Purpose Driven Life - Days 1-4

Two of my girlfriends suggested we collectively take a spiritual journey and go through Rick Warren's A Purpose Driven Life. Oddly enough, I tried to take on this endeavor a few years back, and failed miserably after the first couple of days. I guess I was just not ready. It took the inauguration, a new-found sense of hope, and seeing Warren again to remind me that it's now time to embark on this part of my journey.



I started the book 4 days ago and have already faced some pretty tough questions (you would think I would be used to tough questions, being a PR person...)

Here they are, as quoted from the book:

• Day 1: How can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?
• Day 2: What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?
• Day 3: What would my family and friends say is the driving force in my life? What do I want it to be?
• Day 4: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should STOP doing and the one thing I should START doing today?

I have thought extensively about each of these points and realize that the next 40 days will be an intense time of self-discovery and reflection. My intention is to blog each day on insights gained and answers to the hard daily questions. Sometimes putting the answers in writing solidifies the point and makes it even more tangible.

So, to start with, here are my answers to #s 1-4:

• Day 1: I take a deep breath and think about gratitude. I look at the sun, the sky, the people I encounter in my job and on the streets. Each thing, each person, is an image of God and that, in my mind, is so much bigger and greater than I can ever be. It's all about gratitude.
• Day 2: It's hard to grasp the idea that we are all exactly as God wants us to be, Each created unique, each according to His perfect design. To me, my body is too mushy, my confidence waning in areas. As I continue to go through 8 weeks of job-specific training in MD, I am finding that the professional personas that people put out there are sometimes quite different from who they inherently are. I face this struggle daily. We all have weaknesses and things we would like to improve...we all are strong and amazing in so many ways. But, sometimes, I have a hard time incorporating the "real" me into the professional picture. I am learning that life is about balancing that and finding the happy medium that God intends.
• Day 3: I am goal and task oriented. A high achiever, a self-proclaimed perfectionist (although, this is getting better...I am learning to let go). When I discuss my concerns, anxiety or worry, my family's canned answer is, "Sue, it'll be ok. You'll figure it out and make it work. You always do." But, I am ready to refocus my drive, my goals and my life's motivation. I want to be a mom and I want to know that the work I do and the effort I put forth is having a POSITIVE impact on humanity.
• Day 4: I need to STOP thinking negatively and START feeling FULL confidence in my faith and God. Everything is as it should be. I am where I should be, and everything will work out according to Divine timing, Divine order and God's plan. It's OK. I need to work on letting go of the things I cannot (and should not expect to) control.