Purpose

In her wonderful book, Improv Wisdom, author Patricia Ryan Madson says this:

“Instead of asking, ‘What do I feel like doing?’ substitute with the question ‘What is my purpose now?’”

She says the most asked question is “How do you feel?” as if our emotions were the most important thing in life. She points out that since feelings are fleeting and temporal, we shouldn’t be using them as a basis for our actions.

For me, the answer to the “purpose” question is peace.  I want to feel peaceful and to have peaceful relationships and interactions with others.

When I let “feelings” determine my way of being, I say and do things that take me away from peace.

When I review a situation through the lens of the “purpose” question, it helps me see beyond the moment I am in. Guiding me to speak words and act in ways that lead to peaceful outcomes I can “feel” good about later.

The “What do I feel like doing?” question often derails commitments and intentions.

“What is my purpose?” helps us to keep moving forward. Fear and doubt may come but continually refreshing the question “What is my purpose now?” keeps us on course, helping to overcome those fleeting, temporal feelings.