Oprah Winfrey’s recent foray with Eckhart Tolle, the author the book, A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose has certainly engaged a huge segment of the population. Tapping into people’s hunger for spiritual depth is one thing. Delivering on the promise is another.
Here are some of the Great Question of Life that are often asked:
- What is the purpose of life?
- How do I find my purpose in life?
- What is the meaning of life?
- Is life meaningful?
Because I’ve been well ahead of the "purpose curve" by nearly two
decades, I’m often asked to comment on books and people like Eckhart
Tolle’s A New Earth. Admittedly, I’ve scanned the book, not
studied it. Frankly, it nothing new under the sun. It is a very
sixties, new age perspective on the matter. It skims the surface of
the issue in very generic terms, but it does not really help readers
take much action. Then again it promises in the subtitle to be an awakening… not a how to live book.
That said, I welcome all awakening books to greater spirituality in one’s life. Tolle’s book does that, so Eckhart and Oprah, thanks for the great service for so many people. Contrary to many of my Christian brethren, I embrace Tolle’s work for the good it does for people to begin to engage their spiritual life. Better that they be headed toward a path of enlightenment, than away from it. That’s a very big picture view. Fortunately, Tolle’s spiritual basis is so diluted that all he’s doing is stirring the soul and muddying the waters of the spirit. His book provides no answers as to the Great Questions of Life.
It is like saying to the kids, "Who wants to go to Walt Disney World?" Everyone gets excited and pumped up, but then you never get off the couch to order the tickets. My sense of things is that most of the people who participated in Tolle and Oprah’s big Internet forum experienced more frustration than finding their purpose in life.
Where do I go from here now that I’m awakened?
What’s next? Here is where one needs to be discerning. Admittedly, I am very specific about purpose. No one in the world is as "narrow-minded" about it as I am. There’s a reason for nearly two decades I’ve worked, prayed, and thought about this one word, purpose, probably more than anyone. Sounds weird, huh? I didn’t ask for it, it is the way God made me.
Let me encourage you if you’ve stumbled upon this page to dig around my blog and read. If you like what you read, then consider the RSS feed, reading The On-Purpose Person, or attending a tele-seminar or workshop. Those are the obviously plugs. Here’s a sampling of why the On-Purpose® Approach is different.
- Purpose is a beginning, not an end. You want to know your purpose, and then be on your purpose.
- Purpose answers the question: "Why am I here?" This is part of the larger question of, "Who am I?"
- Purpose is not what you think it is. You’ve probably been seeking the wrong thing and maybe finding the right answer to the wrong question. Maybe.
- There is one purpose with many expressions. Not many purposes. Be… on-purpose.
- Your purpose in life is unchanging. It is hardwired into your being and expressed through your missions. It is deep down.
- We’re generally novices at going within yourself. In the absence of a tried and true system or approach, you’re stumbling along. Many of us invest more time and money equipping and getting lessons to learn how to play our favorite sport, than we do our favorite life!
- Your purpose can be distilled into two words.
My book, The On-Purpose Puzzle, is an in-depth guide and workbook that helps you write your purpose in no uncertain terms. More importantly, please take a few minutes to visit my many posts in this blog. There is a ton of free information and learning to be had here. If you like what you read, then bookmark the blog, and become a member of The On-Purpose Planet. Get into the conversation.
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin