Today I will discuss how staying true to your purpose will not only make your life a lot better, but will also make the world a lot better place to live in.

We are led to believe by some people out there, including friends, family members, and teachers, that following our true purpose is “selfish,” and that we should just be “realistic” and “get a job.”

As a result, most people don’t follow their true purpose, and deny themselves and the world the opportunity to benefit from the many gifts they have.

First, let me describe a scenario for you…

Let’s take three different people: a homeless man, a school teacher, and a CEO of a large corporation.

The end for each one of these people, at least in this life, will be the same: they will be unable to take any of their accomplishments, money or possessions with them to the next life.

Now, regardless of your religious background or beliefs about the existence or lack of an afterlife, the fact remains that you will be unable to take those things with you, whether you believe that one ends up under the ground, in another body, or in another universe.

The existence or lack of an afterlife is no reason to throw away your current life.

It doesn't make any sense to spend even one day doing what you don't want to, if you don't have to. Today we live in a society where we have no trouble getting enough food to eat, having a roof over our heads, and having plenty of leisure time to do what we love.

We really have nothing to lose, and we're slowly understanding that. Whether or not we listen to other people and just “get a job,” take off and try to become rock stars, or start our own business, the end result is the same, at least in this life. So why not enjoy these moments that you can't ever get back?

Some people tell us to not take risks and to not do what we love, because they have been taught to live in fear and have an attitude of scarcity. It's not their fault, because they have been taught to be this way, either by their parents, by society, or by both. What they need is to believe in themselves, and if they believed in themselves fully, they could share so many wonderful things with the world.

Here are some arguments they give, along with my rebuttals:

"But you won't have any money when you're old! You'll have to beg on the streets!" (Thanks for your concern, but I've got it handled. I have never had any problems making enough money, and I've never had to beg for money either. Money comes into my life because I follow my vision and stay true to my purpose.)

"You won't be able to have a good quality of life if you take risks now and run off and become a rock star or start your own company. It’s just too risky!" (Whether I become a rock star or a businessman is not the issue. The issue here is that I am staying true to my core purpose, and am giving myself the opportunity to be the best person I can be, and enjoying life in the process. Even if I don't become a rock star, I'll have some fantastic adventures to talk about. As long as I stay on the path of my true purpose, I shall be enlightened and happy.)

"All of your friends went to college, got a job in an office, are working all day and are making good money. That’s how life is for everyone." (If I could, I would go back in time and help them avoid the situation they are in right now. I would teach them to not ever compromise the great abilities they have within them. Instead of enduring a two-hour commute to go to an office and work 12 hours a day in a job they hate, just so they can perform the same routine the next day, they could be doing something they love, enjoying life with friends, family, and loved ones, and giving something extraordinary back to the world.)

"Life is not about having fun, it's about being responsible and getting a job and doing what everyone else does." (So you want me to give up and not believe in myself, do a job I hate and sell my life, soul, and happiness away, so that you can feel good because I am miserable just like you? I have another idea...how about you quit your job, just like I did, and join me in developing yourself into an enlightened human being, enjoying all the best things the abundant world has to offer, and giving the world our gifts?)

The bottom line is that no one has any idea how long they will live in this life.

Maybe my last day on this planet is tomorrow. But you can be sure if I do go out tomorrow, at least right now I'm doing what I love and I won’t have any regrets.

But let’s move on to another point here…why stick to one’s true purpose at all?

Because the reason we have such fantastic technology, music, art, health care, standard of living, and just about everything else that is good in this world, is a result of someone or some people sticking to their purpose and not following what everyone else did. And more importantly, not letting fear hold them back from what they loved doing.

We have reliable, stylish, and affordable cars now, because of people like Henry Ford and Soichiro Honda, who thought outside the box.

We have wonderful music and art that inspires us right down to our souls, because of people like Johann Sebastian Bach, Michelangelo, and the Beatles. Do you think Bono of U2 ever doubted himself when people told him to not play music and instead get a day job? Not only has he written music that has inspired lots of people, but he also does more to fight poverty than most people.

People like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have changed the way people look at computers, and their inventions have made life a lot easier, interesting, and enjoyable for people around the world.

They both decided to drop out of college and do their own thing, rather than “get a job” – in addition to bringing so much joy to the world with their inventions, they both help people and give back tremendously to the community.

You can do just the same. The world wants to receive the gifts of your brilliance. I don’t know you, but I am absolutely sure that the world could benefit greatly from your vision and your ideas.

The time to take action is NOW, not when one has retired and realizes that he played it safe and never got anywhere and never had any experiences to talk about. Boredom and not actualizing oneself are far worse enemies than than poverty.

The time to live is NOW.

Right now.

Don’t wait another day to start living life according to your true purpose. The world needs people like you, to help it advance, improve life and give happiness not only to yourself, but others as well.

We essentially have two choices when it comes to our careers and lives: 

1. Live life to its fullest and have lots of great adventures and memories later in life, or

2. Don't live life, don't take risks, do what everyone else does, and have lots of regrets later in life.

I chose number one.

Which do you choose?