A Classic Strategy for Achieving The Life You Truly Want

LaShawn Edwards
Aug 28, 2017 · 4 min read
Bimini, Bahamas (Pursing the crown in the 2011 Miss Bahamas Pageant)

Submerged into the teachings of Napoleon Hill, I found myself in an ocean of substantial, meaningful and thought provoking waves. His works are remarkable, in fact, they present a holistic view of principles that may not simply lead to financial wealth but wealth of character.

If you haven’t read, “Think and Grow Rich” by this author yet, I implore you to download or purchase a copy of it right away. It will change your life if you correctly apply the principles taught in that book. His teachings are timeless; published in 1937 and still very relevant and applicable today in our ever changing, fast paced and modern world.

“Have a clear and a definite purpose.”

The very first principle, which the author lingered unrelentingly around, changed the focus of my efforts and was the catalyst which allowed me to anchor my thoughts so that I could find the clarity that I needed to simply begin.

Without a clear and definite purpose, you will never develop the perseverance to keep going in the face of impossibilities, endure the pain of giving birth to your dreams or stand up against the naysayers, critics and doubters who may cause you to engender feelings of inadequacy and maybe madness.

But how is ‘clear and definite’ defined? Clear and definite boils down to specifics; being vague or general will not carve out your global mission. To be clear means to have clarity in your own actions, while definite describes an indubitably which confirms that this purpose is impossible to doubt and is unquestionable.

Purpose is the why behind everything that we do. Having a “why” is necessary to unleash the possibilities that lie within innovative work that has never been embarked, difficult challenges and rigorous odds!

Belief not only gives us hope, but also influences our behaviours and actions. It is evident in the way we live our lives. Those who are to do great exploits tomorrow are those who pay the price today.

In effect, Purpose simply defines the reason for which something was created or the motivation for which something exists.

Dr. Myles Munroe affirmed, “No matter how much money you have, if you have no clear vision for your life, you are truly poor. If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there. Even worst, you will not know when you have arrived.”

If you aspire to do great things, to make your dreams a reality and to simply prove to yourself that your destiny is possible, take the time to reflect on a clear and definite purpose for your life. It sounds deep and intimidating and it probably is, but it is the first step to truly ever achieve anything worthwhile. Block out quiet time in your schedule. Put away the smart phone, electronics and anything distracting and just fetch a sheet of paper and writing utensil.

Who are you?

This is one of the most important questions that we will ever discover. In her Life Mapping Course, Rosetta Thurman, the leader of the Happy Black Woman community, admonishes us to evaluate our lives. You can do this by listing five character strengths that make you authentically you. It’s important to send more time developing our strengths than our weaknesses.

The enigma comes as this exercise reveals not only what you seek to contribute to society, but exposes our inner desire to simply ‘be’ all we are created to be. Resist the urge to define yourself with action words only.

What do you stand for?

Secondly, develop a personal mission statement. Companies have it, organizations have it, and nations have it. You need it. A personal mission statement helps you to identify your core values and envision them in action. It gives you clarity on your life’s purpose and thus allows you to define your goals. Why you are here and what do you want to do before you die?

How will you get there?

Thirdly, create a purpose plan. After the reflection, meditation and deep thought, it is essential to put all of these awesome and fresh insights on paper. This step is vital as it is the first manifestation of your desires. Placing your goals on paper gives your vision shape.

Whether these take form as career aspirations, the desire to start a community program, to run for a political office or start a business, focusing on what you were placed here to do allows you to weed out the distractions of unfruitful activities and time bandits. Whether big or small, be conscious of your values, personal integrity and standards.

Mother Theresa said it best when she coined, “If you cannot do great things, do little things with great love.”

It is not for me to tell you how your purpose will be revealed; I can only tell you to connect to our Creator, the Source of all things or your inner source. Who are you? What do you stand for and believe in? What are your unique abilities and strengths? What is your big goal?How will you attain it?

Steve Jobs could not quote it better when he said,

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

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LaShawn Edwards

Written by

Founder of www.bahamiansaroundtheworld.com We source Scholarships that launch Bahamians Around the World.

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