Janifer Wheeler, Certified Life Coach
A purpose filled life.
As I thought about this topic, the theme of Highlights, a children’s
magazine, kept running through my mind – “Fun with a Purpose ™”. Of course, the purpose of
Highlights is to provide kids with interesting articles, pictures, games, etc., that while reading,
teach a valuable lesson or reinforce academic skills, all hidden in an entertaining format. But,
isn’t that what life is … a series of events, interactions, and experiences from which we learn and
grow, sometimes without even realizing it?
What does it really mean to have a life that’s fun with a purpose?
The dictionary defines fun as enjoyment and purpose as a reason, goal, plan or intention. So, if you combine the two, it’s
intentionally having fun while achieving your goals. If that’s the case, then why are so many
people unhappy and dissatisfied with their lives? How can you regain that childhood notion of
fun with a purpose?
First, weed out activities, relationships or tasks that steal your joy. Misery, even within the
grieving process, should be a temporary state. If you can barely drag yourself out of bed every
day because you hate your job or you allow every call from that certain someone to go to
voicemail, then you should sincerely consider making some changes. I recently got a new
Smartphone and as I transferred the contacts, I decided to delete all the people that did not truly
enhance or bring a smile to my world. Removing this dead weight can be hard and make you feel
guilty, but it must happen if you truly want a life that is enjoyable and lived to its fullest.
Another step is to evaluate why you do the things you do. Last year, I decided not to return to
teaching after eight years in the classroom. I realized I was getting burned out and actually made
a written list of all the reasons why I was a teacher: same schedule as my child, enjoyed the
content, summers off, it was my degree field, good school system, and consistent paycheck.
Nowhere on this list was changing lives, making a difference, or molding the next generation.
Those were the reasons I’d started teaching, but they had faded as the years went by –
overshadowed with unrealistic demands, scorn and blame for society’s ills, and a very
unbalanced work/family existence. Leaving the security of a guaranteed income was a bit
stressful, but I’ve started my own Life Coaching business, Wheeler for Life. I want to help
others employ the tools and strategies to live their lives on their own terms – to find both the fun
and the purpose.
Sometimes, the word purpose can be daunting. Not everyone is a planner or has a grand scheme
for his/her life. I’m certainly not one of those people; my idea of a five-year-plan is to still be
alive-who knows what I’ll be doing or where I will be. Flexibility, creativity, and spontaneity do
reside within goals, plans and intentions. In fact, I think, that if you intentionally look for the fun,
the wonder, and the beauty in your life and the people who travel this path with you, your
purpose will present itself.
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