This week we look at Principle #2 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Be clear why you are here”. Essentially, what’s our purpose. He states: “When you truly are on purpose, the people, resources, and opportunities you need naturally gravitate toward you. The world benefits, too, because when you act in alignment with your true life purpose, all of your actions automatically serve others.” It’s probably the most challenging question we ever put forth to the Universe: Why are we here?
In this principle Canfield encourages us to create a life purpose statement (like a mission statement). Years ago I went through a process where I came up with the following mission statement: “To encourage and inspire the pursuit of happiness in an entertaining way.” I’m feeling the need to update it a bit, especially the part about “happiness”.
Brené Brown defines Joy, based on her research, as “an intense feeling of deep spiritual connection, pleasure, and appreciation,” as contrasted with Happiness, where her data suggests its definition as “feeling pleasure often related to the immediate environment or current circumstances.” Simply put, joy is associated with internal connection (to others, nature, Universe, etc) whereas happiness is more external and circumstantial.
Over the next seven days I plan to create a new-and-improved mission/life purpose statement based on Canfield’s prompts while coloring “Purpose” six more times. If you’re curious, here’s Canfield’s life purpose statement: “to inspire and empower people to live their highest vision in a context of love and joy.”
How about you? What would be your life purpose (mission) statement?
“Joy seems to me
— Adela Rogers St. Johns
a step beyond happiness.
Happiness is a sort of atmosphere
you can live in sometimes
when you’re lucky.
Joy is a light
that fills you with
hope and faith and love.”
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 