What is Your Higher Purpose?

Tonight I fell asleep on my bed exhausted.  Early morning flights and all day meetings can really wear a person down.  But when I wake up in the morning, I will be energized and ready to go,  Why?  Because despite all of the swirling madness and chaos that is going on around me, I am focused instead on a challenging vision, what I consider to be a higher purpose. 

So what are some of the "ingredients" that allow a person to stay focused despite the distractions and issues that could pull a person in a thousand different directions?  For me, I constantly remind myself of the following:

1. Focus on the bigger picture.  Understand the overall vision and mission.
2. Find someone who will stand behind you and challenge you and tell you the truth.
3. Don't let mistakes paralyze you.  Everyone makes mistakes.  It's how you rebound that counts.
4. Don't be a whiner. Focus on the possibilities.
5. Remember that solid foundations take time to build.  Several small steps are generally better than giant jumps forward.

But most of all, I believe it is necessary to understand that while work, or training, or a project can be noble, and satisfying, and purposeful, it should not define who we are. 

Hopefully, in our endeavors  the good days will outweigh the bad.  However, if you let your work or training, or latest project define you alone, your own values and passions can be pushed aside and you risk being defined by them.

What is your higher purpose?