Defining Yourself

When we consider who defines us, the different opinions of us that various people might have, what matters most is how God defines us, and the ways in which we define ourselves, in response to His definition. Who we are, of course, is complex, but much of it has to do with what we value and where we want to go in life.

There are several ways to discover your life purpose. One of the following methods could be an eye-opening experience for you. It could also add much value and richness to your life.

The Obituary: One way to approach purpose is to think about coming to the end of your life and looking back on all you've become and all you've accomplished. What do your actions and behaviors say about your purpose? If one knew nothing about what you believed and valued, what would they know about your life purpose based on what they observed you doing during your life? If you were attending your own funeral and someone who knew you well was delivering your obituary, what would you truly want to hear them say about you? How would you desire more than anything to be described at that moment?

The Personal Profile: This is another good tool to discover who you are and how you are wired; what are your strengths, gifts, talents, temperament, passion, values, and unique life experiences? Knowing your personal profile gives big clues to the unique purpose you are called to and equipped to live. Life purpose is the reason we are on this planet. It’s the thing we are meant to accomplish, the gift we are meant to bring. It’s not simply about a job or even a vocation. It is the round-the-clock, twenty-four-hour, every-day-of-your-life expression of who you are when you are reaching your full potential. Life purpose is spiritual in origin and uniquely shaped to you. So looking at how you are “shaped” helps you discover what your unique life purpose is, the special contribution you have been equipped to make in the lives of others and this world.

The truth is, when we are “on purpose” we are most fulfilled. We are contributing and making a difference in transformative and meaningful ways. We live with a sense of congruence and alignment with who we feel we really are. We consequently have a much higher level of peace and passion because we know deep inside that we’re living out our true purpose, our life, and not someone else’s life or the life someone else thinks we should live. Our life satisfaction level is profoundly high because we can see that we’re making meaningful contributions to others. We are living in harmony with God’s dream for our lives and that brings with it a profound sense of joy.

And the flip side is equally true: when we are “off purpose” we are discontented and unfulfilled. We feel off balance and rudderless, just kind of going with wherever the popular flow goes. We use up lots of energy that doesn't go anywhere. It’s simply spinning our wheels, going fast but going nowhere. We’re easily distracted by whatever voice shouts the loudest; the squeaky wheel gets the grease. We tend to say Yes to too many things and then get overtired. We lose our sense of direction and get easily confused. So we end up often feeling dead, disconnected, dissatisfied, and ultimately burned out too quickly and too often. And we come to the end of our lives and have lots of regrets. On the other hand, a clear life purpose is like a big neon sign that helps us find our way out of the swamp when we get stuck.

The Mission Statement: A third tool is to try writing your life purpose in one sentence. “For me, to live is …”(complete the sentence). “For me, to be fully alive is …” (complete the sentence). “My true life legacy will be …” (complete that sentence). It has been said that life purpose is a path. It is like East. You cannot ever get to a place called East—it is a direction, not a location—but you may be on a path your whole life going in that direction. There will be plenty of voices, internal and external, telling you to go in different directions. And sometimes you will listen, especially when you are unsure of your purpose. But finding and claiming a life purpose gives you the truest direction for your life. A true life purpose statement can make you virtually unstoppable.*

*Provided by www.instepwithjesus.org

The next stumbling block to living life victoriously is 

"Temptation" 

So often we have an “I want it now” attitude when it may not be good for us to have it right now because we are not ready.  However, we are tempted to get it now.  That is a stumbling block to living victoriously because if we get it now and we are not ready for it, we will ruin it completely.  But… if we are patient and wait and we allow “it” to develop into what it should be and we prepare ourselves be ready to receive “it” when it is ripe, then we have the full blessing of whatever “it” is meant to be.  We will also have the opportunity to develop a new state of mind that is not rushed but patient for the best.

Some types of temptations are not necessarily wrong.  I will give you my experience in dealing with temptation and how I overcame it.

Temptations can also be things that are ok for others, but not ok for you because of a negative impact. i.e.: Chocolate is a delicious treat when used in temperance.

MY EXPERIENCE:

About 18 years ago, I was completely addicted to chocolate like an alcoholic is to alcohol.  I could not control the eating of it. I was a slave to it and I allowed it to control me.

I asked the Lord to deliver me from that addiction and within 2 months, I couldn't even stand the smell of it, let alone the taste. I would have to be totally disgusted with chocolate and the addiction to chocolate in order to not eat it. To this day, I can’t stand the smell of it, nor the taste. It was a temptation and a stumbling block because it prevented me from reaching my goal in dealing with my weight and health. It was also a weakness in discipline that I needed overcome. Now, I have lived victoriously in overcoming it for over 18 years.

However, that was only made possible when I admitted that I had the problem of chocolate addiction and when I desired to rid myself of that addiction.  YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

ANOTHER TEMPTATION:

Then there are the temptations that are wrong according to God’s word and His 10 commandments. They are also very relevant in dealing with living a victorious life because they deal with how you treat God and how you treat others.

As we overcome temptations and stumbling blocks, we form a new state of mind.  One that is strengthened in our ability to overcome.

Let's take a look at how to overcome these many temptations.

We know that the temptations that we experience is because of what is desirable to us, that is why it is tempting sometimes ONLY to us. We must realize that we have strength in us to overcome temptations, but only if we choose to overcome. Whatever you WILL to overcome, you CAN overcome by power that is put in you. Then, once we have victory over the temptations, we must live in that victory and not become a slave to it any longer. Avoid places, peoples, pleasures, habits, or things that are going to cause you to slide backwards in your victory so that your victory will be a complete and utter victory.

Below, I have included the original Twelve Steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous, I found that these are very relevant for any temptation, addiction, obstacle, etc... Where the word alcohol was, I placed the word “temptation”.  As you read this, place the temptation, or obstacle that is preventing you, in the place of temptation.

        1. Admit that you are powerless over “temptation”—that your

            life has become unmanageable.

        2. Come to believe that a Power greater than yourself could

            restore you to sanity.

        3. Make a decision to turn your will and your life over to the

            care of God as you understand Him.

        4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself.

        5. Admit to God, to yourself, and to another human being the

            exact nature of your temptations.

        6. Be entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of

            character from you.

        7. Humbly ask Him to remove your shortcomings.

        8. Make a list of all persons you have harmed because of this

            temptation & be willing to make amends to all.

        9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible,

            except when to do so would injure them or others.

      10. Continued to take personal inventory and when you are 

            wrong promptly admit it.

      11. Seek through prayer & meditation to improve your

            conscious contact with God as you understand Him,

            praying only for knowledge of His will for you & the

            POWER to carry that out.

     12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these

           steps, try to carry this message to others who are slaves

           to their temptations, & to practice these principles in all

           your affairs.

Again, once you overcome these temptations and obstacles, you must then continue to live victoriously by avoiding places, peoples, pleasures, habits, or things that are going to cause you to slide backwards into that obstacle or temptation that you have had victory over.  As you do these things, your victory will be a complete and utter victory.

As you conquer your own desires, temptations, addictions, and obstacles, you will not only change your own situation, you will also change your state of mind.  Cheers!