True genius is knowing yourself and finding the purpose that best fits with your self. You have a staring role when people see a twinkle in your eye — the twinkle that comes when you are doing something you truly love. The twinkle is your greatness shining into the world.
Do you see little Amir in the picture? He has a twinkle in his eye. His purpose is simply to be a cute little baby. Is he nervous about this purpose? Is he fretting or worried about this purpose? No. You can tell, because he has the twinkle in his eye — the indicator that he is letting virtue rip!
You have always had a wonderful inner purpose and even if at times you don’t think you are doing what you were put here to do, the virtue and light of your true self is still within you. Some writers have called this the “kingdom of God” within. This is your true genius.
Often, purpose is “educated” out of your living and relegated to hiding inside of you. Education is structured to assure every student learns the same thing, at the same time, in the same way. Even fun activities like choirs and sports require that children excel in the same direction. Watch a kindergarten choir. Children are all over the place. Fast-forward to college and the choir members are standing at attention, regimented to the same beat, and oft times look beat.
Where did your purpose go? Where did your passion go? Where did what you loved doing more than anything else in the world, go? What did you really want to do or be when you grew up? Was your desire ridiculed? Were you thought to be irrational or not good enough? Were you told that your purpose should, ought to, have to, need to be something everyone else desires – everyone but you? Were you put in the straight jacket of prejudice, ego, or fear?
This lesson is to get you thinking about what makes that twinkle in your eye. True genius is knowing yourself and finding the purpose that best fits with your true self. You will have a staring role when people see that twinkle in your eye – the twinkle that comes from doing something you truly love.
Below are some exercises to get you started or staying on the path of your mission to have a meaningful purpose, a raison d’être, a reason for being.
Quote
“When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous. Everything in the universe has a purpose. Indeed, the invisible intelligence that flows through everything in a purposeful fashion is also flowing through you.
- Wayne Dyer, American Self-Help Advocate
Activity
Materials needed: Pen and five pieces of paper per person
Time: Ten minutes for writing and ten per person for discussion
Instructions:
1. Take the five pieces of paper and label the top of each page with one of the following statements.
Page one: My life has purpose when I see _____________.
Page two: My life has purpose when I hear ____________.
Page three: My life has purpose when I feel ____________.
Page four: My life has purpose when I taste ____________.
Page five: My life has purpose when I smell ____________.
2. Take each paper one at a time, close your eyes and think about how you would fill in the blank. On each page meditate on the sentence and then write down as many answers as come to mind.
3. Look over each page and circle any answers that surprised you or that you would like to reveal to the group.
4. Discuss your answers in the group or find a friend to share this exercise.
a) Discuss the surprises or answers that were insightful.
b) How did this exercise increase your understanding of what you can do that is more purposeful in your life?
c) What changes will you make to have a more purposeful life?
Example: A woman did this exercise and answered the third page (taste), “My life has purpose when I taste hospital food.” This was quite a surprise to her. Where did that thought come from? She realized that she was drawn to helping people in the hospital and started training to be a chaplain.
Affirmation
What do you think?
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