How to find your purpose for today
Your commitments are key drivers of your personal resilience
One of the key drivers of resilience is a Commitment to purpose, a bigger-than-self goal, an orientation to serving others and the greater common good. As Nietzsche wrote, “He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.”
In Chip Conley's "Wisdom Well" blog, he recently wrote about this commitment to purpose as the "second mountain" (from the book by David Brooks) with Success being the "first mountain" that we climb. At this point in my life (hello Boomer), I am drawn to that second climb to purpose and meaning. And with some significant need for success in establishing a new consulting practice, I find great energy and focus in the WHY I'm doing this: my purpose of inspiring and enabling leaders and teams to thrive through change and uncertainty. So one mountain serves the other (in this case at least). Purpose fuels and guides the business mission, while success enables me to pay the bills and continue to fight the good fight.
In Chip's blog he listed three steps to find your purpose. I found these clear and inspiring.
1) What would it look like if I showed up purposeful and optimistic today?
2) What do I feel deeply passionate about (there's likely a purpose hidden inside)?
3) How might I serve someone beyond myself?
Take a few minutes here to spark your own sense of purpose. What comes up for you when you reflect on these three questions? I'd love to hear from you.