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Let me ask you a question. What is your life purpose your calling in life?

Have you every thought about that question before? If you havent youre not alone. Most people really never give it much thought at all. We choose a job or a career, and then spend 30-50 years working in that career, regardless of whether its aligned with who we are and what were called to do. Research indicates that theres just not much of a chance of finding true success, of being happy, or of experiencing real personal fulfillment unless our daily activities are closely aligned with who we are and what we should be doing in life that is, our life calling.

It is not uncommon for people look up at age 40, 50, or even 60 and wonder, Where has my life gone? or Why have I not done any thing significant yet? Perhaps theyve charted a clear-cut course for earthly, career and/or financial success, but then seem surprised when they fail to achieve real significance. Theyve been doing the same thing every day for many years, but somehow expecting their lives to arrive at a place called Significance. They chart no course to Significance. They make no plans for how they will get there, but nonetheless, they have this underlying expectation they will get there.

In the early 1900s Andrew Carnegie, the founder of a predecessor company to US Steel, commissioned a young attorney and journalist with what ended up being his lifes work. This young man, Napoleon Hill, would spend the next 20 years assembling and analyzing the qualities that directly contributed to the success of the great persons of that time. All in all, he would interview more than 500 titans of science, business and government including Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The final result of his work was a distillation of their philosophies into a single, logical framework for success he called "The 17 Natural Laws of Success."

One of the greatest discoveries of Hills work was that every successful person he interviewed had a definite major purpose for their life and they were keenly in tune with that purpose. Each had a plan for fulfilling his/her life purpose and each devoted the greatest part of his or her thoughts and efforts to that goal. Hill would go on to say that, definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.

The common tendency is to go through life like a ship with no rudder, no compass, and no map, buffeted to and fro by the waves of life. We tend to go about our daily lives busier than imaginable, but with no real understanding of what we are accomplishing from day to day. Its simply not enough to be busy. Even the ants are busy! We must be busy about doing the RIGHT things those things for which we were purposed. That brings us to the second Key to Extraordinary Living.

Plan Your Life and Live Your Passion

We all have a purpose. That is not the question. The real question is what is your purpose? Author Robert Byrne suggests, The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.

A purpose is what gives our life meaning. Its what drives us to get out of bed in the mornings. Its our calling, our reason for living. Its what we were meant to do. However, we tend to make the task of finding ones life purpose to be a monumental one. While it does require a considerable amount of thoughtful reflection, introspection, and prayer, it is not a difficult task. Its simply a matter of taking inventory of what youre good at doing, what you love to do, and what you feel deep in your heart you should be doing, and summarizing those into some very clear, concise statements that are used to guide your life. One important thing to remember is that your purpose your calling is something you discover, its not something you choose. We all have a calling a purpose for which we were created. Once we discover that calling, life takes on a whole new meaning.

In his writings, the Apostle Paul clearly stated that each of us has our own knowledge, natural gifts, abilities, and skills.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a mans gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

Romans 12: 6-8

The secret is to discover your own personal gifts, skills and abilities and identify where they intersect with your passions your natural dreams, hopes, ambitions, and desires. When you clearly understand this intersection and you take the next step of articulating it in terms of your strengths, your passions, and your purpose, you have planted the seeds of greatness in your life. If you alter your life direction (and your daily activities) to be congruent with these three things, you will achieve more than you ever thought possible. In addition, youll experience more peace and personal fulfillment along the way. To make this task easier, we recommend you download a free copy of "The Abundance Principle Purpose Finder" located at http://www.abundantlifeproject.com/downloads.php.

Ill close our discussion of the second Key to Extraordinary Living with a story told in "Christianity Today" by John Huffman. It relates the account of Billy Graham speaking to a group in Charlotte, North Carolina. After many wonderful things were said about him, Graham stepped to the podium and said, Im reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist honored by "Time" magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldnt find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasnt there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldnt find it. Then he looked in the seat by him. He couldnt find it. The conductor said, Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. Im sure you bought a ticket. Dont worry about it. Einstein nodded appreciatively.

The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back. Dr. Einstein, dont worry, he said. I know who you are. No problem. You dont need a ticket. Im sure you bought one. Einstein said, Young man, I too know who I am. What I dont know is where Im going.

Thats a great story to illustrate that even one of the smartest men in the world sometimes struggled with staying on task with keeping his eyes on his intended destination. But the story doesnt stop there. In order to punctuate the point, Dr. Graham continued, See the suit Im wearing? I bought it for this luncheon and one more occasion. This is the suit in which Ill be buried. But when you hear Im dead, I dont want you to immediately remember the suit Im wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I also know where Im going.

Dr. Grahams life purpose beckoned him to persist through all things, so that purpose might be realized. And so it is with you. You only have to find out what your real life purpose actually is. And its never too late. No matter your age, you too can plan your life and live your passion!