Young and Living on Purpose

Endorsements

...t his may be the most well-translated conversation between an author and his audience. A modern-day parable that finds meaning and relevance in all people. In this book, Seleme touches on various traits that form the building blocks of purposeful living. A gem of a book, whose chapters interrelatedly break down the expression – 'where purpose is unknown, abuse is inevitable'. The chapters of this book are uplifting, encouraging and boost confidence. A more than worthy read – more than worthy. #ReadIt #GetInspired...

–  Mr. Nhlamulo D. Baloyi, Independent Ethicist, Lecturer  - University of South Africa

This book will inspire you and revolutionise your life! Why? The  author speaks directly to your spiritual matrix. It is a timely resource that presents practical principles for fulfilling what you were born to do. I am grateful for Confidence Seleme – he is adding value to society. Using his vast knowledge coupled with the brilliant art to articulate practical metaphors, he pours himself into this book.

–  Mr. Klaas K. Moswane, Author of Wisdomology

An uncommon guide to finding, living, and rocking your life's purpose. This is a fantastic read that will teach the younger generation that the more conscious you are of your individual attributes and your particular purpose, the more productive, powerful and meaningful your life will be. This book is heart-felt, full of wisdom and simply inspiring.

–  Dr. M. E. C. Moleki, Senior Pastor – Calvary Servanthood Community Church

Contents

Endorsements

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1

Why on earth were you born?

Chapter 2

People are at the centre of purpose

Chapter 3

Passion fuels purpose

Chapter 4

Potential points us to our purpose

Chapter 5

Principles prepare us for purpose

Chapter 6

Personal philosophy helps us define our purpose

Chapter 7

The power of ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship

Chapter 8

Embrace change, embrace growth

Chapter 9

There are bricks in your mouth

Chapter 10

Childhood matters

Chapter 11

The destructive power of addictions

Chapter 12

Entering adulthood

Chapter 13

Letting go – the many benefits of forgiveness

Chapter 14

Always send the elevator back down

Chapter 15

Learning from success and failure

Chapter 16

Mantra for the young and living on purpose

Acknowledgements

Ithank God; my Creator who created me to live with purpose and intentionality. I thank Beauty Seleme; my wife, my lover, my friend, my confidant and partner on this journey of purpose. I thank William and Ennica Seleme; my parents, my motivators who raised me to live life purposefully. I thank Klaas Moswane; my mentor, a prolific author, my friend who always encourages me to keep living with purpose. I thank El-Roy Chauke; my friend, my business partner, a resourceful man and a man who lives life with passion and purpose. I thank Decent Baloyi; my friend and a man who is always pursuing excellence – a man who is a gift to his generation. I thank Lethabo Nchabeleng; the young man who designed the cover of this book, and one of the most talented people I know. I'd also like to thank a great man, a man I'm privileged to serve under – he's my pastor and leader, Dr. M.E.C Moleki – thank you for modelling purposeful living not only in words but in actions as well.

Introduction

It's easy to know where we were born or when we were born but discovering why we were born is a more complex feat. Purpose ranks high in the order of things that are most important in life because when we discover our purpose we transform into the best versions of ourselves. When we live life on purpose, we kick down the doors of mediocrity and we desire and pursue a more excellent life.

Purpose defines us. It pushes and motivates us to become more. A person who is living life on purpose is more focused, they realise the importance of becoming more learned and they are more passionate and more enthusiastic about who they are and where they're going in life. Purpose also gives us a greater understanding. We begin understanding that our lives have meaning and that we don't exist merely to consume oxygen. I believe that it is especially important for young people to begin living life on purpose.

The future of every family, every community and every country in the world rests in the hands of the young. When young people begin living purposefully, radical change happens. Innovation rises, teenage pregnancy drops, infection rates are significantly lowered, drug-addiction decreases, unemployment takes a dive and the socio-economic prospects of the country and indeed the world go up.

Discovering purpose is the solution to many of the youth-related challenges that we face today. When you have a purpose, doing drugs is no longer on your list of options. You dismiss the idea or temptation to sleep around. You are encouraged to read more, to educate yourself further and ultimately become more as a person. Having a sense of purpose will make you walk boldly with your head lifted high. It will make you strive to be more competent and it will build your resilience. It will drown low self-esteem and fuel your confidence. It will propel you towards a greater destination and it will reveal to you the treasures that are within you.

There are young people who have gone or are going astray not because of a lack of talent or a lack of capacity or competency. Many are going astray because of a lack of purpose. It's not that we do not have purpose; it's just that we need guidance in discovering and fulfilling it. That's why I wrote this book. We all have a personal journey of discovery to embark upon and this book is written to help you arrive at the right answers for you.

To get to the right answers we must pose the right questions and at various parts of the book, I pose different questions that require introspection. Much of the book is written from a personal perspective sharing lessons learned and knowledge gained from personal experiences. I know what it is to struggle with feelings of purposelessness but I also know what it is to discover one's purpose and then invest time fulfilling that purpose.

When as youth, we begin living life with a greater sense of purpose, we will become nation builders. We will become responsible and accountable with our gifts and talents. We will develop into the kind of leaders that this world needs. We will make an impact that will touch this generation as well as the generations to follow. We will become beacons of hope and symbols of strength and courage. If we put our hearts, heads and hands in it and we are diligent in our pursuit of living life with purpose and intention, we will make a real difference and we will change the world for the better.

Throughout history, youth have been agents of positive change. Through passion, drive and sacrifice, youth have always demonstrated that they have the power to redesign social constructs and redefine norms. Youth such as the 1976 generation exhibited a militancy and a sense of purpose that is truly inspiring. Youth is to be celebrated. It is to be cultivated, motivated, shaped and sharpened so that the young can become effective in every sphere of society.

It was George Bernard Shaw, the esteemed author, who made the statement Youth is wasted on the young. It's a significant statement that I believe should be viewed as a challenge to us young people. By 'young people', I mean anyone who doesn't regard themselves as being old. There are people who are thirty-five and are old. And there are people who are sixty-five and still young. Famous poet Franz Kafka said, Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.

To stay young throughout your life, you must retain your ability to dream new dreams and set new goals that will challenge and excite you. Dreamers have a youthful demeanour about them that keeps them fresh. This youthful demeanour doesn't allow them to get old and stale. Yes, their bodies may get old but their spirits remain young and optimistic. Dreamers always have something to look forward to. As soon as they reach one milestone, they set their eyes on the next one. This is the attitude they have and it serves them well.

The tragedy is that many people spend their younger years, when they have all the energy in the world, on unproductive and sometimes destructive activities. Instead of pursuing an entrepreneurial vision, they pursue multiple sleeping partners and a promiscuous life. Instead of studying to improve their lives and mental well-being, they pursue drugs and abuse themselves with deadly habits. This is energy wasted. This is youth wasted.

Each of us have talent. Some are talented athletes, some are talented in academia and others are natural leaders imbued with the gift of leadership. But in life, talent isn't enough to carry you through to long-term success. Talent is merely a seed. It is merely your ticket onto the field. It has to be cultivated. It has to be worked on and improved upon so that it produces fruit. It is a pitiful thing to see a seed lying on some pavement somewhere instead of being planted in fertile ground where it can grow into a greater expression of itself. What are you doing with your talent?

We need to change how we see the world around us. We can begin by changing how we view opposition. Opposition, for example, can come in the form of the educational challenges that our country faces. I was listening to the radio and the presenter was interviewing a group of entrepreneurs all under the age of twenty-five who had developed tablets that were designed specifically to cater for the educational needs of children in underprivileged communities.

They changed the way they viewed opposition and they chose rather to see it as an opportunity. What challenges or opposition do you see in your community or surroundings that can become an opportunity? Which of your talents can you use to best serve and be the answer to society's needs?

All of us young people, we must prove Mr. Shaw's statement wrong. We must not waste our youth. We must capitalise on the time we have, the energy we have, the vigour and talent we have and we must make a difference. Today, for instance, there are more millionaires and billionaires below the age of thirty-five than there has ever been before.

This vast transformation isn't happening just in the business sphere. Young people all over the world are realising that in today's economy of social media, new ideas, innovation and internetpreneurs, their youth is actually a great asset.

Like a lion roaring or an eagle soaring, such is a person who is functioning in their purpose. Yes, when we begin functioning in our purposes, we showcase the greatness deposited within us. We become the shining light the world needs.

Confidence Seleme

CHAPTER 1

Why on earth were you born?

One of my favourite quotes is by the author Mark Twain who said, The two most important days in our lives are the day we are born and the day we find out why. You're reading this book so congratulations, you're alive. You've succeeded in completing the first part of that statement. But what about the second part? Why on earth you were born?

I believe that each one of us has a womb. I'm not here talking about the natural physical womb that females have. The womb I'm speaking of exists not in your physical belly but rather, in your spiritual belly. It's a womb that can't be touched with human hands but can be experienced mentally and spiritually. Each one of us is born with such a womb and each one of us is born pregnant with potential and purpose. Our purpose on this earth is to deliver that which we are carrying.

Some are born pregnant with the potential to be great entrepreneurs and to live out their purpose, they must birth those entrepreneurial ideas. Some are born pregnant with the potential to be doctors that will help heal people. Some are born pregnant with the potential to sing great songs that will inspire people.

Some are born pregnant with the potential to become impactful politicians who will create positive change in people's lives, or great teachers that will develop the next generation of great leaders. I don't know