The Disadvantages of Purpose

• It’s not always fun.
• There’s usually a lot of work involved.
• It may make the concept of free time a thing of the past.
• You may feel like time not being in your Purpose is wasted time.  This may make you irritable.
• Often when you get started on that day’s work, you won’t know what you’re doing or what the result will be, until you have been working for a while.  This is especially true of writing or any artistic endeavor.
• You often have to get up earlier or stay up later…or both.
• You may go years before you see any financial remuneration…if at all.
• Despite your dedication and your work, the first thing many people will ask is, “Are you making any money?”
• Things that once seemed enjoyable now seem meaningless.
• Sometimes even your closest friends won’t show much interest in your work.
• It may change, or more accurately, expose the nature of many of your relationships.
• You will probably get more criticism than support.
• You may find some people who vehemently oppose your work.
• You may hear words like “drone,” “workaholic,” or “obsessed” directed at you.
• You may find only one person who fully understands ands supports what you do. You will need to hold on to him or her.  That might be your soul mate or your best friend.
• You may ask for mentoring, but you will often not get it, so you will have to teach yourself and you will have to study…in addition to doing your work.
• You may still have to hold down a job, or support a family, or finish your education.
• You will have to spend a lot of time by yourself. 
• You will almost never get a day off from your Purpose.
• You will almost never get a day off from self-sabotage, procrastination, fear, or self-doubt.
• No matter what you did yesterday and no matter how good it was, you will have to do more today.
• You will never be able to go back to the way things were.
• If you do succeed in going back to the way things were, you will wonder why you did so.
• You may look askance at others wondering why they aren’t in their Purpose. 
• You will realize that you have discovered a secret (if not the secret) to fulfillment and happiness.   You will try to share this secret with others and you will be rebuffed, ignored, or criticized.
• You will work harder than you have ever worked in your life.
• You will have higher standards than you have ever had in your life.
• You will be your toughest critic and your own best friend.
• The “good old days” won’t seem as good as they once did, because these days are better.
• You might find yourself working when you’re sick, because your drive is greater than your illness.
• You may lose your ability to enjoy television and other forms of entertainment, including gossip, complaining, and criticism.
• You will be ashamed of the times you spent criticizing others who were in their Purpose, because now you understand.
• You may look back on the past with some regret for having wasted so much time.
• You may go through all of the above and more.
• You will realize that none of it matters.
• You will wonder why you are so content.
• The more work you do and the better you become, the more humble you will become, because you will realize that you are only the vehicle of a higher power.
• You will wonder why you didn’t Get Started and Keep Going years ago.