Sarah Linton
TOC Director & Catalyst Advisor
Purpose. What does your purpose mean to you?
This topic has been an intrigue of mine for decades.
I often refer to my kids who have at times been my teachers. So when my 6-year-old (?!) asked this question on a road trip 16 yrs ago –
“ What is the purpose in life and why are we here?”
It sure prompted a deep sense of curiosity to explore the topic – I learned I was still searching for that answer!
Connection to your purpose will enable you to focus on what matters most to you.
It’s that first step in figuring out how to attain horizons that excite you and elevate opportunities that create momentum & growth in your everyday.
The difference between living everyday in monochrome on rinse and repeat – to one where colour alights you from within.
When you get it – you will know it.
Your Energy & Vitality will get a boost. You will connect to innate courage to
- take risks needed to move you forward,
- stay motivated when any tides get high, and you will
- move towards your more. Your more challenging, and more rewarding trajectory.
What is life purpose?
In The Element, Sir Ken Robinson says that our element is the point at which natural talent & skill meets personal passion.
When humans are in their element, they feel most themselves, most inspired and achieve at their highest levels. They are more productive, add more value and enjoy more personal and professional fulfilment.
The magic happens at the intersection of the 4 Discovery circles:
Talent, Skills, (Contribute) Passion (Care & Love) & Inspiration (Value)
Reflect on these 5 questions to help find your ‘zone’ that sits at the intersection between what you love, what you care about, what you can contribute, and what will be valued most.
Purpose Discovery 1 – TALENT
Your innate Strengths
Q 1. What are the things you have always been good at?
Your talents set you apart from others. List all the things you are good at (and conversely wonder why others find them so hard?)
- Are you brilliant in the detail, a natural at executing projects with innate precision that others find completely tedious?
- Do you find clarity amidst complex challenges with ease? Perhaps you are a genius at data or fixing computer bugs?
- Are you in your zone when you are public speaking, motivating others or an innovative thinker that generates new projects?
- Maybe you are a naturally gifted communicator, listener, diplomat, networker, mediator, leader, or creator of change?
- Is creativity your superpower? Are you a natural at problem-solving and known for coming up with out of the box solutions?
You may find you have a perfect combination of Hard skills & Soft skills.
If you are struggling to find clarity on this – HERE is a helpful resource STRENGTHS PROFILE
Q 2. What would those closest to you say you do really well?
(If you don’t know – Ask them!)
Prepare to be surprised!
We often don’t see our raw talent for ourselves and asking others can reveal your awesomeness. When you get feedback from a collective – patterns will emerge.
Listen to what you hear & take note – it will be invaluable and shine a light on areas you may not see for yourself. If you hear it 3 times – it’s a keeper on your list.
Purpose Discovery 2 – SKILLS
Your Expertise
Q 3. Where do you add your greatest value?
Being good at something does not mean that you actually love doing it. Often it can be the opposite & scores as low as it gets on your fulfilment scale.
We become experts at undervaluing our superpowers – we often need reminding that experience is invaluable.
Knowledge alone is part of the picture – knowing also needs application.
Where you can apply your expertise, skills, knowledge AND experience, it can help you identify limitless possibilities & opportunities.
This can help you focus on areas where you are most likely to succeed & have you leaping up that fulfilment metric.
When you expand perspective from a lens of Where do I add value? to What Pain Points can I solve? you will naturally be drawn to focus on the challenges you really enjoy solving, and any pain points you feel passionate about trying to solve.
Your natural strengths will come into their own & you will reignite those superpowers.
Purpose Discovery 3 – PASSION
Your Internal Desires
Q 4. If you could wave a magic want and be or do anything – what would you do or be?
I wrestled with this in my 30’s. I admired musicians, artists, and creators who appeared to simply do what they loved everyday! (I told myself one day I will do that – and now, I do!)
Consider all the things you like to do in your free time. Those activities where you are fully immersed in a zone – time just flies & you are in your flow.
It does not feel like a job, a task or work, everything feels so natural because it’s you BE-ing your best you.
Purpose Discovery 4 -INSPIRATION
Your Intrinsic Values
Q 5. What inspires you & lights you up from within that has you eating your soul food?
Inspire definition: Inhales ~ breathes life into.
A dream house, holiday, hobby or time with your icon are all awesome bucket-list things. This question relates to your fundamental why that elevates any concept BE-ing about you, to BE-ing about something greater than you.
You feel that pulse that gets you right at your heart.
This connects your passions and aligns your intrinsic values knowing that when you focus your attention on endeavours that light your soul, you grow your impact and influence in ways that alight you from within.
This is about you connecting to a cause that’s bigger than you.
These become congruent with who you are, what you do, how you do it & what you care about.
What I call truly, madly, deeply connected to your True North.
To fuel your inspiration check out our Blog: 30 Quotes on Finding your Purpose (publishing Friday 15th April)
Takeaways
- Living with purpose means focusing on things that matter most to you
- Shift your lens to how you do what you do – how you want to show up to the world.
- Knowing your purpose will stretch you and inspire you to boost your Courage and Vitality.
If you are drifting and seeking a deeper connection to elevate your connection to Purpose – our 4-week Discover your Purpose Module could be for you.
Want to know more? – book a complimentary cuppa with your Catalyst HERE.
We can accelerate your outcomes so you become a future version of yourself.
TOC Quote Galleries
Self Care is a HOT topic and very present for many.
As part of our Quote Gallery Series – we worked one up for Self Care to Nourish your eyes,
Inspire you and assure you that you are far from alone.
Grab a cuppa and check it out HERE.
Our gift to you. Your free guide to 5 Steps to Create More Time, Get More Sleep & have More energy.
Remember, sustainable change happens one step at a time.
Have fun on this adventure!
Here for when you are ready. Take care of you,
At the Tides of Change & The Wave, we walk with you to connect to your purpose and make living your intentional everyday your reality.
We love to hear from our community!
