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Several weeks ago I was approached to do my very first book review. I am honoured to be a part of Brad Swift’s virtual book tour (how innovative). I’m joined by the likes of Aaron Potts, Pamela Slim, Jodee Bock, and a very good friend, Lyman Reed.

The reviews so far are glowing and some of the bloggers took the time to delve deeper with interviews with Dr Smith. The most salient point in the book to me is that your life purpose is the context for your life, a framework if you will. According to Brad, your life purpose is not something you do, but something you be. That can get a bit tricky to navigate so the author has provided a myriad of exercises to get you to hone into the individual you would like to be and how you can realize that with your life. This way, no matter what you find yourself doing, you can always fit the activity into the context of your life. Conversely, you can decide which activities you wish to engage in by asking yourself whether or not it fits into your life purpose, or cup, as the author puts it.

While Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life presents a different perspective on life purpose and provides a great roadmap for finding your own, the book is definitely targetted at baby boomers. I had a very difficult time relating to the journey of fictional Boomers. As I discussed here before, I recently experienced something akin to a mid-life crisis, but I still could not find myself in the characters. They were almost wondering what to do with their life in retirement, while, as a 30-something, I’m wondering what career path I can get on to build the life that I want (financially as well as physically, emotionally, and spiritually). In other words, how can I get all these pieces of me to dwell harmoniously.

All in all, I have to say that if you are wondering what to do after you’ve done all that you were supposed to do, check out 6 Passages to an Inspired Life for a roadmap and a new pair of eyes on the challenge.

In Spirit,
Nneka

1. You meditate on your lunch break.
2. Your response to the elevator “how are you?” is an enthusiastic “GREAT!“
3. During the project status you say that you are having a “challenge” with your part of the project, rather than passing the buck to the guy on the right.
4. You have a copy of the Dhammapada on your desk.
5. When co-workers start complaining about the daily grind, you advise them to “go within and find peace.”
6. You are excited about the work week on a Monday morning, rather than lamenting the end of the weekend.
7. Your cube has the faint scent of incense.
8. Instead of success posters, you have quotes from Buddha, the Dalai Lama, and the Bhagavad Gita on your walls.
9. When faced with a challenge, your first inclination is to chant “Om”.
10. Finally, you know you are a working mystic if you see the Divinity in your manager even as he’s telling you that you need to work 16 hour days (including weekends) for the next month to meet the project deadline.

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In Spirit,
Nneka

Picture by kiddharma