You dreamed of one day starting a family and now, that dream is now a reality.  You are married, you have a solid job, a lovely home. You’re the parent of an adorable 2-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl and you have a little puppy, too.

You are living the American dream, but yet you find yourself feeling unfulfilled. My next question to you: are you living your purpose?

The people who are constantly excited about life are those who are living their purpose. Purpose is defined as ‘the reason for which something exists.’  Yes, you were meant to create the little ones you have, but you also have a gift to share with the world .  This passion may linger sometimes and it may fade at others, but it never really goes away.  The burning desire to do whatever this passion may be for you is your purpose.

As parents, it is easy to get lost in the crazy schedule of regular play dates for your kids, weekend soccer games and holiday parties to prepare for every year. Your schedule is constant and full.  However, having a full schedule does not mean you are living a full life.  If you have ever felt like there was something more to be had from life, it is probably your spirit forcing you to turn back to you and look within.  Don’t ignore the signs and let your spirit guide you to fulfill your life’s purpose.  I cannot stress enough how you will benefit and your family will benefit tremendously.

So how do you do this and still run a balanced household?  Some parents may have to work jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with their true passions in order to provide for their children. As my mom always said, “You do what you have to do, until you can do what you want to do.”  This means you do the job you have to do for right now, but stay prepared and ready, so when what you want to do comes a long you can walk into your destiny.

Here are some things to remember as you take that leap of faith toward your dreams:

Stay Prepared: Become knowledgeable about what it is you want to pursue.  Take a class at an online school or local college.  Find a way to place it in your schedule, asking a friend or family member if they are available once a week to help or by hiring a sitter.  If you can not afford to do that, become an expert by going to your local library and reading books from people who have done what you want to do.  Let your kids join you; perhaps while they do homework, you do your homework along with them!  In this day and age of electronics, there are really no excuses.

One Step At A Time:  Do at least one thing everyday to get you closer to fulfilling your purpose. Find other people who are doing what you want to do and share ideas.  Doing things slowly is great because it won’t take away chunks of time from your family responsibilities.Progress may not come as quick as you like, but even small steps add up. Before you know it, you will be doing what you love.

Stay Focused: A great way to stay on track is to create a vision board, where you can post reminders to yourself on what your goals are.  If it is to become an actor, put up a picture of an Academy Award with your name listed as the winner.  Add lots of words of encouragement that keep you motivated.  This is effective because there will be days that you simply don’t want to do what is required of you in order to fulfill your purpose and you’ll need the extra push.  Chasing your dreams won’t always be a blissful experience, but getting to the bliss takes focus and is always worth it in the end.

Enjoy the journey and realize that you have not only set out to reach your dreams, but you have set an example for your children on how to fulfill theirs.  By your lead, they will come to learn that the ultimate gift of life is living in purpose and on purpose.

Audrey Griffin is a wife, mother of four, inspiring educator and parenting lifestyle consultant. Visit her website, check her out on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.