“When you know you are walking in your purpose, you don’t need anyone’s validation. A tree 🌳 does not try to be a flower 🌸 .”
As with many posts, this one started with a question from a work colleague this week. “Where do you pull it from Judith? The ability to show up everyday regardless of anyone else’s validation?”
If you speak with me for any length of time, you can probably sense my purpose pretty quickly. I try to live it at work, home, church, volunteer work, friends, pretty much any where I show up. What I’ve come to know is that if I don’t, I inhibit myself more than anyone else.
In the book The Courage to be Disliked, my favorite quote states “do not live to satisfy the expectations of others”. When you know your purpose, you seek with insatiable curiosity the true path forward for purpose realization. When you don’t know your purpose, the satisfaction of others drive your day to day choices. This is particularly apparent in the workplace.
A 2020 McKinsey & Company surveyed showed 82% of employees believe it’s important their company has a purpose; ideally, one that contributes to society and creates meaningful work. In some responses, individuals were willing to trade a part of their pay, for ability to mirror their purpose in work.
To engage the process of deeply understanding your purpose, start with a quiet place of reflection and these three questions:
1. In 6 words or less what is your general purpose? 2. Does your purpose slightly change in different roles of your life? Mom, Dad, Employee, Leader, Son, ect… 3. What portion of your day do you spend living your purpose?
In closing, purpose work starts inside and builds a level of emotional resilience. That was the answer to my question to them. The resilience is pulled from internal purpose clarity. 💛
In peace,
J
