Live Purposefully Every Day

My daughter showed me something yesterday that filled me with pride. It was a list of what she wanted to accomplish in 2025. She’s fourteen years old. It made me wonder how many adults put together such a list, how many adults want to live their life that purposefully. I asked her how she was going to accomplish these things. She said just to plan to do it. Planning purposefully. That’s the key, isn’t it? And since life is not made up of huge events, but rather huge events are made up of little moments of life, I thought it might be good to remind myself that every day needs to be a purposeful day. I know the value. I try to practice it daily. So, I thought about what it does for me and what it will do for my daughter—the kind of life that she will live—if she continues to do this for the rest of her life.

For me, living a purposeful life every day has increased my clarity and focus. I feel like I have a direction in life. I know my purpose. I prioritize what truly matters. I think it makes me more efficient by eliminating distractions. It gives me a goal-oriented mindset. Not one that is a sense of public accomplishment, but something that makes me glad to live my life. I think it helps me make decisions. It simplifies choices. It helps me focus intentionally on what is important, what aligns with my core values, and what I want my life to look like when I look back years from now.

I find that lying in bed in the morning before I put my feet on the floor and thinking about what I will do that day purposefully gives me a sense of emotional well-being. Having a purpose gives me a sense of fulfillment. I find I’m happier. And when my best-laid plans go awry, I think knowing my purpose, even though I’ve been blocked, helps me bounce back and keep going as I look at the larger picture. It makes me less stressed. Having a purpose to me seems to make me less anxious. When I don’t purposefully plan my day, I find I think too much, especially about things that should not matter. I am at my emotional best when I stick to my purpose and do not let myself get distracted.

Having a purpose motivates me, especially when things aren’t going exactly as I’d like, or my writing is not coming as quickly as I think it should. I believe my purpose moves me forward. My confidence seems to lift with each purposeful action, and I’m more productive. Frankly, sometimes I forget to eat because I’m focused on what I want to do.

I don't feel stagnant when I feel like I have a purpose. I feel like I’m moving forward. I don’t find days as dark. I feel better about myself. My sense of self-worth seems to grow, not in what I accomplish but in what I keep busy with. My mind is alert, not sleepy or dull. My focus seems so much better.

In a day filled with purpose, I don’t feel like I am alone. I know other people share my loves and values, and I find I have more profound relationships with those people. They positively influence me, and I hope I do the same for them.

I’ve heard that having a purpose makes you live longer. We’ll have to see about that. But in the meantime, I do know I feel better. I don’t seem to get as tired as quickly. I don’t seem to get sick as much as others. My passion for life keeps me immune to the physical ailments I used to get before I began to focus, not on my work but on what was purposeful to me. Work can stress you out. Finding your purpose can set you free.

A purposeful day makes me a better husband, dad, and friend. I feel full so that I can share my good feelings with you. I think it helps in leadership. I think people see my purpose and find their own. Rubbing off on other people, yeah, maybe that is the true legacy that I think I’d like to leave behind.

I know my career and finances have been positively affected by doing what I love rather than doing what I must. I love what I do. Writing, creating, and thinking give me purpose. I enjoy my life. I feel by keeping my eyes on what is essential, I might be more effective and innovative than if I were following a paint-by-number life. When problems arise, I think I’m focused, and peaceful and creative problem-solving quickly follows. I feel in the zone, as they say in sports. Though they have helped my career and finances, I think the things I create have some meaning. They feel authentic because they come from me.

I know what I love to do, so I think I manage my time better by purposefully doing the things I love. I know that people say they don’t have time to do what they love, but I say time is all you have. Living each day with purpose keeps me in the present, not worried about the past or the future but focusing only on living in the present. It makes me appreciative of every moment. It’s a blessing to experience that minute. That gives me a sense of peace. I’m living in the moment, fulfilling my beliefs and values, and it makes me feel connected to something bigger than myself, a part of the world, the universe, and beyond and magnifies my appreciation for life’s gifts.

Living each day purposefully helps me discover new things about myself and my world daily. I think it drives my curiosity because I’m looking at things I’m interested in. It helps me understand who I am and what I stand for. It encourages me to reflect daily, not just here and there. It aligns me with my true self globally, not just in a vacuum. My charity is giving back to writers. Living my life purposefully helps me give back, as well. It’s a ripple effect. By living deliberately, I hope to lead others to do the same.

Maybe someday, I’ll not be able to do what I love. Someday, I will be gone, I know. Living each day purposefully, making the world a better place than how I found it, trite as that saying has become, helps me ensure that I leave my mark on the earth. Maybe I will also help others leave their mark through my life and charity work. Being purposeful creates unforgettable experiences for me and those I love. I get to attempt to live my potential because I know what that potential is. Because I understand the purpose, I’m often tempted to step outside my comfort zone, which makes me a builder by nature. It keeps me looking and attentive for the next best thing that I can stick my toe in. Living purposefully daily ensures that I’ve lived a life that reflects my values when all is said and done. I’ve achieved goals that were important to me, not the world. That seems more rewarding to me. It lets me travel that proverbial road less traveled, and I think I’m better for it.

A day filled with purpose is not about winning the world. It’s about more minor things. Little things. Simple pleasures that make life seem like it was well-lived and well-loved. Being purposeful makes me realize I need to savor each day and celebrate even my most minor accomplishments. It leaves little room for the what-ifs in life because I tried them. I might not have achieved them, but I sure gave them a try. There’s a good feeling about that. It’s a legacy of love, to some degree, towards myself, others, and the world. I can honestly say I have no regrets. When I live a day with purpose, everything I do anchors me deeper into myself, a unique self, just as you are unique. It gives me a connection to the bigger things, the universe, and something beyond; it gives me a connection to you. It makes my life worth living no matter what the day is like because when I turn the lights off at night, I reflect on my day and realize I did it my way, as the song says. It’s a beautiful feeling.

I wish it for my girl. I wish it for you.