A Purposeful Life Life is more than wealth or approval on social media. It is a personal conviction to be better every day. International motivational speaker Simerjeet Singh had some tips for USLS delegates. Think of people who have made a difference, from Mahatma Gandhi to Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai. These leaders have things in common: They are purposeful, driven and authentic. Instead of fitting into a mould, they stood up for what they believed in. In contrast, many youths are calculating their self-worth based on the number of ‘likes’ they get on social media, said Mr Simerjeet Singh, an international motivational speaker and performance coach. “You are much more than the carefully cultivated personality that you display online. And it’s when you begin to discover that much more, when you begin to disregard... what are other people going to think about this – that is when you truly get in touch with what is really inside you,” Mr Simerjeet shared. “The world needs your authenticity. People who’ve made a difference have always been the ones who listen to their inner voice,” he added. The inner voice is the whisper that tells you what is right and wrong. It is also the force that nudges you towards a greater purpose in life. To find that purpose, Mr Simerjeet encouraged USLS delegates to re-examine their priorities. He conducted a minutelong activity, which required them to scan the auditorium for the colour green. There were three conditions. Delegates had keep searching for the colour, look for it in the least obvious places, and find as much green as they could. At the end of the activity, delegates reported that they had found the colour in many places, including unexpected ones. “When you are on purpose, your mind filters out all the external stimuli. Everything that you need to achieve your goal becomes relevant, and everything that is not helping you to achieve your goal will go into the background,” Mr Simerjeet explained. A clear goal is much like an internal GPS system. “If you want to change the outcomes in life, you must change your priorities,” he summed up. Then, Mr Simerjeet asked delegates to close their eyes and point north. When they opened them, they realised that they were pointing in different directions. “Comparison is a thief of joy. Your gift is unique and special to you. Stop comparing it with others and be true to yourselves,” Mr Simerjeet advised. “Follow your own little calling. I have my own interpretation of what my true north is. And as long as I am in harmony with my true north, that’s fine,” he said.
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