It’s easy to lose track of your goals and values when your day-to-day activities are monotonous. Practicality plays a huge role in decision-making nowadays, which is why the meaningful intention of staying focused on the things that matter most to you, like your family, social circle, and hobbies or interests, could be taken for granted from time to time. As much as you’d want to prioritize money-making in this economy, it’s also important to pause and think about cultivating a sense of purpose.
According to Scottsdale Community College (2019), although having a purpose might seem trivial, it’s actually quite important for your emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Identifying your purpose will help you stay grounded and motivated to reach your goals. As Viktor E. Frankl suggests in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning,” being able to remember your purpose when times get tough makes it easier to go back to why you’re doing things in the first place.
How will you be able to find and stick to your values and goals? Maggie Woll (2021) identified points in unlocking your best life through purpose:
- Developing a growth mindset
- Creating a vision board
- Giving back
- Practicing gratitude
- Turning your pain into purpose
- Exploring your passion
- Being part of a community
- Spending time with people who inspire you
- Reading
- Joining a cause
- Practicing self-acceptance
- Taking time for self-care
- Reflecting on your strengths and core values
- Setting realistic and achievable goals aligned with your purpose
- Establishing a daily routine that supports your purpose and values
- Seeking mentorship or guidance from those who share similar values and goals
In his book “The Power of Purpose: Find Meaning, Live Longer, Better,” Richard J. Leider explains the importance of having a purpose and how it can positively impact various aspects of our lives. Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” provides practical guidance for aligning your actions with your values and goals, while Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” emphasizes the significance of understanding and communicating the reasons behind your actions and decisions.
It’s inevitable to fall into autopilot mode when you submit to a life with no sense of purpose and without values and goals. A well-rounded life is built on identifying, acknowledging, and honoring your purpose. Although it could be hard at first, consistency and some courage will definitely make you more successful in reaching your goals. As Damon, Menon, & Bronk (2003) and McKnight & Kashdan (2009) suggest in their respective studies, living with purpose leads to better health and well-being. It’s all going to be worth it.
Aurney Shayne B. Atienza
References:
Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people. Simon & Schuster.
Damon, W., Menon, J., & Bronk, K. C. (2003). The development of purpose during adolescence. Applied Developmental Science, 7(3), 119-128. https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532480XADS0703_2
Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
Leider, R. J. (2010). The power of purpose: Find meaning, live longer, better (3rd ed.). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
McKnight, P. E., & Kashdan, T. B. (2009). Purpose in life as a system that creates and sustains health and well-being: An integrative, testable theory. Review of General Psychology, 13(3), 242-251. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017152
Scottsdale Community College. (2019). The importance of having a sense of purpose. https://www.scottsdalecc.edu/news/2019/importance-having-sense-purpose
Sinek, S. (2009). Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. Portfolio.
Woll, M. (2021). Unlocking your best life through purpose. [Blog post]. https://www.betterup.com/blog/finding-purpose
