Written by: Tracey Meredithe McDaniel, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Determining what our purpose is in life can be one of the hardest questions that we as humans must try to answer. In this article we will be going through a step-by-step process, exploring your feelings and options, and by the end, you should have a solid tool you can immediately employ in your life, to help give it a meaningful direction!
There are three steps to the process of discovering the purpose of your life:
Understanding the principle of choice
Creating your “underlying principle”
Aligning your life with this underlying principle
Understanding The Principle of Choice
Norman Vincent Peale has this to say about the power of choice. “The greatest power we have is the power of choice. It is a fact, that if you have been groping under unhappiness, you can choose to be joyous, instead. And, by effort, lift yourself into joy. If you tend to be fearful, you can overcome that misery by choosing to have courage. The whole trend and the quality of anyone’s life are determined by the choices that are made”.
“Choosing” is the most important activity of your mind, because by making a choice, you are proclaiming your desires to your subconscious mind. Once the subconscious mind gets to know your desires, it is going to do anything to manifest them in your life. The choices you make in your life become your goals. And, if you are sincere in pursuing them, there is no reason why you should not accomplish them.
Indecision, on the other hand, not only creates frustration and anxiety but can also confuse the subconscious mind about what you want. But it is important that the choices you make are made by you, in accordance with your true desires, purposes, and aptitude. A lot of us let others make choices for us or make our choices according to what we think is ‘correct’, even if that means that we go against our wishes. What is right for someone else may not be right for you, and the way to know this is by listening to what your heart says.
So, to begin with, make a list of things that interest you; things that you have always enjoyed, which make you feel better, and which inspire you to surge ahead, no matter what obstacles you face. Do you like doing something creative, or something artistic? Do you enjoy nature? Do you like the sea? Do you enjoy helping others?
Do you get pleasure out of making a difference in other people’s lives?
Whatever it is that interests you, write it down and answer these questions:
What thing do you love to do?
What is it that you love in this thing and why?
How could you do this for money, and make a living out of it?
Creating Your Underlying Principle
The next step is to examine the list you just made and find out if there is any recurring theme. Maybe, it is the contribution that keeps coming up, or an effect to seek or give love, or helping your parents cope with old age. Whatever it is, try to identify the central theme of the things you love to do, and try to put it in a short and precise statement. This will be your Mission Statement. It may even be a quote by a famous person, or a philosophy that has influenced you. Of course, as you grow up, this statement could evolve, but its soul will remain the same. Now, write down your Mission Statement.
Aligning Your LIFE With Your Underlying Principle
The final step in this journey is to map your path to your ultimate purpose and begin implementing changes that help to align your daily life with your underlying purpose. By making these little changes in your lifestyle, you will start to be able to begin living this principle out daily. It might take a few days, but by becoming aware and intentional of this underlying principle of your life, you will certainly start to feel the difference in your enthusiasm for life. If you realize that you love being in nature, maybe an outing with family or friends could be enough to recoup your energy. If you discover that you enjoy helping those in need, start to look for opportunities to volunteer in your community. On the other hand, you might even want to change your job or start a new business that is more in line with your mission.
So there you have it! By following along with the steps outlined above, you will be on your way to finding and living out your purpose. As you go through this process, just remember, You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it with courage.
With years of experience as a psychotherapist, life coach, and motivational speaker, Tracey has a wealth of knowledge on effective communication and strives to share the insight she's gained and information she's gathered with as many clients as possible. She emphasizes personal empowerment and supports her clients as they grow into the best versions of themselves. She has previous experience as an Associate Professor and has taught numerous courses in the areas of psychology and human services. She has worked in an array of areas within the human services arena, including but not limited to substance abuse treatment, individual and family therapy, child welfare, adult protective services, program development, as well as investigative/research analysis. She is the author of the book, “The True Heart of the Matter: A Guide for Those Considering Marriage. She is the founder of the “True Heart of the Matter Premarital Bliss Intensive.
Tracey McDaniel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from South Carolina State University. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Webster University. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Management from Webster University. She pursued a Ph.D. (ABD) in Human Services from Capella University.
She is the Founder of Pathways to Positive Living, LLC, which is a private practice psychotherapy organization that specializes in working with individuals dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, etc.
She is also the founder of Meredithe McDaniel Coaching, LLC. This is an organization that specializes in working with high-achieving women. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Stress Management Professional, Human Resource Professional, and Certified Life Coach she has worked with many women who have been assisted in overcoming obstacles so that they can live out their dreams. She has been working with amazing women like you for the past 28 years. Through one-on-one coaching sessions, online programs, video conferences, and written content, she has been fortunate enough to connect with unbelievable females.
Additionally, as a human resource management professional, Tracey provides business coaching and consulting services to small business startups that include topics not limited to leadership development, executive coaching, effective communication, conflict resolution, employee relations, etc.
She is also the founder and CEO of Meredithe McDaniel Speaks and Events, LLC. As an event planner and coordinator, Tracey helps individuals in the development of a clear vision of what they would like to accomplish and execute the vision into reality. She specializes in weddings and other social and corporate events. She is also a Certified Notary Public that provides notary services for individuals throughout the state.
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Tracey Meredithe McDaniel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Tracey McDaniel has spent the last 28 years assisting others with what is "blocking" them from living their best life. Her intuitive, empathic, highly developed skills give her the necessary tools to guide others into a great understanding of personal recognition and personal empowerment. Tracey's insightful perspective and emotional intelligence lead her to fill the role of a relationship and empowerment coach. With previous work experience as a psychotherapist and previous educational experience in Counseling, Social Work, and Human Resources, her coaching style is a mix of an objective perspective and compassionate understanding.
