​​Welcome back to One Marine’s Perspective on how to play the game of life. We all have to play, we’re all on the same team, we play by God’s rules, and we win with teamwork.

Here we'll be discussing the first letter in the rather unwieldy acronym representing One Marine’s rules for the game of life - the P of PHPSSM, Purpose.

While we are contemplating our purpose in life, there are some important things we should consider, including the following: that for which we have Passion , that which employs our unique Talents, and that which meets our Needs and the needs of society as a whole. Let’s start with a story. 

Listen to Story 1.

Consider this quote by Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker, writer, and consultant.

“No man or woman is an island. To exist just for yourself is meaningless. You can achieve the most satisfaction when you feel related to some greater purpose in life, something greater than yourself.” 

Now, lets consider the first element in determining what position we are meant to be playing in the game of life:

                                                     Passion

Passion has been defined as a strong feeling of excitement for something, or about doing something.

Passion gives us the fuel to stay the course and, when it may not seem possible, we do it anyway. People recall that, when they are “in the zone”, they are able to filter out background noise and it’s easy to get lost in the work and not notice the passage of time. Warning - Passion must be channeled as a force for the greater good or else it can be counter-productive. 

Our lives become meaningful through the impact we make on others, more so than living and working just for ourselves. As we grow, our passion has to inspire others’ passions and dreams. 

John Wooden, former coach of a highly successful UCLA basketball team many years ago, had this to say about passion:​

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Listen to ​Story 2​.

Which brings us to the second element:

                                                      Talents

It’s said that each of us comes into this life with a set of unique talents and special gifts, and that a desire to be an integral part of the collective is inherent in us all. History books, childhood tales, and modern-day films point to the age-old question: “Why are we here?” What is our purpose? What uniqueness do we hold within ourselves and what, precisely, are we meant to do with it? 

The truth is that each of us has a path and a specific purpose for being here. We also have within us innate strengths or abilities that are our own. As we journey through life, we may find ourselves drawn to certain activities and things we feel called to do along the way. We begin to resonate with a specialty or calling, and therein lies the key to identifying our gifts. 

We carry within us certain qualities and attributes that contribute to society. Everything we do has an impact. Yet, many of us struggle to recognize the special qualities and talents we carry within as being of any real importance. It may not always be obvious to us that the thing for which we have a natural flair may very well be the thing we’re meant to do in our lives. It may not appear that our level of genius, savvy, or know-how is all that relevant in the world. 

Each of us has gifts and talents that can make a lasting impact. Tying our gifts and talents with our personal purpose not only leads to a more successful life, but a more significant one.

Here’s a story about a person who enriched his life by aligning his career with his talents:

Listen to Story 3​. 

Let’s take a look now at our third area : 

​                                                           Needs

Once we’ve identified our passions and talents, it’s time to put them to work by exploring ways of building our lives around them. 

We can do this by getting creative with how we can use our passions and talents to serve ourselves and others. How can we tap the energy of our greatness and use it to make a positive impact on both the planet and humanity alike?

At the end of the day, who we are, what we do, and how we show up in the world is unique. Everything we share — whether it’s our bright smile, our compassionate heart, our sharp intellect, or our positive presence — has a ripple effect on everyone around us and beyond. 

One Marine once heard about a woman who didn’t know what her special gifts were. When asked what she enjoyed doing most, she replied, “dancing.” Perhaps she wasn’t destined to win any awards for her dancing skills, but she loved it and absolutely came alive when she danced. By getting creative, she came up with the idea to start a business of taking groups on tours to different countries to learn about cultural dance. It’s her passion, it’s her purpose, and she knows she makes a positive difference in the lives of the people who travel with her.

Whoever we are and whatever we do, the world needs us. We’re members of that great international team playing the game of life. When we think big, show up bold, and share our uniqueness, we become role models for all the other members of our team.

Let’s summarize this discussion of finding our Purpose in life by exploring our Passion, our Talents, and the Needs of ourselves and our teammates with the words of Donna, who is a self-proclaimed professional student of life with a focus on spiritual development and energy healing. Her novel, The Healers, is a result of her own healing and transformation in the five year journey seeking her purpose in life.

Listen to Story 4.

​We'll close with more of One Marine’s favorite quotes:

​“There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive.” Oprah Winfrey 

“I believe purpose is something for which one is responsible; it’s not just divinely assigned.” Michael J. Fox 

“If you organize your life around your passion, you can turn your passion into your story and then turn your story into something bigger―something that matters.” Blake Mycoskie 

“People who use time wisely spend it on activities that advance their overall purpose in life.” John C. Maxwell 

“When you stay on purpose and refuse to be discouraged by fear, you align with the infinite self, in which all possibilities exist.” Wayne Dyer

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