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Living the Life You Were Meant to Live

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The single word that comes to mind that identifies Tom Paterson's new book, " Living The Life You Were Meant To Live " as truly unique and one-of-a-kind, is "perspective." Drawing upon his more than 50 years of consulting with global corporate giants; government agencies, small business enterprises, members of the clergy and church groups, his book provides a thought provoking structure that leads to spiritual self-truth. Mr. Paterson's process coupled with his enormous cognitive capacity and sensitivity to human strength and frailty, skillfully guides the reader towards an awareness of individual balance of the "five domains of life." The Paterson process evokes a focused examination of human and spiritual giftedness, resulting in a clear path for the believer to travel, that leads to faith, happiness, hope and contentment. It is evident that Mr. Paterson has lived the life that he was meant to live. Anyone who misses the opportunity to read this work, misses a legacy of "perspective" shaped by Mr. Paterson's personal faith and unique giftedness that is manifested within the printed pages. Perhaps most importantly, one would miss a journey of personal discovery of God's plan.

If you wonder what God had in mind for you when He created you, then I suggest you read Tom Paterson's book, Living the Life You Were Meant to Live. Paterson's book is designed to be a process guide to help you gain perspective on where you have been, where you are now, and where you are to go. The goal of the book is to offer the reader a sense of direction in fulfilling God's purpose for his or her life.

Three years ago I heard about Tom Paterson's LifePlan process. Since I was in the midst of moving across the country, leaving my successful private practice as a psychologist, and getting used to being a grandmother, I knew I needed help in designing my new life season. I decided to go through the two-day LifePlan process with a trained facilitator. My experience was life-changing. When I saw my life choreographed on charts around the room, I was amazed. I gained insight about my past life experiences, both the positive and the negative ones.

One result of my time with a LifePlan facilitator was that I realized God had gifted me to use this format to help others find freedom and purpose. A few months later, I met Tom Paterson at a facilitator's training session for LifePlanners. Soon I began leading people through the two-day LifePlan process and I know it works.

When I read Tom's new book, Living the Life You Were Meant to Live, I felt like I was sitting in his workshop again, listening to him passionately explain the LifePlan process. Paterson inspires people to find their God-given inner resources in order to experience spiritual vitality in their daily life and work. He encourages individuals to acknowledge their talents, see meaning in the "turning points" of their life, identify personal core values, and then face the roadblocks that keep them from reaching their full potential.

If you are self-motivated you can work the process on your own by reading the book. After reading the book, if you find that you want a personal guide, I encourage you to get more information ( available in the book) about hiring a LifePlan facilitator to work with you in an intense and helpful two-day format. This strategic plan process will work for you, if you will work the plan. This book is a gift to us from a man who has walked with God, listened to God's plan for him, and now fulfills this plan by helping others become the men and women God created them to be. I highly recommend Tom Paterson's new book, Living the Life You Were Meant to Live.

It wasn't until about 1/3 of the way through this book that the light bulb went on. I knew in an instant what the Holy Spirit had been gently knudging me about all along for so many years. This book confirmed many truths in my life. I am reading it again for a second time, NOW to put into practice the matrixs and find closure for several issues I have struggled all my life with. I am forever grateful that our Lord Jesus has inspired Tom Paterson with these teachings, giving the rest of us clear,concise guidelines to refocus our energies and establish a LifePlan the way the Lord intended. Thank You.

If you have ever met Tom Paterson, you will know that the words of this book come from his very soul. If you haven't met him, you should know that he has built a spectacularly successful career of achieving results in many major corporations and organizations through his own disciplined planning process. Consequently, this is not your average self-help book written for the purpose of selling books, but rather one man's desire to share what he has learned with others. While Tom does not promise (just as Jesus did not) that, having discovered the life one is meant to live, that there will no longer be pain, suffering, frustration, or huge hurdles to surmount. What he does promise is that life is intended to be fulfilling and rewarding, and that this is possible by understanding and doing what God intends for you to do . The book follows a very Christian doctrine- that is, the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. The theme of surrender to God's will and becoming Christ-centered are woven throughout the text. It might be argued, however, that the process outlined in the book could still be profoundly useful to the non-Christian through its insistence that the individual make an honest assessment of his or her life and build on personal strengths going forward. The chapters (fittingly, Tom calls them Modules) are arranged like building blocks with places to stop along the way to take stock of where you are. Follow the instructions and guidelines Tom has developed for the LifePlanning Process. Be brutally honest with yourself, and allow the book to lead you step by step to a clear understanding of your past and plans for a brighter future.

"For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths"(Proverbs 5:21).

With Tom's careful and tested assistance, you climb the mountain of your life experience to gain perspective; above the noise and stress of the present burdens and requirements of life. From this vantage, you see God's love and hand in your life. You gain hope, face and resolve pain and confusion, and peak into the horizon of your future. Unique, loved, gifted, with old things past and new things to come, you finish this book invigorated and ready to pursue the call of God in your life. This is a journey that leads to blissful surrender and release in the into the Life You Were Meant To Live.

If you have looked for years, like I did, for an effective tool to understand your personal mission and vision for Christ, look no further. You will find it in this book! Tom Paterson has taken the strategic planning process, which he originally designed for corporations like Disney and General Motors, and he has adapted it into a process called LifePlanning. It is for kingdom-builders like you and me.

You will walk away with a clear perspective of your past and present. You will have incredible insights and be surprised by patterns, trends and life themes you never knew existed. This, I think, is the true breakthrough power of the LifePlanning process - being able to step back from the business and bustle of daily living to see truth. Don't miss Chapter 9 on "Drivers and Comfort Zones" or Chapter 10 on the "Thinking Wavelength." Both of these simple constructs are life changing. By the time you get ready to write your LifePlans for your Personal, Family, Vocation, Church/Faith, and Community Domains, they will almost write themselves because of your new understanding of who God intended you to be.

Give yourself the gift of clarity and focus today. Let the Holy Spirit flow through Tom's words into your soul, as you surrender ever so deeply and live the life you were meant to live.

I read this book a year ago and now it is one of the books that I most recommend to others. Tom Paterson has an insight into God and mankind that help a person as they go through life changes.

His analytical approach makes one look at his life through a "big picture" lens and see what God sees. He breaks our life into 5 areas and challenges us to examine each area to see how God is at work.

Just as the wise prophet once said, "An unexamined life is not worth living" so Tom Paterson gives us the keys to examining our life and see where God is at work. This book can be used by anyone at any stage of life, but particularly one who is going through Halftime in his or her life and is questioning "what is next."

This book is well worth your time. You can do the exercises right from the book. In addition, there are a number of people, including myself, who have been trained by Tom Paterson to take a person through this process. Let me know if you want help in this life journey.

Having spent many hours with Tom Patterson in my working career it is indeed a special event when he reaches out to calm the storms that surround us all as we go through the life God has given us. It is not that he says everything is wonderful and then tells us it is only a matter of our prespective. Instead he tells us how to understand why we feel the way we do and how to accept these feelings as part of God's plan. He does not question, but believes in the eternal hope of mankind. Tom may have saved my marriage, but for sure he saved my relationship with my wife and helped us both to believe that no matter where our lives takes us we will always be better off for having seen each other in a new and different way. Tom Patterson's, "Living the Life You Were Meant To Live" is a book for all who are looking for understanding and guidance in marriage. He is a special person with a special message for everyone.

Tom, your LifePlan saved my life! Because of the plan I made a change in my job and have never enjoyed life more than I do now. God has shaped each of us uniquely for a life mission. Until a person goes through a LifePlan process either through this book or with a facilitator it is impossible to know who God has made you to be. I highly recommend a LifePlan for everyone. It could change and/or improve the life you live.

I met Tom Paterson in 1995 at a crossroad time in my life. I spent two days with him as he facilitated my LifePlan. Those two days changed my life. The LifePlanning process transformed my future and set me squarely in the center of the life I am meant to live. My life is authentic, fulfilling and flows from my passions and talents. Tom helped me get clear on these issues. Since that time I have sat at his feet and learned how to facilitate LifePlans. The process is genius - the technology is brilliant - the outcome is amazing. The content of this book reveals the core of the LifePlanning process. Read it...do the work...and you will be living the life you are meant to live. Tom Paterson is the real deal.