Book: What Drives Your Life?

As I prepped for my one-on-one session with my niece, Raizelle that day, I prayed that I would be able to impart her some life hacks and encouragement. But as I go through the material, more than me teaching her something, I became the recipient of all the thought-provoking lessons from the book which I also want to share with you all.

Here are some excerpts from the latest chapter, "Day 3: What Drives Your Life?", of the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren:

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The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder - a waif, a nothing, a no man. Thomas Carlyle

Many people are driven by guilt. They spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shame. Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future.

We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.

Many people are driven by resentment and anger. They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehearse it over and over in their minds.

Resentment always hurts you more than it does the person you resent.

Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. Your past is past! Nothing will change it.

Many people are driven by fear. Their fears may be a result of a traumatic experience, unrealistic expectations, growing up in a high-control home, or even genetic predisposition. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they're afraid to venture out. Instead, they play it safe, avoiding risks and trying to maintain the status quo.

Many people are driven by materialism. Their desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. This drive to always want more is based on the misconception that having more will make me happier, more important, and more secure, but all three ideas are untrue. Possessions only provide temporary happiness.

Self-worth and net worth are not the same. Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things!

Many people are driven by the need for approval. They allow the expectations of parents or spouses or children or teachers or friends to control their lives. Many adults are still trying to earn the approval of unpleasable parents. Others are driven by peer pressure, always worried by what others might think. Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.

I don't know all the keys to success, but one key to failure is to try to please everyone.

Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless.

Nothing matters more than knowing God's purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them.