The Power of Purpose

Finding your purpose or your why is a key part of helping you set up and achieve your goals and on the path to living a life of fulfilment.  Once you know your purpose, your life can change forever. Your purpose defines everything you do - from getting out of bed every morning to whom you choose to work and spend your life with. 

By giving back to others through creating value, you not only grow and move further towards your own purpose, but you also inspire others to discover their own big “Why?”

Creating alignment in your life between what you do on a daily basis and your inner purpose and passion creates an opportunity for you to be more in flow.  It can also help you make decisions which are congruent with your passions and lead to a greater level of happiness.

Organisations have mission statements.  People can create purpose statements.  

Stephen R. Covey wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People in 1989, he put a spin on the idea, suggesting that individuals create their own mission statement as part of his second habit: begin with the end in mind.

Here are some examples of purpose statements from famous people:

Oprah Winfrey

““To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.”

Sir Richard Branson

“To have fun in [my] journey through life and learn from [my] mistakes.”

Simon Sinek

“To inspire people to do the things that inspire them so that, together, each of us can change our world for the better.”

Your job may not totally match with your purpose, but you may use your hobbies and family life to achieve your purpose. 

I would say however, that if you are starting a business then combining your passions, purpose and the needs of your customer are fundamental to success.  It takes a lot of hard work and persistence to start and grow a business and without aligning it to these three things you are likely to burnout and give up.

Purpose Principles

1) Reframe ‘the game’.  How do you position yourself in the market? (if you are an employee this is in the job market, if you are an entrepreneur your market niche). Rather than focusing on the money you will earn or wealth you will generate, reframing to think about what value you provide to others.  By taking this approach you change your state of awareness to the opportunities that are all around you.  When you get clarity on your purpose you are able to articulate your value for others to see.  You also get to find your tribe or the people you trust to play ‘the game’ alongside you.

2) Abundance mindset.  When you begin each day thinking about what you don’t yet have and what you need to get from others, you put yourself in a disempowering state of lack. When you begin each day thinking about what you already have and what you already can give to others, you put yourself in an empowering state of abundance. That’s how nature operates.

3 ideas to help you articulate your purpose:

1. Find your Why - work with a really close friend (not your partner, siblings or children).  Starting simply by asking What is it about me that makes me know that you’d be there for me whenever I need you?  Let the conversation continue until they start to talk about themselves and the impact you have on them.  You’ll know when they are getting close to “ your why” when you have an emotional reaction.
2. Think about your passions.  What do you really enjoy doing?  If you’re not sure then start writing a daily journal and use it to write down the thoughts you have every day.  Over time you will start to see what gets you excited and when you feel at your best.
3. Share your purpose with others so you are saying it often and reinforcing and refining it as you get feedback and start to feel comfortable with it.  Add it to your LinkedIn profile and resume.

If you are still struggling to come up with your purpose statement here are a few to inspire you:

“The purpose of my life is to be a source of light to other people and radiate positivity. I hope to find an inner strength that is inspiring to others.”

“My goal in life is to love others unconditionally and foster meaningful connections with people. I want to walk through life with an open hand, being available to form new friendships.”

“In my life, I want to achieve a harmonious balance between my career, my family, and fun. I plan to work hard but also seek excitement and adventure where I can.”

On the Unleash Your Inner Superpowers 8-week programme you are supported in helping to discover your why.  Working with peers and using a proven process you will begin your journey.

References:

Stephen M Covey The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People

Simon Sinek - Start with Why

Simon Sinek, David Mead, Peter Docker - Find Your Why