In a number of my blogs, I talk a lot about finding meaning and purpose.
To wit, it was the subtitle of my book: “Find Meaning, Live with Purpose, and Leave a Legacy.”
If you’re breathing, there is a strong urge to discover your purpose, live life to the fullest, and to experience joy.
But for some, there can be a struggle or ambiguity as to what purpose even means. And to those who’ve found ‘it’, it may beg the inevitable question of whether their found purpose is truly the ‘right’ one.
Fortunately, there are many paths to take on the journey of finding purpose. There is no one way, or definitive right way. There is only learning, and exploration, and getting clarity of what resonates with you.
Author Simon Sinek suggests we should start with ‘why’. By cultivating your why, you’re more likely to find a path worth exploring. In our Refocus on Retirement Workshops that we hold at our firm, we provide attendees with an exercise to help them discover their Values. It’s a card deck that you cipher through to narrow your Values down to what’s most important to you.
For example, if your Value is Helping Others, ask yourself why that’s important to you. If it’s a desire to leave the world better than you found it, or spend more time with your grandchildren, or writing that book that’s been in your head for quite some time, truly step back and determine why those things are making the top of your list. Explore the ideas that come to you.
Remember, purpose can change, but values don’t. Values are stable, and are the means of discovering your true north. Once discovered, purpose ensues.
I caught up with a close friend recently who’d been named as the Chaplain of a local hospital. “I love what I do. I’m almost afraid to say it, but I think I’ve found my calling.” If you’ve found ‘it’, I’d be first in line to hear what you discovered and how you arrived at it. On the other hand, you may be still on the path of searching. I’d love to hear about what you’ve tried, and offer you encouragement along your journey.
We’re all in this together. Start with ‘why’, then define what you value…
And live on purpose today.
