What can I give to life and the world today?

“The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands.”   Robert M. Pirsig

As we wake up each morning, we ponder what life will bring us today? Our day can begin with a different question, “What can I give to life and the world today?”

The question, “what can I give life and the world today,” embodies our sense of purpose to give meaning to our life and the people around us. Our lives begin to have a meaning when we have a burning desire to make a positive difference in the world around us.

How do we define our life’s purpose? How can we create more meaningful connections with others? Harold Kushner remarked, “The purpose of life is to grow and to share. When you come to look back on all that you have done in life, you will get more satisfaction from the pleasure you have brought into other people's lives than you will from the times that you outdid and defeated them. “

To develop our sense of purpose in making a positive difference in our world; let’s practice the four habits of purpose:

Be kinder than anticipated

We sometimes take things and people for granted. The way to make a positive difference in people’s lives is to begin with a mind-set that we are here to be kind to each other. Rabbi Sholmo Wolbe said, “The first step to becoming a kind person is to be aware of the specific needs of each person you encounter.” Sometimes people won’t tell you what they need, but you can reach out and help someone by offering something the person is missing in their life. Kindness can uplift, encourage and influence others for a better situation.

Deliver more than needed

Talking about our purpose is not enough. We have to “deliver the goods.” Are we doing more than expected? Are going the extra mile to give your life a better meaning? We have to be action-oriented if we want to see our life taking a new turn. I was always told there are two kinds of people among us: those who make things happen, and those who wait for things to happen. Deliver the promise!

Inspire and develop others

We need to make a commitment to inspire and develop others. We live to our fullest when we develop the people in our communities we belong to.

The highest call of leadership is taking people where they are at the moment to where they can be tomorrow. Alan Loy McGinnis said, “There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being-to help someone succeed.” By investing in our future, we dedicate to the growth of the people around us. We care about their hopes and dreams.

Learn more than you have in the past

Learning allows us to pause and reflect.  By earning, we find ways to explore and discover new things. We are never at a point of arrival, but always on the journey to become a better person. Leaders understand that they need to take the time for personal development to continue to grow.  Our effectiveness is determined by our willingness to open our mind to new ways of doing things. Every day, someone discovers another way of doing something. It could be faster or better. In a world of information flow, we constantly have to keep up with the latest discoveries. Mortimer Adler said,” The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live.”