What is Your Life Purpose? Do You Know?

CLARITY ~ CONFIDENCE ~ CALM

I was asked this question recently, “How would someone know that you purposefully and intentionally develop and live your strengths?” It took a lot of strategic thinking on my part to figure out a way to not only respond, but to demonstrate in writing what “purposefully and intentionally” living your strengths meant. I took out my StrengthsFinder Insight Report and, once again, completed the activity of underlining the phrases and words that most resonated with me in each of my top 5 Talent Themes. This was about the third or fourth time I completed this exact task. But, this time, I viewed my report through a different lens.

I began to see patterns that I did not see before by simply referring to the question at hand. I dissected my report into categories: What I do, How I do it, and Why. As I began to type out the phrases and words under each category, I realized something was missing. There were highlighted phrases that did not fit within those 3 categories, but were important to me. After studying each theme again, the realization of my fourth category became clear, What makes me unique?

I remembered a phrase my Alignment Coach, Kyle, used to refer to a lot. He called it the 3 C’s: Clarity, Confidence, and Calm. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of emotion. The answers I have been looking for within were right there in front of my face: my WHY, my PURPOSE, how I use my strengths to be my BEST SELF, and most importantly what makes me UNIQUE. All of a sudden, the sense of clarity, confidence, and calm rushed through my soul. I had reached yet another level of transformation.

I replied to the question asked of me, “How would someone know that you purposefully and intentionally develop and live your strengths?” by sharing in a document what is written below.

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Living Intentionally: How to Succeed with Strengths

July 28, 2015

www.beckiejorgensen.com

My Top 5 Talents: Strategic ~ Maximizer ~ Responsibility ~ Futuristic ~ Positivity

What I Do: Working Within My Strengths

• I discover each person’s unique qualities, interests, and strengths. (Maximizer)
• I identify and recognize the differences that make each person unique. (Maximizer)
• I motivate people to transform something good into something utterly superb.(Maximizer)
• I move people to take action. (Responsibility)
• I inspire and lift the spirits of people around me. (Positivity)
• I offer a unique perspective on events, people, challenges, and proposals. (Strategic)
• I position a person for success once I know what drives him/her to take action and produce outstanding results. (Maximizer)

How I Do It: Intentionally Using My Strengths

• I talk to, observe, and study successful people who have produced excellent results to identify what inspires them. (Maximizer)
• I associate with those who share my passion for taking something good and making it better.
• I listen to people and do not discount or belittle their emotions, ideas, or reactions to events. (Positivity)
• I speak with precise phrases and terminology and am forthright and plainspoken. (Strategic)
• I propose alternative courses of action, different ways of doing things, and generate innovative ideas. (Strategic)
• I inspire, encourage, and hold people account to take action to start projects, launch initiatives, and/or set goals and measurable outcomes. (Strategic)
• I work persistently until I can deliver on my promises. (Responsibility)

Why I Do What I Do: Aligning My Strengths to My Purpose

• I have a natural fondness for human beings. (Positivity)
• I think about what my life could be like in the future. (Futuristic)
• I work hard to breathe life into my big dreams. (Futuristic)
• I am compelled to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the planet. (Positivity)
• I desire to live a legacy of great value and worth. (Positivity)

What Makes Me Unique? The Interplay of My Talents, Now Turned Into Strengths
Strategic

• I express myself with ease and grace.
• I love to collaborate with others and enjoy group brainstorming.
• I have acquired special skills and knowledge to coach, consult and help others.
• I notice new as well as unusual configurations in facts, evidence, or data.
• I am fascinated by problems that puzzle, confuse, or frustrate most people.
• My subconscious mind continuously absorbs information and creates possible options.
• I see opportunities, trends, and solutions before others see them.

Maximizer

• I am aware of what I do well and what I do not do well.
• I trust my instincts.
• I refuse to risk losing confidence in myself by tackling assignments for which I lack the talent, even if I possess some relevant knowledge, skill, or experience.
• I spend my energy on what I know I do well and manage around my weaknesses.
• I learn, grow, and build on what I naturally do best.

Responsibility

• I am open and honest about who I am, what I have done, and what I cannot do.
• I authentically communicate to others my strengths and limitations.
• I am hardwired to do what I say I will do.
• I do more than just “live up” to my commitments. I go the extra mile.
• My work ethic is very important to me and is as much a matter of conscience as it is in just simply doing tasks.
• I have a strong need and desire to do what is right, honest, true, correct, proper, and accurate.

Futuristic

• I possess a high level of skill/knowledge about specialized issues, subjects, processes, or programs, such as talent development, leadership skills, business challenges, and human resources processes.
• I channel my mental and physical energies toward what I can accomplish in the days, months, and years ahead.
• I concentrate better when I set short-term objectives.

Positivity

• In the end, I want my life to have mattered.

All Rights Reserved, © 2015 Beckie Jorgensen
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The lesson here is if you have taken the StrengthsFinder Assessment, do not put your StrengthsFinder Report in a drawer and forget about it. It is a significant tool that when studied, read over and over, and action steps carried out in your daily activities, can transform your life. Even those of us who are Certified Strengths Coaches, who eat, breath, live and teach strengths-based development to clients need to continuously learn, grow, and develop our own strengths every day. Self-development is a continuous process. One of the best tools to help you is probably sitting in a drawer somewhere near you. If you have not taken StrengthsFinder and want to learn more, I encourage you to connect with me.

I have made a commitment to myself that every Sunday, I will pull my report out and, week after week, read it again and again and again…I know this one intentional task will stop my own limiting beliefs, keep me focused and on track to achieve my goals, and allow me to show up every day as my BEST SELF!

“God gives each of us special talents and gifts. It is both our privilege and our duty to make the most of them.” – Robert E. Allen

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION? Do you want to find your purpose within? Do you want to show up every day as your BEST SELF? Haven't taken StrengthsFinder 2.0 and want to learn more? Then I would love to connect with you!

I invite you to connect and follow with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and/or Twitter. 

Visit: www.beckiejorgensen.com

Women of Distinction Magazine: My Story

I am honored to have been asked to participate in this publication. My story is on page 70.

Click here to view: Women of Distinction Magazine: My Story http://go.epublish4me.com/ebook/ebook?id=10084112#/70

RECLAIM FREEDOM: DEVELOP YOUR UNIQUE STRENGTHS

When we were conceived and growing in our mother's womb, we were "free." There were no expectations, no doubt, no fear...we had the freedom to just "be." The day we were born, we were stripped of our freedom. From day one, we were exposed to societal expectations born out of our ancestors, as well as limiting beliefs, judgments, fear, worry, doubt, biases, and so much more. The focus growing up was on what we couldn't do not what we could, on our weaknesses not our strengths, and on what we’re expected to "be" not what makes us unique.

There are a few "humans" who overcame fear of rejection, went against the norm, and searched for their inner "truth." They discovered their talents, turned those talents into strengths, and aimed for a higher purpose in life. These are our great leaders of the World who had a vision for what the future “could be:” George Washington, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Warren Buffet…just to name a few.

It is time to reclaim your freedom. We were all born with talents and put on this earth to be unique. Sharpen your mind, develop your innate gifts, and break free of the limitations you have been swaddled in since birth. It is not about power, money, status or prestige. It is about you, your innate gifts, your uniqueness, and your own power to be the best of who you were born to be. Discover, accept, and strengthen your own inner self to re-gain freedom, happiness, and fulfillment.

In return, be a servant leader and teach others to lead by your example. Let our children be born into the universal truths of goodness, uniqueness, and empower them to serve others by being their best selves! Only then will we truly live out our personal destiny and leave behind our true legacy. Go forth and make an impact on the world, seek to strengthen "humankind," rather than destroy the uniqueness of human existence. - All rights reserved (c) 2015 Beckie Jorgensen