5 Reasons People Don’t Live Their Purpose Part 2: Time and Commitment

Many people say they just don’t have the time to pursue making a change in their lives. The idea of going in another direction, however appealing, just seems too overwhelming. Some get as far as exploring getting some help with this, but then back away. There is a lack of commitment to doing what it takes to moving into a more fulfilling life because it looks like too big a task. They worry about obligations to other things that are indeed important, like family and the current job that’s supplying income. Then movement stops and life proceeds in the same unsatisfactory pattern that it has been.

The first thing to understand about feeling like there is no time to make the changes you’d like to make to move into a life connected to your passions and purpose, is that you don’t have to do it all at once. Take a breath here! This is a gradual process. There is no rush. Start by simply making a list of the steps you think you will need to take to reach your goal. Think of different areas or categories that may be involved in moving toward what you want. Then list the action steps needed to accomplish them. Commit to 30 minutes to complete this first step. That’s it. Just 30 minutes. Small steps

Then you can take a look at the action steps you’ve created and prioritize. What one thing can you do today to move closer to your goal? You may pick one action step a day or one step a week. It doesn’t matter as long as you are consistent. One step at a time feels much more manageable than thinking about the entire process. Some steps will take very little of your time. Check them off your list as you go along and celebrate the accomplishment. Your brain likes to have the feeling of progress! Waiting until big goals are accomplished is too long to wait to celebrate.

In choosing an action step to take, make sure you have done the “emotional journey” first. Any action you take because you feel you “should” when you are feeling out of alignment with it–in other words, not feeling good about it–will not be successful. When an action feels like the next logical step and you feel a sense of aliveness or excitement about it, it will be successful.

Some steps will push at your comfort zone, and that’s fine. In order to expand and grow we do need to step out past what is comfortable. It takes some practice to feel the difference between a red flag saying, “Don’t go there now” and simply feeling like you’re stepping outside your comfort zone. The only way to figure it out is to do it and pay attention to what happens. Don’t worry–you can always course correct if it is the wrong action.

A commitment is a decision. Decide how you want to live your life. Do you want to get to the end of it never having done the things you felt in your heart you were meant to do? How would that feel? Make a commitment to yourself and to the world you were meant to serve and take that one step today!