Living a life that matters

We all have an intrinsic need to feel our lives matter, that our presence, our hearts, our hands, our minds, our words and actions are important to someone.

We all want to be sure that if we stepped off the planet today, that what we did or said  made a positive difference in someone’s life.

However, the hard truth is that too many of us struggle along, day to day, working at jobs or volunteering for positions that are not only a poor fit, but do not fill our lives with that satisfaction of knowing that what we are doing is meaningful in some way.

So, what are a few basic steps to help you find your way to that place where you are so fulfilled by what you are doing, that you are actually having fun both at work and at play?

I have a few suggestions that will help you on your way…

First, you need to get your financial house in order.

When you live paycheck to paycheck and/or are deeply in debt, making the leap to a satisfying life is much more difficult, as it severely limits your choices. Read a book, take a class, hire a financial counselor. Do whatever is necessary to so that you are telling your money where to go as opposed to wondering where it went, to paraphrase Dave Ramsey.

My dear hubbie and I went through Ramsey’s Financial Peace University over a year and a half ago, and it has transformed our lives. I highly recommend the class, especially for couples, as it encourages real conversation between husbands and wives, and helps spouses get on the same page and move forward towards the goals you set in your lives. If you are wondering how it is indeed possible to hold conversations with your spouse that don’t end with angry words and hurt feelings, you can use this simple technique to start.

Figure out what it is that you do that just makes your heart sing.

While you may recognize that you are in a job that just doesn’t trip your trigger, you may be held back not only by the state of your finances (see the first step), but also by not knowing or believing that you can actually work at something brings you great joy and satisfaction. There are great books on the subject of how to figure out what your “thing” is. A couple that I have read and recommend are Max Lucado’s Cure for the Common Life, Dan Miller’s 48 Days to the Work You Love.

You can consider hiring a career or life coach. I wrote recently about my experience with Joel Boggess of 4 Points Coaching, and I can say that if you are feeling stuck or unsure of your direction, coaching can be a great resource through which you can change the course of your life.

Be willing to entertain a fresh perspective in your life.

You can read through some of my previous posts on the topic here, here, and here.  Think about stepping outside your comfort zone , taking a new look at an old situation, and entertaining all sorts of possibilities. Think about what you would do if you knew for sure that you wouldn’t fail.

Remember to thank those in your world who have made a difference to you.

Whatever form your thank you takes-a short note on a neon post-it, a romantic poem on perfumed linen, or a heartfelt letter on an ordinary piece of notepaper-make sure you take the time to let folks know that what they did mattered to you and it made a difference.

These are just a few ideas to get you rolling. Try one or try them all. Be good to yourself, and be patient, as sometimes change can be a bit of a bumpy road with all sorts of twists and turns. I look forward to hearing about your journey!