This week I?d like to share an 'off purpose' moment, actually a series of them that congealed into a daylong trip into Hell. It happened on Tuesday and started innocently enough with a disagreement with Ann during breakfast over how Amber's home school math was going.

Basically, I offered some 'unsolicited coaching' to Ann on how she was viewing the situation without first being sure she had the experience of being heard. This led to one of my familiar Inherited Purpose-based patterns of not feeling like my attempts to contribute were being received and accepted. And the day went downhill from there.

The next turn of the snowball rolling downhill was during the Visionary Writers On Purpose Team Call where one of our members was quite saddened and upset by a disruption in a professional relationship and friendship. Having not yet learned my lesson about listening and unsolicited coaching, I dived in once again, and, once again it did not go well.

And that pretty much set the tone for the rest of the day. As one of my old and wise bosses used to say, "Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you." Well, by the time I climbed into bed that night I felt like I was deep inside the bear?s innards. But as I drifted off to sleep I had a sudden realization that made it all worthwhile.

It had been months since the last time I?d felt like this, when in the past having such a day was a common occurrence. And I also realized that many people feel chewed up by life most every day. In other words, a little 'contrast' can be a good thing. It can help us realize the 'purposeful progress' we?re making in our lives.

?2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box are included.