FEATURE
DAVID SHURNA
NAVIGATING
idealistic aspirations AND the barriers BETWEEN
BY VISHNU MAKHIJANI
H
ow do you discover your purpose? Once you have found your purpose, how do you use it as a catalyst for real, measurable change in your life - to activate the best version of yourself to effectively confront your toughest challenges? How do you find the right community to help support you in your newfound purpose? "Discovering a compelling vision for yourself that is rooted in purpose requires getting rooted in your values. From your values... you'll start to craft a purpose statement for your life. Crafting your purpose statement, though, is just the beginning. Few of us are taught how to navigate the gap between our idealistic aspirations for a life of purpose and the barriers that get in your way," Tom Lillig and David Shurna told IANS in a joint interview of their book, "What's Within You" that provides a proven framework to 28
APR / MAY 2022 News With A Desi View
stay rooted in your purpose even as adversity strikes. "Over the past 20 years, our research shows statistically significant growth across all factors measured for tens of thousands of participants in our programs. Research aside, the testimonials we receive from people every week describing how we 'changed' or even 'saved' their lives are testament to the effectiveness of the approach," they added. "Despite the barriers - both big and small that each of us face, we can learn how to push past them, reconnect with our purpose, and unleash the best in ourselves and others," the authors maintain of the "Seven Life Elements" they present in the book that serve as a blueprint to help navigate the torrid waters of self-doubt, and infuse hope and courage to bring about a tectonic shift by breaking the barriers that have always held one back.
TOM LILLIG
We choose to embrace our struggle wholeheartedly, and with shattered bones and hurt feelings, we continue moving forward. The narrative will introduce you to a host of world-famous barrier breakers - among them Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest, and Mandy Harvey, the deaf jazz vocalist whose America's Got Talent performances captured the hearts of half a billion people - to prove that what's within you is indeed stronger than what's in your way.
What then is the seven-step recipe devised by Lillig and Shurna? fIrST AnD foremoST IS vISIon. In discovering your purpose, you need to learn the difference between what you want to do in life and what you want to be. Most of us have been oriented toward living life through a collection of goals. But what happens after that? What keeps you focused month after month, year after year? Vision is about allowing your core values to reveal a foundational and sustainable purpose for your life. The SeConD IS reACh. Once you've cracked the code on purpose, how do you use that new understanding of yourself to confront your challenges? How do you step outside your comfort zone and fully acknowledge the obstacles that have been keeping you from your best self? With Reach, you will grab hold of the adversary and prepare yourself to overcome these challenges. The ThIrD IS AlChemY. By this point, you've discovered your purpose and confronted your problems head-on. In ancient times, alchemy
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