SENTENCED FOR LIFE (LWOP or LWP)
Sentenced for Life, is commonly associated with the penal system when citing a person’s length of imprisonment for a crime they committed.
According to the penal code there are 2 common types of sentencing.
1. (LWOP) Life without Parole, no possibility of an early release
2. (LWP) Life with Parole, a minimum number of years must be served before being considered for parole
As humans we all face a Life Sentence, either with LWOP – Life without Purpose or LWP – Life with Purpose.
We get to determine which Sentence we will serve.
The Truth of the matter is… We All Have Purpose!
But like any treasure, it’s hidden. It’s up to each of us to find it.
The Latin word for Sentencing is “Sentire”, to be of the opinion. If you are of the opinion…that your life has purpose, YOU WILL FIND IT!
To live a life with Purpose, you must live life on Purpose, with Intentionality.
Purpose acts like a compass, it directs decisions, targets goals, steadies through storms, and can always lead you to your intended destination.
Oftentimes, your Purpose is connected to your Passion, and your Passion is what you would do without Pay; and oft times do, at least initially.
Purposelessness is a result of Passionlessness!
When a life is without Purposeful Passion, these are the results:
· Lack of Motivation – Struggle to start or complete…
· Emotional flatness – Muted emotions, lacking excitement
· Going through the motions – Auto-pilot, giving minimal effort
· Apathy & Indifference – Nothing gets your juices flowing
A life without Purpose is a life without an anchor to help keep from drifting or drowning in the turbulent waters of insignificance.
With today’s climate of social media, getting rich and famous overnight videos or memes, it’s hard to find out exactly what you’ve been called to do. It makes it so easy to just move to the next “new thing” or “in thing”.
Much of what we see is emotional and sensory candy. All it does is hype us up, burn useful energy, and then make us crash once reality sets in.
As humans we’ve been programmed to be reactive; pick up that ringing phone, check that email ding, look at that DM that just came in.
The neurons in our brain are activated by our limbic system which is the area that reacts to impulses and emotions, that’s why we feel the need to respond to everything immediately. We’ve become too emotional!
Purpose is not rooted in Emotions. Let me say that again, Purpose is not rooted in Emotions. Emotions are Erratic, but Purpose Perseveres.
Purpose does evoke emotions, but not all of them are good. We must find something to anchor our emotions and that’s our PASSION!
Often our emotions drive our actions and behaviors rather than rational and calculated thinking, that’s why our Purpose should be connected to our Passion instead of our feelings. Feelings change by the minute.
In case you were curious; Emotions and Passion are not the same thing.
Emotions are fickle and often temporary, Passion on the other hand is intense and long-lasting. Emotions are Fleeting, Passions are Permanent.
Passions potency offers the most dynamic, fulfilling, and memorable moments we’ve ever had. Exhibit “A” You never forgot your first love
When our Purpose is connected to our Passion, we are less likely to be so reactive. Passion drives focus, and focus helps us stay on task, and not be so easily distracted. Purposeful Passion is a great Compass.
Purpose is what we want out of life and Passion help us keep the fire lit until we can achieve it. Your Passion is your Zeal for Life!
If you feel as though you have lost your Zeal here are three things that you can do to get it back.
1. Assess the current state of your life. Be honest!
2. Determine what you would like for the rest of your life to look like
3. Be deliberate, focused, and passionate about your steps to get there
It’s your life, isn’t it time you started living it PASSIONATELY?
#LWPP – Life with Passionate Purpose
“Never lack in Zeal, always maintain your Spiritual Fervor” Romans 12
This is a Thompson Truth
