"THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS A LIFE OF PURPOSE."
-Robert Byrne

And integral to having purpose is understanding WHY we do things, as well as why other people WANT us to do things. Employees are mystified at the abrupt changes in direction they see emanating from headquarters.

"THE PERSON THAT KNOWS 'HOW' WILL ALWAYS HAVE A JOB. THE PERSON THAT KNOWS 'WHY' WILL ALWAYS BE HIS BOSS."
-Dianne Ravitch

But forces diverge upon us, pressures arise, obstacles emerge and circumstances change. Do we rigidly refuse to change directions? After all:

"AS YOU SLIDE DOWN THE BANNISTER OF LIFE, MAY THE SPLINTERS NEVER POINT THE WRONG WAY."

But unfortunately they sometimes DO. So we make ADJUSTMENTS.

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME, "I COULDN'T REPAIR YOUR BRAKES SO I MADE YOUR HORN LOUDER."

Talk about adjustments! But it is still your car and you remain responsible for where it goes. As Ray Charles said:

"I HAVE TO SOUND LIKE ME - GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT. IF I MAKE IT, I MAKE IT, IF I DON'T I DON'T."

So, self-awareness and a belief in purpose, whatever it may be, are key to a life of fulfillment. I recently had a disagreement with someone who felt that people in the health professions deserve to make more money than all others because they sometimes deal with life or death situations. I may have agreed with that at one time, but no more. All professions are noble and vital in their own way: Firefighters risk their lives for us, engineers are responsible for the bridges we cross, architects design the buildings we work out of, and lumbermen produce the wood for our homes, newspapers, even our toilet paper – all essentials. The list never ends of how our needs are met by purpose driven people that understand their WHY.

"ALL MEN SHOULD STRIVE TO LEARN BEFORE THEY DIE, WHAT THEY ARE RUNNING FROM, AND TO, AND WHY."
-James Thurber

Which allows us to?

"FOLLOW THE GRAIN IN YOUR OWN WOOD."
-Howard Thurman

There may be fate, but there is also necessary re-evaluation to our commitment of purpose:

"FATE CANNOT BE CHANGED; OTHERWISE IT WOULD NOT BE FATE. MAN, HOWEVER, MAY WELL CHANGE HIMSELF; OTHERWISE HE WOULD NOT BE MAN."

But the basics should remain. When we uncover our true goals and beliefs, then it is time to dig in and protect the basics of our discovery:

"TODAY'S MIGHTY OAK IS JUST YESTERDAY'S NUT THAT HELD IT'S GROUND."

And holding our ground means periodically doing a gut check to be sure of where we are and how we are doing:

"IF YOU’RE RIDING AHEAD OF THE HERD, TAKE A LOOK BACK EVERY NOW AND THEN TO MAKE SURE IT’S STILL THERE."
-Will Rogers

But, most of us need help in discovering ourselves and becoming the person we were meant to be. This is our real opportunity to serve and shine, for:

"THE GREATEST GOOD YOU CAN DO FOR ANOTHER IS NOT JUST SHARE YOUR RICHES, BUT REVEAL TO HIM HIS OWN."
-Benjamin Disraeli

So, join me today in deciding what our purpose is in our work and professional lives for the time we have remaining on this earth. As I write this, I PROMISE to do this and invite you to join me. As a wise man said:

IN THE WORLD TO COME, I SHALL NOT BE ASKED, "WHY WERE YOU NOT MOSES?" I SHALL BE ASKED, "WHY WERE YOU NOT ZUSYA?"
-Rabbi Zusya