Benecia Ponder – Page 52

December 26, 2011April 20, 2012

Why Are You Here (part 2)

My previous article, Do You Know Why You’re Here, was my most read article to date. From the overwhelming number of comments I received, it is apparent that living a purposeful life is a very pressing concern for most people.

In my last article, I mentioned Janet, a marketing executive who came to me for coaching because she was unsatisfied with her career. During our first session, when I asked her about her life’s purpose she told me, “I’m in a high paying career at the top of the corporate ladder. Yet, for some reason, and I’m not sure what it is, this is not the right place for me. I’m ready to make some changes, but I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing…I can’t answer this purpose question right now.”

During our time together, Janet was able to discover and begin to live a purposeful life and today she’s enjoying greater levels of health, wealth, and happiness. With Janet’s permission, I’d like to share with you the breakthroughs she made during coaching to help you on your journey to living a life filled with passion, purpose, and power.

Janet made two significant discoveries about living a purposeful life during our coaching sessions. I’ll share the first one with you today –

Finding Your Life’s Purpose Isn’t Complicated

Janet’s homework from our first session was to complete the Life Purpose Exercise I shared in last week’s newsletter. She came to our second session a bit skeptical – she’d completed the exercise but she didn’t think she’d done enough. “There should have been more to do.”

It’s not surprising that Janet felt this way. Over the past few years, there have been a number of books and programs produced to help you find your life’s purpose. Many times these books and programs make it seem as if you have to spend years and years of your life doing soul searching exercises. It only took Janet an hour to complete the Life Purpose Exercise and the majority of that time was spent trying to “improve upon” what it took her only 20 minutes to write.

You know who you are. On the most basic level you know what you like and don’t like. You know what you’re good at and you know what you enjoy doing. You don’t have to wait for a mystical epiphany or some mysterious sign to discover your purpose.

If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit that you already know your purpose in life you’re just uncertain about how to honor that purpose. After Janet was able to accept that she knew her purpose, her next dilemma was how to use that purpose in her every day life.

Next week, I’ll share with you the breakthrough Janet had related to truly living a life of purpose.

My challenge to you this week:
Keep it simple. Don’t try to overcomplicate your life’s purpose.

SPECIAL OFFER!
Get crystal clear about your purpose and begin to create a definite plan to live in that purpose with a Focus 40 Success Strategy session. Contact me at success@beneciaponder.com to schedule your session TODAY!

To your success,
Benecia

P.S. Encourage your friends and family by sharing this newsletter and invite others to subscribe! Just send them to www.beneciaponder.com, where they can enter their email address on the home page.

Benecia Ponder is a professional life coach and speaker. Her company, Benecia Ponder Coaching, is dedicated to helping you live life with greater levels of health, wealth, and happiness. If you want o find out how you can enjoy a more passionate, purposeful, and powerful life, visit www.beneciaponder.com.

The Laser Coaching Moment with Benecia Ponder is written and produced by Benecia Ponder. If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission of this newsletter, please email: success@beneciaponder.com.

December 26, 2011February 7, 2015

Find Your True Life Purpose: 4 Steps To Uncover The Real Meaning Of Your Life

“What were you put on Earth to do?” is one of the first questions I ask potential coaching clients. No matter what level of success they’ve already attained, I want to know how they define their life’s purpose. I’ve been amazed over the past few months at the number of times I’ve heard, “I’m not sure” from ambitious and accomplished professional women.

The most shocking response came from a top level marketing executive who told me, “I’m in a high paying career at the top of the corporate ladder. Yet, for some reason, and I’m not sure what it is, this is not the right place for me. I’m ready to make some changes, but I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing…I can’t answer this purpose question right now.”

Her response reminded me of a quote from Brian Tracy – “Many people scramble frantically to climb the ladder of success, only to find that it is leaning against the wrong building.”

You may find yourself in a similar situation . You’re making lots of money and doing something that you do well, but you know you’re not being true to yourself. It’s a horrible feeling to know that you are settling for less than God’s best for you.

I’ve been blessed to discover what I was created for. I live each day with passion, purpose and power – and I want the same for you. For the next few weeks, The Laser Coaching Moment will focus on helping you to discover and live in your purpose.

This week, I’d like for you to begin defining your life’s purpose. Use this Life Purpose Exercise from Jack Canfield’s Success Principles as a guide.

1.) List two of your unique personal qualities such as
“enthusiasm” and “creativity.”

2.) List one or two ways you enjoy expressing those qualities

when interacting with others, such as “to support” and ”
to inspire.”

3.) Assume the world is perfect. Describe it as you see it – what are people doing, how are they interacting, what does it feel like?

4.) Combine your three answers above into a single statement such as: “My purpose is to use my creativity and enthusiasm to support and inspire others to freely express their talents in a harmonious and loving way.”

My challenge to you:
Take 30 minutes to complete the Life Purpose Exercise.

To your success,

Benecia

P.S. Encourage your friends and family by sharing this newsletter and invite others to subscribe! Just send them to www.beneciaponder.com, where they can enter their email address on the home page.

December 26, 2011April 20, 2012

Dear God, Thank You For The Journey

Thank You For The Journey!

Dear Friend,

Last week, I had the opportunity to write an inspirational message about the past 13 years of my life. I’d like to share that message with you today – I hope you enjoy it!
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Dear God,

Can you believe it? We’ve been on this amazing journey for 13 years! At first, I didn’t think I was going to make it. There were times when I thought I would lose my mind. But, You were always right there with me.

Do you remember how it all began? I was a 20 year old kid with a newborn baby girl. Determined not to be a statistic, I worked full time during the day and pursued my undergraduate degree with a full course load at night. I had just been promoted at work after only six months on the job and as the youngest one there. I was on track to finish my undergraduate degree on time with honors. I was invincible and on top of the world.

But, everything changed in an instant. On that cold January morning in 1999, I barely made it to work. My head was throbbing, my body was aching, and all I wanted to do was lie down. I sat in the driver’s seat almost paralyzed – I was unable to move. I finally mustered enough energy to crawl into the cramped backseat of my car and lay there for fou

None of the doctors could tell me what was going on. Specialist after specialist…one probing and intrusive test after another. Three months of non-stop, agonizing pain continued with no answers. And, do You remember how I kept asking – begging – for an answer.r hours until a co-worker could drive me home.

Finally, You sent me to a doctor who knew just by looking at me what was wrong – a pseudo tumor. A build up of spinal fluid pressure had caused me this tremendous pain in my head. One ten-minute procedure later, the pain was gone, never to return again. I was ecstatic. I leaped for joy and praised Your name! I was healed!

My rejoicing didn’t last long though. The prolonged build up of spinal fluid pressure had irreparably damaged my optic nerves. Now I was visually impaired and couldn’t see clearly more than six inches in front of my face. My whole world was fuzzy. “If only you’d come in sooner,” the doctor told me.

It wasn’t fair. You had known what was wrong with me all that time but it took three months before You revealed the answer and by that time it was too late to do anything about my damaged sight. I WAS MAD!!! I couldn’t believe You’d been so cruel? How dare You keep the answer from me all that time and then solve the problem suddenly only to saddle me with an even greater burden?

Do You remember that day when I was throwing the temper tantrum on my bedroom floor? Crying and begging then pouting and demanding. I wanted to know what was going on. Didn’t you know I had a baby that was depending on me to take care of her? Didn’t you know I had dreams of being something great? I remember asking You WHY. What did I ever do that was so wrong?

Then, I guess You finally got fed up with me. Your voice came to me in a load roar, “SHUT UP!” Startled, my tantrum came to an abrupt halt. My heart stood still and I dared not even breathe. Then You spoke to me again, this time in a calm, gentle, and slightly exasperated voice – “Just let Me handle it. Allow yourself to be weak and I’ll make you strong.”

I prayed for forgiveness and determined at that moment that I would trust in You completely. I stopped focusing on my limitation and began to appreciate the gift of Your protection and provision.

Even though my eyesight has been dimmed, You’ve given me perfect vision. You studied with me as I completed undergraduate business school and law school and even paid the way with full academic scholarships. You helped me pass the bar exam the first time while I was still the visually impaired single mother of a toddler. You held my hand as I stepped out on faith to follow my passions and pursue my life purpose to become a life coach, speaker, and author. I gave You my weakness and You made me stronger than ever!

I know I’ve tried Your patience over these last 13 years, but I just want to say, Thank You For The Journey. I know it’s far from being over – I’m definitely looking forward to the next 80 years! J

Love Always,
Benecia
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My challenge to you this week:
Write your own letter to God thanking Him for your journey!

All the Best,
Benecia

P.S. Encourage your friends and family by sharing this newsletter and invite others to subscribe! Just send them to www.beneciaponder.com, where they can enter their email address on the home page.

Benecia Ponder is a professional life coach and speaker. Her company, Benecia Ponder Coaching, is dedicated to helping you live life with greater levels of health, wealth, and happiness. If you want to find out how you can enjoy a more passionate, purposeful, and powerful life, visit www.beneciaponder.com.