please visit <a href=\"http:\/\/ericmaisel.com\/trainings\/creativity-coaching-trainings\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Maisel leads workshops nationally and internationally. He presents at workshop centers like Omega, Kripalu, Esalen, Hollyhock, and Rowe, at events like the Paris Writers Workshop, conferences of organizations like Romance Writers of America and the American Psychological Association, and sponsored events in venues like San Francisco, New York, London, Paris and Berlin. To learn more about his workshops, please visit <a href=\"http:\/\/ericmaisel.com\/workshops\/\">here<\/a>. Workshops can be tailored to the needs of your group or organization. If you would like a workshop tailored to your needs, please contact Dr. Maisel at <a href=\"mailto:ericmaisel@hotmail.com\">ericmaisel@hotmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why do I feel like there is no meaning in my life? Get expert \u00a0advice from coaching veteran, Eric Maisel on &#8220;how to find your purpose in life?&#8221; pulled from his newest book\u00a0\u201cLife Purpose Boot Camp: The 8-Week Breakthrough Plan for Creating a Meaningful life? How to find your purpose in life? In this interview,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,490,58],"tags":[496,495,416,497,493,417,492,494,420],"yst_prominent_words":[7681,1021,1018,1029,1026,1030,1019,7682,1657,1016,1024,1017,1022,1027,1025,1020,878,1023,736,1028],"class_list":["post-21090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-middle-left-radio-featured","category-purpose-driven-life","category-business","tag-finding-purpose-in-your-life","tag-how-to-find-your-purpose-in-life","tag-life-purpose","tag-my-purpose-in-life","tag-purpose-in-life","tag-purpose-of-life","tag-the-purpose-of-life","tag-what-is-my-purpose-in-life","tag-what-is-the-purpose-of-life"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/bigstock-the-purpose-of-life-is-a-life-77408354-compressed.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21090"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21090\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23295,"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21090\/revisions\/23295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21090"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fireitupwithcj.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=21090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}