Determing Your Purpose - Part 2

In one word, what’s my purpose?

Remember that question? It is where we left off from the last article. It should have got you thinking.

As an individual, team or organization, where has your thinking got to?

There are those people who are too afraid to ask the question. They are afraid that the answer may explain why their lives or their businesses are perhaps unfulfilling. That means they would have to assume responsibility for where they are at rather than using the escape of blaming everyone else for their situation and their sense of frustration or dissatisfaction. To confront themselves would mean they would have to change. And the FEAR OF CHANGE is what holds many people and organisations back from their true self and their true purpose.

Just so you know. It took me 42 years to discover my purpose. Why so long? I never really confronted myself with the question. When I did, the answer slowly revealed itself.

Now, for some of you, you did not really need to ask the question because you already knew the answer. Congratulations! Now the mantle of responsibility is on you to live your purpose more fully and, thereby, help others to live theirs.

Perhaps, for some of the rest of you, you now have a good idea as to what is your purpose. Well done! Keep it foremost in mind and begin to use it as the compass it is meant to be that will lead you to a more fulfilling career and more fulfilling life. With that focus its purity will be distilled.

If you do not yet know your purpose then we will continue this exploration and provide you with some guidance on how you can approach answering this life-changing question.
Here are a few approaches for you to consider that you can use to help you define what is your purpose:

1. Be 3. Three year old toddlers are perhaps the smartest people on the planet. They are incessant in getting to the root of an answer. My daughter went through this phase last year as a 3 year old. She kept asking the questio
"Why?" She wanted to know the answer. And she kept asking that question until she was satisfied (and I was exhausted) she had the answer she was seeking. And you should keep asking it too. It is an immensely significant and powerful question.

For example, start by asking yourself, “Why do I do what I do”? …Now ask yourself, “Why that is that important to me? And then on that answer ask the same question, “And why is that important to me?” And keep going until you can go no further. At that point you have come very close to the core answer to your question – your purpose.

2. Identify those areas in your life that provide you with the most stimulation, energy, and excitement. What are you passionate about? Your passion and purpose are very aligned. Sometimes it is easier to seek your passions first and your purpose will be born from there.

Where do you get a consistent buzz? What are you doing and who are you being when that happens?

Ask yourself, "Where in my life, across all my roles, do I feel like I am in the zone? Where do things flow?” Your answer will give you a clue that you are aligning to your purpose.

3. Consider your strengths. What are they? Your gifts? Where have you been able to exercise those fully? Where have you used those to serve others? Answering these will help identify a location, a field and/or a focus for your life. In that lies your purpose.

4. Ask friends, family, and colleagues what they believe or disce
is your purpose. Make sure to ask only of those whom you know and trust and who know you well and who will be honest with their feedback. What you are looking for is a common thread in their answers.

5. Another approach is to finish off this phrase, “My purpose is to bring...".

One or all of these should help. Once you have identified your purpose, make the effort to determine one word that sums it all up for you (whether you are approaching this as an individual, team or organisation).

A questio
I often get asked at this point is, “Won’t it be possible that someone else will have the same word; the same purpose?”

My answer is “Yes. Absolutely.” However, your approach to it, your context and your impact will be unique. Why? Because you are unique! This allows you to be authentic. Being authentic means your body, mind and soul will be in harmony. When that happens your whole being is "singing".
If you are not “singing” and feel discordant with your work and/or your life it is likely you are not in alignment with your purpose. When there is discord stop. Review what is going on and determine what needs to change.

When you are not authentic you likely experience frustration. I did. Several times. As a result I have changed my career from veterinarian to army officer to post-grad student to trainer to consultant to coach/speaker/author. All the while I was moving toward my purpose, whether I was aware of it or not. For you and me, energy spent anywhere else other than your purpose is often wasted. Where you feel drained - like bad habits and attitudes, wrong relationships, lesser priorities and those other things that actually distract you – these are keeping you from your purpose. Deal with them.
Everyone is entitled to their own purpose because it is theirs alone. When you know it "fits" for you it is right. Do not allow others to dissuade you. Remember most of us have "crabs" in our lives - people who will seek to pull you back into the bucket with them because they are comfortable where they are and your purpose and aspirations will challenge them. They generally think they need to pull you back because it makes them feel better about themselves. It is really about them. Not about you. Identify your “crabs” and manage those relationships to minimise the drag effect they may have on you living your purpose fully.

We are designed to serve one another not feed off one another. We all need others to truly achieve / live our purposes. That can be perceived on of two ways. First, some may take the approach to use others. This is a very self-centred approach. You may achieve your purpose but it will likely be more difficult and less fulfilling. Second, serve others. This is a humble and more selfless approach by which you will likely achieve your purpose more easily with more fulfilment.

No one purpose greater than another. There is just your purpose. That is the one that is most important. Once you know it, examine all areas of your life and ascertain if each area is keeping you on purpose. Where an area is not, decide when it is reasonable to withdraw or change and/or decide where you need to move next to keep you on purpose.
Live your purpose. Love your purpose. Live your dream.
By all means let me know how you get on. Remember. Our purposes are interdependent. Every person’s or organization’s purpose serves others, for without others, we cannot truly fulfil our purposes. When we serve one another we truly become free.

Who knows? Perhaps, by sharing your purpose, I can help further yours or your organisation’s and vice versa? Now that would be interesting!