Purpose-driven Life

What will You Do? This question posed in the previous post is there for each of us to answer in our own individual way. Mostly we don’t pay attention. Or answer it superficially “I’m going to the store” or “I’m going to fix dinner” while on autopilot. Rick Warren, who wrote the all-time#1 best-selling book A Purpose Driven Life writes about a deeper, spiritual answer; the meaning in and for your life. He explains it on a TedTalk here: http://www.ted.com/talks/rick_warren_on_a_life_of_purpose.html . What on earth are you here for and where is your life force leading you; What is your Mission?

Victor Frankl, who was a holocaust survivor, psychotherapist and university professor, wrote about this in his famous book Man’s Search for Meaning: “Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.” Following is a short TedTalk excerpt of Frankl on this subject: http://www.ted.com/talks/viktor_frankl_youth_in_search_of_meaning.html

In terms of our body/mind/spirit positive energy flow model, mission is critical. Our mission is what we love, really, what we give our life for. It is the God-given positive direction for our life. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has been studying the peak experiences and Flow of those creatively pursuing their mission in life as he relates in his book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Mihaly finds that flow is greatest when doing something that helps others, to be able to work to our heart’s content on a mission. He relates this in his TedTalk: http://blog.ted.com/2008/10/23/creativity_fulf/ .

So the answer to “What will you do?” may well be found in your mission, or perhaps in finding your mission. And as Mihaly suggests, happiness flows best in the service of others.