Ready to take know EXACTLY what you were created to do? Click here!

life{in}grace

live with more presence, passion, & purpose

3 Lies You’re Believing About Your Life’s Purpose

by 206 Comments

Everyone talks about having clear goals, but you have no ideas what your goals should even be. People tell you to follow your dreams, but you just want to want something. What if I told you it doesn’t have to be that hard?

I know exactly what it’s like to feel a little lost and unsure about my goals in life.

In fact, when I first gave up my medical practice in 2007, I felt paralyzed by the possibilities in front of me. For so long, I had defined my meaning and purpose by my job and here I was at home for the first time, trying to find my way through dishes and meals and laundry and soccer games.

I felt so lost. I’ve had that happen many times since, when circumstances change and my life feels a little aimless. If you find yourself struggling about goals and purpose, I bet you’re telling yourself these three lies.

You don’t know what your purpose is.

The first lie you’re believing about your purpose is that you don’t know what it is. You think you don’t know what it is, or even what you want it to be. We have gotten to the point where we don’t really even trust ourselves. We don’t have the inner sense that we really do know.

Of course you know. Let me remind you that God made you for a purpose. You don’t have to actually do anything for that to be true. He made you with meaning, and value, and for a purpose, and he loves you. That is enough.

I know you think, “Well, I know all that, but that doesn’t really answer the question!”

Stop searching for your purpose.

Stop believing that you don’t really have a purpose.

Stop being confused about what your purpose is.

Once you stop that, and you start believing that he loves you, and he made you for a reason, it changes things. You stop looking for your purpose everywhere else.

Living your purpose is an inside job.

Nobody else can give it to you. No job can give it to you, in fact jobs are terrible at giving it to you. Your family is terrible at giving it to you. You already have it! I want you to begin really believing everything about the meaning and purpose of your life was already given to you by God when he created you.

You can’t be more purposeful, or be more meaningful, or have more purpose than God already gave you. Your tank is full!

The reason you don’t believe that is, you have a misguided understanding of what purpose actually is, and what it actually means, just like I did.

God did all the work. He created you and you’re fearfully and wonderfully made. He created you so unique, and he loves you. His purposes are alive and well in you. Just because you don’t recognize that, doesn’t mean it’s not true.

Most of us aren’t living as if we believe it. We’re not living as if we recognize what he already has given us. Purpose is this amazing, incredible, beautiful gift, and we don’t even know it’s there so we don’t acknowledge it, we don’t access it, we’re not thankful for it, and we don’t utilize it.

We have to wake up to the fact that purpose is within us and we’re already living it out. From that place, we can begin to explore all the other things that are true about calling, and vocation, and how God made us special, and how he has certain gifts he wants us to use. 

When you become aware of what he’s already given you, magic starts to happen! You’re not striving and grasping, trying to do something to be more purposeful.

He’s already given you all the value, and all the meaning, and all the purpose you will ever have. Isn’t that such good news? You don’t have to find it, you just have to start living it!

When you live as if you are valued and loved and adored, full of purpose and meaning, and that what you’re already doing matters, it changes everything. You don’t live unsure and full of doubt like you do when you believe you don’t know what your purpose is.

My purpose is not as important as hers.

Comparing yourself with others is the most toxic thing you can do. Not only does comparison often cause us to despise the gift of God in someone else, it causes us to despise it in ourselves. To think that we’re less than, to think that whatever we’re doing is not as important, to think that whatever we’re doing doesn’t matter or have meaning, or that it doesn’t have purpose is a lie.

That lie will keep you from actually living as if you have an amazing gift that God has given you, one that you can share with the world. It will keep you stuck.

It often leads us to this weird place of judgment, where we’re so critical and so negative of everyone else. The thing that will kill your sense of meaning and sense of purpose faster than anything, is comparing yourself to somebody else, and assuming that whatever she’s doing is better than what you’re doing. It isn’t better.

We all go through different stages. I remember the time in my life when I was homeschooling my girls. I have a medical degree, and I felt like God had gifted me in that area, and I had to fight the tendency to think, “How I’m using my gifts isn’t as important as the doctor down the street who is still working in her job, or the teacher who actually knows what she’s doing when homeschooling.”

I had to fight the temptation to say that period of time wasn’t purposeful or valuable. It was the most valuable. It didn’t look very important from the outside. As a matter of fact, a lot of people said, “Why are you wasting your gifts?”

You have to fight for yourself, and for whatever phase of life you’re in. Realize that it’s usually in those seemingly unimportant times when so many of the qualities God wants to be cultivated in your heart are cultivated.

Don’t despise those periods of downtime, or those periods of transition, or those periods when you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, when you feel like what you’re doing is less than.

My purpose is OUT THERE somewhere.

The third lie we all believe is that our purpose is tied up in something external. We think it’s tied to the job we do, the kind of house we live in, to our marriage, or to our kids. The problem with tying it to external things is they’re always changing.

If you have your purpose tied up in your house, what about when your house burns down like mine did 10 years ago? If you have it tied up in your marriage, what about when that falls apart? If you have it tied up in your kids, what about when your kids go astray?

Then you lose your way because you were tying your purpose to something external. It’s not external. There’s no job, no marriage, no child that’s going to give you meaning and purpose. It’s not fair to place the responsibility there either.

You have to accept that God has already given you all the meaning, and purpose, and value you ever will have. Your job is to become aware of it, to cultivate it, and to live as if that’s all true.

Something magic will happen in your heart, and you will step into what you’ve been squandering! You just have to become aware of it and begin living from there.

I hope you will really begin to live as if that’s all true, because it is. It will change how you show up for yourself. It will change how you show up in your life. It will change how you show up for the people in your life. It will give you so much freedom!

I have a free download available that goes more in depth about your purpose. It’s called the What’s Your Purpose Guide, and you can grab that freebie here!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  9. PerryVeics says

    Viagra sans ordonnance livraison 48h [url=https://viagrameilleurprix.com/#]viagra sans ordonnance[/url] Viagra homme prix en pharmacie sans ordonnance

    Reply

  15. PerryVeics says

    п»їViagra sans ordonnance 24h [url=http://viagrameilleurprix.com/#]Viagra pharmacie[/url] Viagra vente libre pays

    Reply

  23. PerryVeics says

    acheter mГ©dicament en ligne sans ordonnance [url=https://pharmaciemeilleurprix.com/#]pharmacie en ligne france[/url] vente de mГ©dicament en ligne

    Reply

  30. PerryVeics says

    Achat mГ©dicament en ligne fiable [url=https://kamagrameilleurprix.shop/#]kamagra en ligne[/url] acheter mГ©dicament en ligne sans ordonnance

    Reply

  38. PerryVeics says

    Viagra Pfizer sans ordonnance [url=http://viagrameilleurprix.com/#]Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance[/url] Viagra vente libre pays

    Reply

  49. PerryVeics says

    vente de mГ©dicament en ligne [url=https://kamagrameilleurprix.com/#]kamagra en ligne[/url] trouver un mГ©dicament en pharmacie

    Reply

  53. PerryVeics says

    pharmacie en ligne france livraison belgique [url=http://tadalafilmeilleurprix.com/#]cialis generique[/url] pharmacie en ligne

    Reply

  62. PerryVeics says

    Viagra sans ordonnance 24h suisse [url=https://viagrameilleurprix.shop/#]Viagra pharmacie[/url] Acheter Sildenafil 100mg sans ordonnance

    Reply

  65. PerryVeics says

    п»їpharmacie en ligne france [url=https://tadalafilmeilleurprix.com/#]cialis sans ordonnance[/url] Achat mГ©dicament en ligne fiable

    Reply

  141. LarryCap says

    mexican pharmacy online [url=http://certpharm.com/#]Legit online Mexican pharmacy[/url] buying prescription drugs in mexico

    Reply

  143. SpencerFor says

    Express Canada Pharm [url=http://expresscanadapharm.com/#]canadian pharmacies comparison[/url] Express Canada Pharm

    Reply

  148. SpencerFor says

    Express Canada Pharm [url=https://expresscanadapharm.com/#]Express Canada Pharm[/url] canadian pharmacy ltd

    Reply

  155. SpencerFor says

    best canadian online pharmacy reviews [url=http://expresscanadapharm.com/#]canadian pharmacy online store[/url] online canadian pharmacy

    Reply

  159. ThomasEncug says

    Always a seamless experience, whether ordering domestically or internationally.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]can i order cheap lisinopril without prescription[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]can you buy generic clomid without rx[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]how can i get cheap cytotec price[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin no libido[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]where to buy cheap cipro without insurance[/url]
    They set the tone for international pharmaceutical excellence.

    Reply

  164. ThomasEncug says

    Leading the way in global pharmaceutical services.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]how to buy lisinopril online[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]buying clomid online[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]cost of cheap cytotec without prescription[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin 1a pharma 100 mg hartkapseln[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]how can i get generic cipro without dr prescription[/url]
    Their global perspective enriches local patient care.

    Reply

  167. ThomasEncug says

    Their international catalog is expansive.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]get cheap lisinopril without insurance[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]cost of clomid[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]cytotec abortion pill[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]can u drink on gabapentin[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]where can i get generic cipro price[/url]
    Their cross-border services are unmatched.

    Reply

  169. ThomasEncug says

    They’re globally renowned for their impeccable service.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]where can i get lisinopril pills[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]where to buy cheap clomid without rx[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]cost cytotec no prescription[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin arm pain[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]cost of generic cipro without a prescription[/url]
    I’m impressed with their commitment to customer care.

    Reply

  171. ThomasEncug says

    Always on the pulse of international healthcare developments.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]buy cafergot without prescription[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]where to buy clomid online[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]cytotec pills order[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin vs lyrica for diabetic neuropathy[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]where can i get generic cipro prices[/url]
    Commonly Used Drugs Charts.

    Reply

  179. ThomasEncug says

    A modern pharmacy with a traditional touch of care.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]order cheap lisinopril price[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]where can i buy cheap clomid online[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]cheap cytotec without prescription[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]mylan gabapentin 100mg[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]how can i get cheap cipro no prescription[/url]
    Their global perspective enriches local patient care.

    Reply

  185. ThomasEncug says

    Every visit reaffirms why I choose this pharmacy.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]cost of zestril without rx[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]can you buy cheap clomid without insurance[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]cytotec vaginal tablets[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin vs lyrica for diabetic neuropathy[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]where to get cheap cipro pills[/url]
    Their online portal is user-friendly and intuitive.

    Reply

  190. ThomasEncug says

    This international pharmacy offers top-tier service globally.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]can i purchase lisinopril pills[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]where can i get cheap clomid[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]get cheap cytotec online[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]is gabapentin used as an antidepressant[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]can i buy cipro online[/url]
    Their commitment to healthcare excellence is evident.

    Reply

  192. ThomasEncug says

    Always stocked with the best brands.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]can i order generic lisinopril without dr prescription[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]cost of generic clomid price[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]cytotec tablets uk[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]medicamento gabapentin para que sirve[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]can you get cipro without dr prescription[/url]
    They are always proactive about refills and reminders.

    Reply

  196. JamesTax says

    indian pharmacy online [url=http://fastfromindia.com/#]pharmacy website india[/url] Online medicine order
    reputable indian online pharmacy

    Reply

  206. MichaelImill says

    п»їpharmacie en ligne france [url=http://pharmainternationale.com/#]Pharma Internationale[/url] Pharma Internationale

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *