The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose [Paperback]

Dan Millman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 1993

Dan Millman presents an entirely new way of understanding life and the forces that shape it. The Life-Purpose System, a modern method of personal growth based on ancient wisdom, has helped thousands of people find new meaning, purpose, and direction in their lives. The Life You Were Born to Live features:

• the thirty-seven paths of life
• how to determine your life path and the life paths of others
• core issues, inborn talents, and special needs of each path, including health, money, and sexuality
• guidelines for finding a career consistent with your innate drives and abilities
• the hidden dynamics of your relationships
• how to live in harmony with the cycles of life

The Life-Purpose System explores key spiritual laws — universal principles specific to each life path — that help you clarify the past, understand the present, and shape the future. It can generate a quantum leap in self-understanding and may even change the course of your life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Life-Purpose System is absolutely amazing in its predictive value. It will help you sort out your life and guide you on the path of fulfillment."
--Deepak Chopra, M.D., author of Ageless Body, Timeless Mind) --Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Best-selling author Millman invites readers into the world of The Life Purpose System, a method of life-purpose analysis that is similar to numerology yet more practical, using the time of our birth as the indicator of right livelihood. Millman doesnt stop at discussing the eleven basic life paths or their several variations, but has much to say about the influence of spiritual laws, from flexibility and balance to discipline and perfection. Issues of relationship and the cycles of life complete this ambitious work. -- Napra Trade Journal, Holiday 1993

The book is irresistibly accurate and helpful. Liz Bob says check it out. -- Liz Bob, New Leaf Magazine, January/February 1996

There's no doubt I'm a Dan Millman fan - I've reviewed his last three books in the pages of this magazine. His latest book, The Life You Were Born to Live, is by far the most comprehensive and helpful primer for changing non-productive patterns of behavior.

Millman's Life-Purpose System is designed to help you find new meaning, purpose and direction to your life. As a student of numerology, at first glance I thought it might just be an advanced numerological textbook, but upon further study I discovered a deeply-rooted tool to self-analysis (10 years of psychotherapy in 422 pages). By first calculating your Life Path number, (I'm a 24/6) you can determine your life purpose. Mine is Vision and Acceptance. Others might have to work on Trust and Openness, or Expression and Sensitivity, but Millmans book makes you realize that no matter what your life purpose is, you can attain it.

My life purpose is to accept myself and others for their imperfection. When I read the description about myself, I was shocked. It told me everything that I often feel about myself but have not understood before. Instead of doing my best and letting it go, I often get bogged down in the process. As a result, things, and sometimes people, never quite come up to my expectations and I am always disappointed.

As with all of Millman's books, there are only positive affirmations and ways to improve your feelings and actions. For each number combination, Millman helps you to understand your life purpose by working on health and relationship issues and determining your talents, work and financial abilities, as well as keys to fulfilling your destiny. All come together to allow you to truly understand yourself and the laws of spirituality that can change your life for the better.

Like all regimens of study, Millman's Life Purpose System has to be practiced to be effective. In my case I saw that part of my problem is wanting things to happen immediately, and not wanting to wait for the process to take effect. I think I have taken the first baby step in trying to change, first by reading Millman's book and then by writing this review without worrying about whether is was perfect or not. (Well, maybe worrying a little) -- J. Renee Lobenfeld, Whole Life Times, November 1993

From the Publisher

To our readers: The books we publish are our contribution to an emerging world based on cooperation rather than on competition, on affirmation of the human spirit rather than on self-doubt, and on the certainty that all humanity is connected. Our goal is to touch as many lives as possible with a message of hope for a better world. - Hal and Linda Kramer, Publishers

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 468 pages
• Publisher: HJ Kramer (February 8, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091581160X
• ISBN-13: 978-0915811601
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (135 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Experimental Psychology

More About the Author

Most people who've read Way of the Peaceful Warrior (or seen the movie) already know a few aspects of my life. And you may have seen my summary bio at my website, as follows:

"Dan Millman, a former world champion athlete, coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor, is author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior (adapted to film in 2006), and numerous other books read by millions of people in 29 languages. Dan teaches worldwide and has influenced people from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, sports, entertainment and the arts. Dan and his wife, Joy, live in Northern California. His most recent book is The Four Purposes of Life.

Dan's website - peacefulwarrior.com -- features a link to the "Life Purpose Calculator,"and to my online courses and other resources."

Now here are some personal notes:

In my youth I focused on self-improvement, taking memory courses, speed reading; practicing martial arts and gymnastics. Then one day I realized that no matter how much I improved myself, only one person benefited -- but if I could influence other people in a positive way, that made my life more meaningful and exciting.

I began teaching gymnastics, and elements from the martial arts -- that soon shifted into the larger arena of personal growth. I began to write and to speak more widely, especially after the publication of my first book.

I've been lucky, maybe blessed, to have the chance to touch many lives around the world.

Joy and I have been married for 37 years and we grow closer each day, it seems, as we gain perspective and cultivate a sense of humor (about ourselves and one another). I'm a proud father of three grown daughters and two grandsons so far.

I believe you'd find me a good (but not perfect) example of what I teach. I continue to practice, to learn, to serve as well as I can. I do my best to keep my head in the clouds but feet on the ground.

For more info about my books and seminars, please visit www.peacefulwarrior.com, sign up for my eList, follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or just search for peaceful warrior.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#88 in Books > Self-Help

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

112 of 114 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read: Not sure why this Works... it just DOES December 9, 2005

By Peter Messerschmidt VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

In the course of reading 100's of books from the self-growth, personality typing and "spritual path" genres, I have developed a fair deal of skepticism along the way. This book was originally recommended to me by a friend whose insights I respect-- but after a cursory browse at the bookstore I was put off by the fact that it basically appeared to be about numerology. I consulted with my friend who assured me that this was something "different," and "not really numerology." Against my better judgment, I purchased to book.

I'm glad I did.

Dan Millman-- best known for his "Peaceful Warrior" books-- has written a rather extraordinary and slightly (to my way of thinking) "mysterious" book, based on the simple premise that we all have a "birth number" (based on our birth date) which serves as an indicator of the path to follow in finding our life purpose. There is absolutely NO reason why this makes sense, nor why it would work. Except... it does. And I am not alone in feeling mystified-- Millman, himself, has openly confessed that he has NO IDEA why it works. However, I have checked it against dozens of people I know well, and the system comes up 70-80% accurate every time-- FAR over and above any kind of statistical "random chance." What's more surprising is that the different life path characteristics are fairly specific-- not just vague explanations that "could fit anyone." I back-checked this by trying to apply my parents' and my ex-wife's numbers to myself-- and could barely relate, at all.

The 430+ page volume is divided into five main sections.

Part 1 explains the Life-Purpose system, both from a mathematical perspective, and in terms of how it actually works.

Part 2 describes the Issues and Energies of life-- these are the 10 primary "issues" or life lessons humans work with on their journey through life.

Part 3 details the paths of each possible life-purpose number, including basic traits, positive and negative aspects, health, relationships, work and finance. Each chapter also includes a list of well-known people of that number-- which should probably be taken with a grain of salt, given that people express themselves differently. The chapters conclude with tips on fulfilling your particular destiny.

Part 4 covers Millman's 17 "Laws of Spirit." Each different life-purpose number specifically "works with" a set of these laws.

Part 5 deals with Applied Wisdom-- or how to make the system work for you, which includes relationships, deriving "composite numbers" for couples, life cycles, and more.

Final thoughts: Highly recommended (9 out of 10 possible bookmarks) for spiritual seekers, and people on a path to self-understanding. It's easy to read, and easy to work with. If you consider yourself a "hard-core scientist" who requires documentable and reproducible "proof" for a system, this book is probably not for you. Otherwise it's great.

Thanks for reading!

--Peter

96 of 102 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will floor you. April 28, 2000

By "irongiant"

Format:Paperback

The contents of this book will speak truths to you that will strike a chord in your soul. I have found mediocre success in astrology-based profiles- but in this book you will find an eerily accurate description of yourself.

Dan Millman has written many wonderful books about how to explore your highest path, but this is the most inexplicable. On Dan's most recent appearance in Atlanta, I asked him why this system is SO ACCURATE. His response was, "I don't know why. But it is dead on every time."

I have done spiritual consultant work for years. No system is more accurate than the one presented here. My number using this system is 37/10. At first this meant nothing until I started to read the description of this path: I discovered everything from an accurate description of my creative process to weakness in my heart and knees. No word written in this book was untrue.

Since then (about a year ago), I have offered consultation to clients and friends using tarot cards and this book. What is written in this book I use as a basis for the reading. It does not fail to be true.

You may be assured your birth number speaks volumes of you. Upon buying this book, you can calculate your loved ones' numbers and help them. The system will remain intact and very accurate.

263 of 291 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the book December 1, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I loved this book. all of Millman's book have helped me on my spiritual path. For anyone who likes Millman I would also recommend the book An Encounter With A Prophet.