Purpose

To get things done, to move forward, you must have a purpose. Your purpose is what drives you. Your purpose could be to pay something as uninspiring as your mortgage. But, the drive to pay your mortgage might push you to step out of your comfort zone and accomplish more than you originally set out to do.

Your purpose is your reason ‘why'. Why do I get up early to work out? Why do I keep working on that side project? Unlike animals which are driven simply to survive, we crave more from life than mere survival. Looking at employee engagement statistics that are consistently on the low end, it would point to a lack of purpose. There are many questions you could ask yourself in order to discover your ‘why’. What am I passionate about? What accomplishments am I most proud of? What are my talents & abilities?

Your purpose, or your life’s work, sits in the area of of your talents, skills & expertise, passion and your values. I.e. You might be a talented writer, but your training is in engineering. Think about what activity fuels you the most, and likely what your passionate about will line up with a natural talent and/or skills you have attained. You don’t have to be in your dream job to have a purpose. In any role we can find some purpose, some part of the role that drives you, or perhaps it helps fund your creative outlet which fuels you to continue on towards your goals. Whatever it is, if you are unfulfilled you should make adjustments in your life. These adjustments don’t need to be disruptive, but if you don’t prioritize what you need, not only will you suffer, so will those around you.

Unlike a goal you’re shooting for, a purpose will evolve. As you try something that your passionate about you might find you’re good at it. If it started as a hobby, perhaps you are able to turn it into a business.

Understanding your purpose may compel you to take on challenges that will stretch you as much as they inspire you.