I don’t believe that we each have one sole purpose, but I know that we each have at least one. Your purpose might be raising thoughtful children, taking care of someone who is sick, or protecting animals. Perhaps in addition to your focus on family, your purpose is to start a non-profit, write a book, or cure disease. Your purpose might be to read books, serve in your community, be a mentor, or travel the world.
There are so many great directions and purpose driven opportunities available, but clutter defeats the purpose, or defeats connection with our purpose. When we are distracted and overwhelmed, we can’t do or be what we are supposed to do or be. We don’t have time to think about our purpose, let alone time to pursue it.
Before I left my job a few years ago, I remember thinking that I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was miserable in the job I had, but I was so stressed and busy from the work I had to do that I couldn’t clearly see the work I wanted to do. When my life was full of purpose defeating clutter, debt, and obligations, I was unclear about how I wanted to spend my time, so I kept going through the motions just to stay afloat.
Clutter results in messy countertops and calendars, but the more damaging consequence is how it gets in the way of a life of purpose. If you are struggling to stay afloat, or feel like you are just getting by, get clear on your purpose and defeat the clutter that defeats your purpose.
1. Stuff
Clutter is often the outward expression of inner angst and struggle. It steals our attention, time, and money and stands between people and purpose. If getting to a clean area of a desk, closet, or other area is a chore, it’s easier to avoid than to engage.
Start with these 10 items to jumpstart decluttering.
2. Debt
Owing money defeats the joy of finding purpose in so many ways. We keep jobs we don’t enjoy to pay the bills, and feel trapped when there is more month left over at the end of the money. When the debt is gone, what’s left over is tremendous freedom.
3. Busyness
When each day is a blur of activity and obligation, there isn’t room to reflect, to be still, or to hear our hearts. How can we know our purpose if we don’t have time to listen to what it is? Even 5 minutes a day of solitude will open the door to recognizing purpose.
Try Headspace for a few minutes of peace.
4. Perfection
The mental clutter of perfection stops us in our tracks. Perfection says, “don’t start, it won’t be good enough.” or “you don’t have time to do this right.” or “someone else can do it better.” but when we align with purpose, perfection, comparison and all of our other excuses become insignificant.
Here are 7 ways to punch perfection in the face.
5. Fear
Deeply connecting with purpose, with how we really want to spend our time, can be scary. Fear of failure, and the unknown clutter up our vision of purpose. Fear of what other people will think and fear of change halts the process too.
Keep going. Action will quiet the fear.
If you want to find your purpose, discover what matters in your life by getting rid of everything that doesn’t.
