Exercise 5

Hopeful Purpose

We all are important and add great value to the world. An important aspect of a strong hope foundation is knowing that you have a purpose and are an important person.

People who uncover their passions and purpose are often happy and fulfilled. Pursuing your purpose makes you more hopeful.

You can begin to uncover your purpose by recognizing what you like to do. Our purpose is often something we are passionate about (something you love or find meaning in doing). 

Your purpose can be in any area such as art, friendship, taking care of animals, writing stories, running a business, or building things. There is no purpose that is better than another. What is important is that you think about what you like and what you are good at, and you pursue these things.

Story

Charles the Comic

Charles was a smart boy who was always placed in advanced math class. Charles’ parents and family were very proud of these math skills and told everyone about them.  The neighbors, their friends, and even the people who worked at the grocery store knew Charles was good at math.

Even though Charles was good at it, math did not make him happy. Charles showed up every day to math class dreading the work.

One day at lunch, Charles sat next to a girl, Jasmine, who was drawing lots of small pictures in a row.

“What are you doing?” Charles asked.

“Making comics,” Jasmine responded.

Charles watched Jasmine draw comics all lunch period.  He was fascinated with how much detail she put into her characters and the funny things she had them say.

“Come back tomorrow and I’ll teach you how to make your own comics,” Jasmine told Charles.

The next day, Charles came to lunch prepared with some blank paper and a pencil. Jasmine taught Charles tips on drawing comics, shared some books with him about making comics, and introduced Charles to a few other friends who drew comics too.

Charles learned that he loved drawing. He liked that there were lines and boxes in the comics that reminded him of sequences and patterns in math that he already knew well. What he really loved was that he could make worlds come to life on his page.

Whenever Charles has spare time, he now draws comics. He shares them with friends and family and everyone enjoys reading his stories.  This makes Charles feel like there is meaning in his life and he feels special.  When he sees other people laugh and learn from his drawings, Charles feels they are not just his passion, but also his purpose.

 

Hope Exercise

Let’s answer a few questions about Passion and Purpose.  Once you’ve answered correctly, you will move on to Lesson 6:  Hopeful Goals and Pathways.

1. What was Charles passion in the story?

a.  Math.

b.  Comics.

c.  Talking with friends.

d.  Working at the grocery store.

2. When Charles sees other people laugh and learn from his passion, he not only feels it is something he loves to do, but it gives him:

a.  Purpose

b.  Responsibility

c.  Work

d.  Money

       3.  An important aspect of a strong hope foundation is:

a. Making lots of money.

b. Receiving compliments from others.

c. Knowing that you have a purpose and are an important person.

d. Having lots of friends.

4. One purpose is better than another.

a. True

b. False

Things to Think About

Take a moment and write down responses to the following questions.  Keep them as a positive reminder of what you love to do.  Feel free to use your Hope Sunflower Worksheet.

Write 3 things you love and enjoy doing.

1.

2.

3.

Journal about different paths you could take in your life based on what you love to do. Dream about how it might be to pursue these passions.  Think about how it would feel, where you would live, and who you would be surrounded by.

Different paths I could take in my life based on what I love to do are:

What it might be like to live out my passions:

The way I might feel pursuing my purpose and passion is:

Where I might live if I pursue my purpose and passion is:

I would be surrounded by:

Download Lesson #5: Having a Hopeful Purpose.

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