Consider these words from Patanjali: “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”

If you believe, like I do, in the unlimited and virtually untapped potential of every human being to live their best lives, one must ask why, given our potential, do we fall back on the scripted, paint-by-numbers life that is comfortable but courage-free? Why do we choose the crowded highway over the road less traveled?

What causes us to choose paycheck and position over passion and purpose?

How do we find the courage to take a giant leap into our passion and purpose? By taking a small step in that direction. And then another. And then another. Until we’ve arrived at the place Aristotle referred to when he spoke of the place where our talents and the needs of the world cross.

How many of us really take time out of working for “the man” to consider the work of our hearts, work that will feed both our bodies and our souls? Are we taking an inventory of our talents and abilities and considering how we can best use them to do work in the world that moves the world forward?

We can start by eliminating our Resistance! Steven Pressfield in his book, “The War of Art” and Seth Godin in his book, “Linchpin” talk about the Resistance we choose to allow into our lives that prevents us from doing our life’s work. Resistance takes the form of all of the things, excuses, distractions, and justifications we use in order not to do the work we’re called to do. Resistance is comfortable! It is known! And crazy as it may seem, even when we know what we’re passionate about and we understand our purpose for being in the world, often we’re unable to summon the courage to focus and “get ‘er done!”

Consider for a moment the words of Kahil Gibran, author of the classic book, The Prophet: “When you are born, your work is placed in your heart.”

I would submit that for me, Gibran’s words ring true. And if you agree, I would ask you to begin your thousand mile journey with this single step:

Ask yourself, “What is my purpose for being on this planet?”

And when the answer comes, lace up your shoes and get on with it.

You, and the world, will reap the benefits.

Carpe Diem!