San Antonio motivational speaker and life coach Ruben Torres sat down with KENS 5's Noelle Gardner to talk about how people can fulfill their purpose in life and get motivated.
KENS 5: How can people fulfill their purpose in life?
Here's a list of questions that can assist you in discovering your purpose. They are meant as a guide to help you get into a frame of mind that will be conducive to defining your personal mission.
1. What activities make you lose track of time?
2. What makes you feel great about yourself?
3. Who inspires you most? (Family, friends, authors, artists, leaders, etc.) Which qualities inspire you, in each person?
4. What are you naturally good at? (skills, abilities, gifts etc.)
5. What do people typically ask you for help in?
6. What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?
7. You are now 90 years old, sitting on a rocking chair outside your porch; you can feel the spring breeze gently brushing against your face. You are blissful and happy, and are pleased with the wonderful life you’ve been blessed with. Looking back at your life and all that you’ve achieved and acquired, all the relationships you’ve developed; what matters to you most? List them out.
8. What are your deepest values?
9. What were some challenges, difficulties and hardships you’ve overcome or are in the process of overcoming? how did you do it?
10. What causes do you strongly believe in? connect with?
11. If you could get a message across to a large group of people. Who would those people be? what would your message be?
12. Given your talents, passions and values. How could you use these resources to serve, to help, to contribute? ( to people, beings, causes, organization, environment, planet, etc.)
How can we get out of our comfort zone? (excuses, i.e recession) Have you ever noticed that the better you get at something, the more comfortable you become with it? Not that comfort is a bad thing, but it’s all too easy to do the same thing well, over and over, with little challenge.
I don’t know about you, but I have always liked a good challenge. Doing something that stretches the bounds of my competency puts me on the edge and, quite frankly, freaks me out a bit. Not too much, but just enough to force me to grow and expand my possibilities and give a kick in the pants to my productivity.
The other day, while out doing errands, I saw a truck, and on its side was written, “do one thing every day that scares you.” There was no attribution given to the quote, but I know that Eleanor Roosevelt said it, because I have a coffee cup that used to sit on my desk saying the same thing.
As I stare down the barrel of mid-year, there is still time to achieve the goals I set so optimistically in January. Some of them have already happened, others I realize have stalled a bit as I've settled down into the comfort zone of my life. I think doing a few things that scare me is a great way to break out of it.
Taking a step back, I’ve recommitted myself to a few of the most important of those goals that have gotten stuck in no-man’s land, and decided to break out of my comfort zone and get back on track with pursuing them.
KENS 5: How does one break out of the comfort zone?
By saying “yes” and “no.” Say “yes” to something you have always wanted to do, but were afraid to try for fear of failure, rejection or embarrassment. Say yes to a creative challenge, an exciting opportunity or new learning that is on target with your long-term goals even if it does not carry a big financial reward for the moment. Say yes to being of service to an individual, an organization or your community.
Agree to mentor someone, serve on a local committee, and help out a fellow web worker who’s struggling. Do it all without any expectations of getting something back in return. Say “no” to a sure thing that keeps you in your comfort zone, but also prevents you from moving forward with your goals.
Often we get stuck in doing things that we can do well, but that have no relationship to our long-term goals. Something you don’t really want to do, but are doing anyway out of guilt, fear or shame.
More than anything, the things we continue to do out of guilt, fear and shame keep us stuck. So take a minute and think about where you may be stuck in your comfort zone. How you plan to get out,? What goals you want to recommit to pursuing? There is still plenty of time to make this year one of your most productive and challenging ever!
KENS 5: How can a person stay positive?
Every morning when I get up I have a choice to make! I know that my attitude today will certainly determine my altitude tomorrow! I choose to stay positive each and every minute of the day! You have to consciously make the effort and say within yourself that i will be positive and stay positive no matter what situations or circumstances!
We have to say to ourselves no matter what comes our way; each and everyday I am getting better and better in every way! Nothing or no one can or will get me down today! I was born to excel and born to soar! No one will get me down today! My destiny is greatness!!
KENS 5: Describe a day in the life of a motivational speaker.
A day in my life is very exciting! As soon as I wake up I am already visualizing, affirming, thinking of how many lives I will impact today! Whose life will I inspire, impact, motivate, encourage to be all they were born to be! Champions and overcomes in this life!
Then I begin to email, call, text different clients, friends with words of inspiration. If speaking that day, I begin to visualize my audience and go over my speech in front of the mirror 2 to 3 times! I do radio or television interviews, write blogs and go to luncheons. Everywhere I go I take my notebook to write notes when I am out, in case I get inspired to write something I saw that will fit into my speech.
I try to run everyday to clear my mind and stay focused. Everywhere I go I try to bring words of inspiration and motivation, whether I am at a restaurant, putting gas or at a golf course. I am always motivating someone! At night before I go to bed, I reflect on my day and whose lives I touched and moved to be champions in life!
Kens 5: Who motivates you?
I am motivated when I know I have made a difference in someone's life! when I know I was able to bring shops to someone that was hopeless. I am motivated when I get a call or email from someone who was at the brink of calling it quits on life, and something I spoke on or wrote gave them hope and strength to keep going on!
I get motivated by my family who keep telling me to keep touching peoples lives and that I am making a huge difference in people's lives! I get motivated by god who gave me this gift to inspire and motivate humanity from all walks of life! When I know I am making a difference in someone's life, that us motivating and priceless!
KENS 5: What is your next project?
I am scheduled to begin film production in late summer on my life story. A film documentary on my life of growing up as a son if a migrant working parents, to where I am today and where I am going on my life.
My book about my life compliments my film documentary. Since I am a survivor of a near fatal traumatic brain injury, I am looking to work alongside college and professional athletes who have suffered head injuries, NFL concussions etc. Keep keynote motivational speaking, bringing a message of hope and inspiration to people everywhere!
KENS 5: Anything else you’ve like to add?
We all have a song, a dream deep in our souls, and we are the conductors of out lives! we can orchestrate our lives to be anything we want! we were all born to excel in life. We were all born to soar. We were all men and women if purpose destined for greatness and destined for excellence. Failure is not an option! We were born to be champions in life!
Scars in our lives may remind us of our past, but they cannot, will not dictate our future! Your destiny awaits you! It is greatness and it is excellence! Live your life with purpose and make it memorable! Leave an awesome legacy behind! Keep pursuing your awesome dreams with a passion!
Ruben Torres is available for speaking engagements and also life coach and personal development. You can get in touch with him at: fulfillingmydream@gmail.com
