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I never had writers block before. But after writing the first half of The Seed I was stuck. For several days and nights I would stare at the computer unsure of what to write. Then one night in the middle of a deep sleep I awoke with the four stages of purpose that everyone who wants to make a difference will go through on their journey through life and finished the book shortly after.

Here are the 4 Stages of Purpose:

1. The Preparation Stage – This stage includes your birth, the family you were born into, your weaknesses and strengths, gifts, passions, the place you were born, and the experiences, challenges, and the lessons you have learned throughout your life that prepare you to be planted. It is this stage that makes you unique and provides you with the characteristics that determine what you will grow into and become. When you progress to the other stages of purpose and look back at the preparation stage of your life, you’ll realize that everything in your past prepared you for the work you are meant to do. Your greatest challenge likely served as the preparation to help you live and share your greatest purpose; and the worst event of your life often prepares you for the greatest assignment of your life.

2. The Planting Stage – The planting stage begins once we decide to plant ourselves where we are to be our best and make a difference. For many, this means planting yourself in your current job. For others, it might mean starting your own business, non-profit or initiative. For some it might mean a decision to let go of your selfish desire and vision and allow yourself to be used for a bigger purpose. The important thing is to realize that everything in your life has prepared you to be planted. You just have to decide to do the planting. During the planting stage you may not know what your bigger purpose is, however you simply start by living with purpose and have a desire to make a difference. Just as the seed must die to itself so it can give life to something greater we must plant ourselves and serve others to become all that we are meant to be. Once you plant yourself, then you proceed to the next stage.

3. The Growth Stage – When you decide to plant yourself you will begin to grow almost immediately. In this stage the seed gives birth to the plant. This is where you grow and your roots spread. You will experience all the right conditions to ensure your growth. Beginner’s luck happens here. The right people show up and the right situations present themselves in order for you to grow. You will experience events that help you soar to new heights, but you will also face adversity and challenges that strengthen your roots. You will experience nourishment that helps you grow in order to reach the final stage. And you will be pruned like a bush and experience things that appear to be setbacks but are really designed to help you fully grow into all you are meant to become. You will experience moments when you say, ‘I can do this’ and ‘I’m on the right path,’ and you will also experience challenges and face people who test your will and make you doubt yourself and your path. Unfortunately, far too many people give up in the growth stage. The tests become too powerful and overwhelming, and their will and faith falter. Sadly enough, many give up just as they are about to move to the fourth and final stage. If they had persevered throughout, they would have been able to experience the greatest feeling in the world.

4. The Harvest Stage – This is the stage where you reap the harvest you have sown with your seed. During the harvest stage your purpose becomes so clear you can say it in a simple sentence. It’s a time of great abundance. You give, you give, and you give, and you are replenished. What you give comes back to you exponentially. When you reach the harvest stage you are able to look back and see how all the stages are connected. Your past prepares you to be planted. You plant yourself so you can grow. You grow so you can produce a harvest that will produce fruit and your fruit produces seeds in others that change lives.

Note: I believe that as we progress to different stages we also still experience elements of previous stages. For example, if you are in the harvest stage you will still feel the desire to plant yourself and experience moments of growth. We also may go through several cycles of the 4 stages in our life.

What stage of purpose are you in? Share your thoughts about the 4 stages of purpose in the comments section below.

Have you read The Seed? We’ve heard from a number of people who, after reading it, have had amazing things happen to them. Do you have a story? Share your thoughts below or on our Facebook page.