This is such a powerful message. A reminder that if you're not doing what you love with the time you have, you're not doing what you need to do in life.

Its a message that has been offered by everyone from great thinkers and philosophers to renowned authors to inspiring characters in memorable movies (remember when "Carpe Diem" became a colloquial phrase?).

Here's the trick though... If you can answer Brian's question, "For what were you made?" honestly, can you then act on it?

*goosebumps*

BRILLIANTLY said, Matt!

thought: one of my friends and favorite teachers Dan Millman likes to say that we can't seize the day per se. We can only seize the moment. so he coined "carpe punctum"--seize the moment!

how cool is that?!?

to acting on the gifts we're given!

-bri

just thought of this and had to share cuz your point is so right on: "Your purpose is to act on the resources God gives you. If God gives you a bucket of fish, you have to distribute those fish. If you don't, they're going to rot, attract a bunch of flies, and start stinking up your soul." ~ Russell Simmons from Do You!

Beautiful article. I often wonder what exactly I was made for, or rather I wonder what I should do with the rest of my life and what will make me happy. I have yet to figure it out.

This is really an awesome article, with lots of thought raising. I have no idea what I was made for. I do know I was made to be a Mom though, so that's a good start!

hey KnitsofLove and missfunkadilly: (love both your names btw :)

big smile. sounds like you've discovered a big part of it, knits!

as abraham maslow says: “Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write if they are to be ultimately at peace with themselves. What human beings can be, they must be. They must be true to their own nature. This need we may call self-actualization.”

The specific manifestation of our self-actualizing process is unique and varies greatly from person to person. As Maslow points out, in one individual it may “take the form of the desire to be an excellent parent, in another it may be expressed athletically, and in still another it may be expressed in painting pictures or in inventing things.”

you might dig a free subscription to my site where a big part of my intention is to help peeps discover and live their purpose! http://PhilosophersNotes.com/peoplejam

i really appreciated this blog. part of my personality type is characterized by a deep search for personal authenticity. i so understand that search of "what am i made for?" and if i ever figure it out, then what? it's a great reminder to keep searching for my truest self.

This is a great jumping off point. I love it that we're asked to think about ourselves. I'm going to check out that website!

hey guys: thx for your kind words! thrilled you're diggin the post and made me think of this thought from james allen's as a man thinketh:

"Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul."

http://philosophersnotes.com/ideas/show/james-allen-mining-for-gold

to mining! :)

-bri

Wow! I really loved this article, because it really made me ask myself, "What am i supposed to do?" This makes me want to do something with my life! THANKS!

and that gives me a huge smile, torizkoolio! :)

Your blog was short, but very powerful. Purpose of life is always a question that everyone (I believe) at one point or another asks themselves seriously, and this is just a very open-minded and good way to think about it a little deeper. I liked your blog.

thx, euroni! and YES!!

Thank you for this reminder and encouragement. So foten people get caught up in day to day life and forget to live for something or really do something with their lives. This is an important reminder to live for that which you were created!

hey emily:

EXACTLY!!!

to taking the time to discover and live our destiny,

-bri

I can see how there would be some comfort in believing that you were made for a purpose, and that there was some force or being that was competent to decide what that purpose was. But I feel more fulfilled believing that I'm creating my own destiny as I go along.

and why must that be either/or, c?!?
:)

I believe that I was made just to do good in the world. I was made for my husband, because in all reality, I'm the only thing in his life that makes sense for him. I honestly don't know what he would do without me, or what I would do without him. I love how sincere and real this blog is. It makes you think, that's for sure.

Lovely message. Indeed, what is our purpose in life? But instead of now spending ages to figure that out, dont you think it will make more sense for the more mortal of us to just start loving what we already do? m2c

hey ashaan: YES, definitely love what we currently do AND let's ask ourselves "what gifts do I *really* have to offer the world and how can I best give them?!?

thx for your kind words, TehVixen!

I was made to love cats. I have 10 fur babies (at one point I had 12) and they are my children. My dream and calling is to open a no-kill cat shelter of my own and help reunite lost souls with their mates. I do not know when I will be able to achieve this dream, but at least I know what it is.

What a interesting article yet again. I'm still not 100% all of what I was created for but I have a few pretty good ideas. I personally think we have many many purposes!

@chelle123 - YES! and they evolve throughout our lives, eh?

@heathcole - COOL! any potential next steps for you toward your dream?

as russell simmons (the hop hop mogul) says in his great book "Do You!" “I knew it was unrealistic to think I could build an institution overnight. But if I took baby steps, eventually it would happen.”

I still haven't found my purpose in life, but I believe this is totally true. Maybe that's why I'm still around. I have had close encounters with death on several occassions, and I'm very grateful to have been granted an opportunity to keep seeking for a way to contribute something positive to this world.

awesome, jbpr! here's to embracing the gift of the new year to give ourselves most fully to the world! :)

-bri

What a great blog. It is good to know you were created for a distinct purpose and interesting to take the time to figure out what your purpose might be.

This article was short ans sweet. It hit home for me. I love the questions that you ask. I mean they make a lot of sense. Makes me want to sit and think about certain things.

I was made to worship and serve God. To keep him company and do his work. My gift is caring for children. As a foster mother of more than 50, and a biomother and adoptive mother of ten, I am living a wonderful life!

love it, guys!

inspiring! :)

I was made to help animals. Working with animals makes me happiest.

awesome, TamanduaGirl! :)