Use Your Genius to Find Your Life Purpose

In an interview late in his life, the psychologist Sigmund Freud was asked to expound on what he felt were the most important constituents of life. His answer? “Liebe und Arbeit.” Love and work.

This is hardly a surprise: most of our lives are spent either working or being with the ones we love. The real question behind Freud’s statement is how do you combine the two so you love the work you do.

For many people, finding work that goes beyond mere survival to that which brings joy and meaning to your life remains elusive. You can’t always pinpoint what’s missing or what it is that would give your life meaning, but you feel the void. You have a sense that there has to be more - that you’re here for a purpose. You will find that purpose in your “genius.”

Finding Your Genius
Ultimately, the meaning in your work isn’t related to the size of the company you work for or which department you’re in, but how closely the work you perform is in alignment with what author Dick Richards labels “your genius.”

In his book, Is Your Genius at Work?, Richards uses the term to refer to that unique intersection between what you are good at (your gift) and what you love to do (your passion). As he explains it, you have just one genius; it is a positive talent that engages your heart and brings you optimal results.

Once you have identified your unique genius, the challenge becomes how to find the overlap between your genius and an “unmet need” in the world, so that someone will pay you to use your genius. Fortunately, by identifying and describing your genius, you gain confidence and are better able to articulate just how you can contribute to others. Your heart gets into alignment with your work, and suddenly work feels more like play and opportunities appear as if “out of the blue.”

The Alarm-Clock Test
Here is a quick test to determine if you have found your genius and are fully aligned with the work you are doing. If the alarm clock rings and you’re already out of bed getting ready for work because you are thrilled by what you’re doing and each new day at work is provides meaningful experiences, then the chances are pretty good that you’re somewhere near that sweet spot.

But if you’re failing the Alarm-Clock Test—not some of the time, but all the time—looking for a different kind of work makes sense. These days, more and more people in that situation are turning toward self-employment opportunities as the key to matching up purpose with genius.

What Will Your Story Be?
To help identify what meaningful work is for you, spend time reflecting on what work in your dream life would look like. One way to approach this is to imagine you are telling others the story of how work and meaning finally came together for you. To prepare the story, reflect on questions such as the following:

• What aspects of your work make you feel joyful, creative and competent?
• How do you infuse your heart and soul into your work?
• How does your sense of the divine show up and inform your work?
• How does your work contribute to others and to the world?
• How does your work contribute to the future?
• What role has serendipity, coincidence, and luck played in your work life?
• How have fun, play, and humour been a part of your meaningful work?
• How has your relationship with work changed over the course of your life?
• Do you have a philosophy, mission, or vision that guides your work life? If so, what is it and how did you come to it?
• What poetry, quotes, prayers, music, spiritual writings, and pictures represent and/or guide your work life? How do they inform your work?

Now take time to actually write out your story. Include details and specific examples. It may be fiction (or foreshadowing) at this point, but merely by writing it down and staying focused on it as your desired future, you begin the process to bring it into existence.

Remember that creating meaningful work is a lifelong process. Finding your genius and purpose requires conscious attention and a willingness to listen to what your heart is telling you. Be open to having your story evolve. And enjoy creating the life, and work, of your dreams.

I invite you to share your thoughts and perspective on the article. To join the discussion, reply to this email.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Sheila Betker is founder of Freedom to Dream, a company dedicated to connecting women with their true life’s purpose and helping them build the life of their dreams. To sign up for a free 10-part ecourse entitled, Living Your Dream Life: Step By Step Guide to Living Your Life on Purpose, visit: http://freedom-to-dream.com