Living with Purpose

By Azim Jamal

You were born into this world for a reason. You are here for a nobler purpose than just to eat, sleep, produce offspring and die. You are here to make a difference. You are here to shine your light and leave the world in better shape than when you entered it. You are here to display the gifts you have been blessed with. You are here to use those gifts to make a contribution and create significance.

There is no one like you in this world. No one in this world can match your smile, style or DNA. No one in this world can speak like you or think like you. You are unique, gifted and special. Your gifts are tied to your purpose. Discover them and use them fully. When you do things you were born to do and use your innate gifts to make a difference, you are living and working with purpose.

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece," wrote John Ruskin, the Victorian artist, scientist, poet, environmentalist and philosopher. When you live with purpose, you are energized and focused, and you have a sense of direction.

Few of us have personal direction early in life. Instead of choosing our own ideal jobs, we let the jobs choose us. If you haven’t really decided where you want to go in your career, there are too many bewildering paths to take.

You have to look for the purpose where it lies – within you – and not where it’s more convenient or less painful to look. Meditation and silence help you connect with your spirit. Also, you can help identify your purpose by asking two questions:

• "If I were to die today, what would be written on my tombstone?"
• "If I won a $40 million lottery, what kind of work would I do?"

These questions help put things in perspective and guide you towards your purpose.

Azim Jamal is the author of several books, including The Corporate Sufi, and he is the co-author of the Amazon #1 best-selling book The Power of Giving. His new book on Life Balance co-authored with Nido Qubein is due to be released in Fall 2006. Visit www.azimjamal.com to learn more about Azim.