Purpose Driven Beyond I Syndrome

A purpose driven life looks beyond the limits of self. It breaks the hold of I Syndrome. And most important, it leans into the strengths and uniqueness instead of the limitations and rules of the world.

#QuoteoftheDay

My actions need to be purpose driven if they are going to push me beyond I syndrome.

Are you familiar with I Syndrome? It’s that attitude that always makes it about “I.”

I want

I need

I wish

I I I I

Or, as my friend Vicki says, MEEEEEEEEEE. It’s the sound that slams on the brakes of motivation. Those brakes lock up and prevent you intentional actions.

“I” syndrome is not pretty.

Struggling with I Syndrome

Things were going well. The house was staying in order. The boys created their schoolwork. Even the garden remained weed-free.

I looked around and realized I was doing it all.

Yay me, right?

Instead, I looked around and demanded, “I deserve more than this.” Each time I demanded it, the I syndrome spread. Before long, it had creeped into all of the crevices of my life. My thoughts got dark. The darker it got, the more I syndrome grew.

Pretty soon, the I syndrome spread so much, I choose not to get up early. Nobody else was getting up. Why was I?

And then I chose not to attend a meeting I had on the schedule. There wasn’t anything I was supposed to do. Why should I go?

And then I found bitterness and anger because others were finding success, and I was stuck in a rut going nowhere. They weren’t helping me so why should I invest anything in them?

I got so tangled in the I syndrome that I couldn’t see anything else, and that included my ability to see my purpose. Without the vision for purpose, I wasn’t able to find any energy to do what I knew I needed to do.

A Cure for I Syndrome

I needed a cure. I had to find something that would break the spell of my I syndrome. A conversation with a friend reminded me that investing in others is the only way to break free of I syndrome.

Do something for someone else

Each day, choose someone who either doesn’t know you are who will be unable to return the kindness.

Make a list of blessings and thanksgivings

Read the list out loud every day. Read them again anytime you feel the I symptoms rising.

Make time for prayer first thing

Pray for others using the promises in Scripture

Invest in the Word

And if you are going to pray with Scripture then you have to be invested in Scripture. Read the Word until you know the promises of God in a personal and intimate way.

You have to be prepared for the attacks. And you have to be aware and alert because I Syndrome is always on the hunt for new victims.

It doesn’t need to be complicated. In truth, it should be simple. The simple path is the better path. Show up and be intentionally invested in others and with others.

From Cure to Purpose

Once I stopped focusing on myself, I had space to see my next step. It was simple, it just wasn’t always easy.

“I can see,” said the blind man. Too often, that’s where I feel I’m standing. Even though I’ve broken free of the I Syndrome, my purpose vision is clear as mud. While tangled in I, purpose was lost to the rules THEY set.

I wanted more, so I chased their way.

I had to get back to my purpose to live out my way.

Hold Tight to Purpose

I am created on purpose and for a purpose. You were created for a purpose as well. In order to know your purpose, you have to know your uniquenesses. The more you know you, the more you will be able to hold tight to your purpose no matter what storms stir up along your path.

Define Your Strengths

In what areas are you the strongest? The world tells us to work on our weaknesses, but holding tight to purpose comes when you lean all into your strengths.

Refine Your Definitions

What does it mean to you? What does success mean? What does a perfect day mean? What does abundant mean? You are in charge of your journey, when you refine your definitions to match your heart then you strengthen your ability to live your uniqueness.

Design a Plan

What are you doing to fulfill your purpose? You need a plan to reach your destination, but you need to be willing to adjust as you go or adjust to what the world throws. Flexibility allows you to design the plan that will lead to your purpose.

You are designed to do what you are supposed to do. Until you know you, you will struggle to live it out. When you know you and lean all into that YOUniqueness, then nothing will be able to stop you from reaching that goal.

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Do you have a vision for your purpose?

Ready To Find Your Unique Design?

Do what you know to do by knowing what you are designed to do.