In interviewing people from all walks of life, I asked, “What brings meaning to your life?” There were many responses, but the majority essentially said:

• Love (deep, caring relationships with the interconnected web of life including people, animals, nature, and spirit)

• Meaningful work (a worthwhile way to contribute, grow, and make a difference)

My research affirms what others have said through the ages: The pursuit of passionate purpose and relationships along the way bring meaning to life. A “two-four-six rule” is the basis for successfully pursuing passionate purpose and reaping real rewards. The two-step formula is:

1. Follow the proven four-stage process.

2. Apply six success strategies.

Consider this metaphor. Think of the pursuit of passionate purpose as a journey to a desired destination:

• The process is the step-by-step path you take to get from point A to point B. Your whole self—head, heart, and hands—becomes a unif ied vehicle to get you where you want to go. Your hands (body) serve as the engine. Your heart (passion) is the fuel. Your head (intellect, mind, or cognition) is the navigator guiding you along.

• The strategies are the principles of operation and lubrication that keep the vehicle working eff iciently and moving forward on the journey. They can also act as catalysts to convert your vehicle from a bicycle into a sports car or rocket ship. Bring the proper people and the rest of the interconnected web of life along as your travel companions and support crew who provide encouragement, stimulation, and all kinds of help.

Follow the Proven Process

First, discover what you value and your unique gifts—what you are passionate about. Next, find a worthwhile purpose that aligns with your passion. The purpose gives focus and passion fuels your pursuit. In pursuing the purpose, you may need to change, grow, and accept as your journey unfolds. Eventually, you assess progress. If you have achieved your goal or done everything possible to reach it, you continue the cycle of your life by reaff irming what you value and determining what is next. If not, you continue the pursuit, perhaps with some adjustments.

This iterative, ongoing process, has four stages of development:

1. Know and Nurture the Person (exploring who I am and what I value).

2. Find Passionate Purpose (determining what I want and do not want).

3. Pursue Purpose (establishing how I get it).

4. Assess Progress (evaluating how things are going and what is next).

The circular graphic is intentional in representing the process. The hoop12 or mandala,13 which means “magic, sacred circle” in Sanskrit, can be found in all cultures and periods of time as a symbol of wholeness. As one of the essential shapes of creation, it corresponds to the cycle of life. In following this process, you are on the hero’s journey,14 universally found in myths and reality. You initially build a core foundation at home (know the person), then go off to engage in a worthwhile cause (find and pursue passionate purpose), overcome obstacles, eventually succeed, and then come back home to be of service to the greater community (assess progress and begin the cycle again).

Although movement is typically clockwise, movement between stages can be multidirectional. It is possible to jump on the pursuit at any stage and even move between stages while skipping one. You may start helping a worthy cause (pursuing someone else’s purpose) without determining that it is your own aim or that you are passionate about it. Later, it becomes your own purpose, and as an unexpected consequence you get to know yourself better. The late David Hawkins, professor emeritus of philosophy, said, “We need to explore the relationship between means and ends. Purposes grow out of situations. One may find the pursuit first and then this brings the purpose.”

Pursuits over Time

Over time, this circular process can be viewed as a continuous, upward spiral. The ascending movement depicts the passage through eras of life.

While some people have a passionate purpose that consumes their entire existence, others pursue simultaneous passionate purposes part-time. The idea of a purpose seems unduly restrictive. Life can have many purposes—commitments, involvements, and interests. Sometimes one is dominant, sometimes another.

Apply Success Strategies

There is more to the successful pursuit than following the four-stage process. Success requires using six vital strategies throughout the journey.

1. Polarity Strategy Polarities, or opposites, exist in all of life—including in ourselves. My participants mentioned tension between their head and heart, between making a difference and making a living, between family and work. In pursuing passionate purpose, there is a polarity between the purpose (or intent) and the results (or impact). The Polarity Strategy is about integrating all parts of a person, organization, or system. Instead of seeing a polarity as a problem to solve, Successful people honor opposites in life and allow dynamic movement between interdependent poles. The synergy of two or more poles working together in harmony is stronger and more stable than the efforts of just one side.

2. Attraction Strategy Successful people attract what they want by maintaining a broad intention, while thinking, feeling, and taking action to get it. They direct the energy of their head, heart, and hands and encourage other people and resources in the web of life to help attain the purpose. In seeking a desired outcome, you need to be clear about what you want, visualize getting it, believe you will get it, talk as if you have it, feel passionately about getting it, and take action to attain that purpose while being flexible and open to the possibilities. Heart energy or passion about the outcome is the most vital. The Attraction Strategy means holding a broad intention and opening to opportunities that are everywhere, while thinking, feeling passionately, and taking action to get what you want.

3. Persistence Strategy Persistence is the act of steadily pursuing purpose despite hindrances or obstacles. Successful people mindfully persevere with focused determination toward their goal using a divide-and-conquer approach. Once committed to a clear purpose or destination, they divide the journey into parts and conquer the whole, piece by piece. Working with unremitting will toward a portion until they make some progress, they establish a positive feedback loop. The outcome is real rewards—tangible results, positive feedback, and a stronger self with more confidence and passion, which fuels the next pursuit stage.

4. Allowing Strategy Allowing is also called surrender, nonresistance, letting go, or equanimity. Successful people maintain clarity about what they want, while they allow how they get it to unfold. They are receptive to options and without attachment to a certain outcome, yet they remain persistent. The Allowing Strategy is about surrendering, without interference, to the natural f low, instead of struggling and resisting.

5. Connections Strategy The most Successful people are connected to the web of life. This support network includes the self and the right people, animals, plants, spiritual forces, and environment. Participants in my study agree that proper people are the greatest energizer for their pursuits and improper people are the biggest hindrance. It is vital to build relationships with and bring along on life’s journey the proper people and support web, which serve as positive forces. Bring the proper people along and lessen the impact of the improper ones.

6. Pack Strategy When you go on a trip, you typically pack a bag. Successful people use this success strategy to appropriately pack for the journey. They bring along essential energizers, such as their whole self and supportive people, while ridding themselves of draining forces, such as discouraging people and limiting attitudes.