{"id":258,"date":"2021-10-06T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewinglife.net\/know-your-why\/"},"modified":"2024-12-17T19:02:03","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T19:02:03","slug":"know-your-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewinglife.net\/renewing-life-center-blog\/know-your-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Know Your Why"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\"unsplash-image-s9CC2SKySJM.jpg\"<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

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I wonder if you can relate to a client who came into my office a few months ago. I will share an edited version of our conversation, and I want you to see if any of it sounds familiar.<\/p>\n

John, (not his real name) told me he has a hard time finding purpose in life. He talked about getting up early, working hard, checking in with friends and family, then going to bed, only to wake up and do it all over again the next day. He described his life as a merry go round that has no stop button and no clear destination. He was beginning to feel weary. He was growing tired of the endless circle.<\/p>\n

King Solomon made some similar statements in the melancholy writings of Ecclesiastes. He wrote, \u201cWhat do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun,\u201d and \u201cAll things are wearisome, more than one can say,\u201d and \u201ceverything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.\u201d Wow! Talk about a buzz kill! You wouldn\u2019t want him mingling at your party in that state of mind. He eventually gets to some positive messages when he talks about our purpose in life, but much of the book is rather depressing to read.<\/p>\n

How about you? Do you ever wonder what your life is about? Do you ever think, Why should I get up and go through the motions today?<\/em> I\u2019ve talked with many people in my office who have felt this way. Sometimes they\u2019re struggling with some depression or dysthymia, but often it is just a lack of direction … they don\u2019t know their why! One of the essential building blocks for living a healthy, joyful, and meaningful life is clear vision and purpose.<\/p>\n

We must know our why. Why do I exist? What on earth am I here for?<\/em> I approach these questions from a Christian perspective. Jesus boiled down our purpose to two things; \u201cLove God and love others.\u201d Pretty simple. Other Christians have come up with similar answers. A prominent church document called The Westminster Catechism answers the question \u201cwhat is the chief end of man\u201d with the statement \u2013 \u201cto glorify God and enjoy Him forever.\u201d Rick Warren begins his bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life<\/span> with the statement \u201cIt\u2019s not about you.\u201d He continues by saying, \u201cThe purpose of your life is greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It\u2019s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by <\/em>His purpose and for <\/em>His purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

What if we see life through a bigger lens? I believe we all exist to love and glorify God, but we all do it in our own unique way according to how He has wired and gifted us. Years ago, I was challenged to write a life purpose statement, and I often encourage my clients to do the same. Having a clear vision or a why gives me the reason to get out of bed in the morning. I will share my purpose statement with you with the hope that it will inspire you to think about your own. My life purpose statement has four parts that are easy for me to remember by the first word of each statement: LOVE, GENEROUSLY, JOYFULLY & PASSIONATELY. <\/em>Here is my life purpose statement: <\/p>\n

I live to:<\/p>\n

1. LOVE <\/em>and glorify God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.<\/p>\n

2. GENEROUSLY <\/em>share God\u2019s love with my family and all others God brings into my life.<\/p>\n

3. JOYFULLY <\/em>live fully present in God\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n

4. PASSIONATELY <\/em>use my gifts to lead people closer to God and to help them live out rich and meaningful lives, marriages, and families.<\/p>\n

So, at the end of the day, I can look back and ask, How did I do?<\/em> Because my purpose is clearly defined it gives me a larger lens to see my days. I can honestly say that I have never gotten to the end of a day and thought, I nailed it.<\/em> I know I don\u2019t love God and others perfectly and sometimes I am so distracted that I miss the joy of God\u2019s creation all around me … but I have tomorrow, and I know God is still working in my life. <\/p>\n

I challenge you to think about your why. Take some time to think about who you are and how God has wired and gifted you. See if you can craft a life purpose statement of your own. Tom Patterson\u2019s book Living the Life You Were Meant to Live<\/span>, gave me great help and direction for this challenge. Take your time, prayerfully work at it, and revise it over time until it just fits. This will help you see greater purpose for each day. If you would like some help in the process, feel free to reach out and schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wonder if you can relate to a client who came into my office a few months ago. 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