Purpose matters. It always has.
A clear purpose brings out your best. It keeps you going when life gets difficult. It helps you focus on what matters most.
The challenge is that purpose isn’t static.
What inspired you at age 30 may not inspire you at 50. What drove you when you were building a career and raising a family may not serve you nearly as well once those goals have been achieved. And some people become so busy handling responsibilities, meeting deadlines, and paying the bills that they never stop to think about purpose at all. They simply live on autopilot.
That’s a lesson one of my coaching clients learned the hard way.
For years, his purpose was straightforward: make enough money to provide a great life for his family. It was a worthy goal and it motivated him to work hard, advance his career, and create opportunities for his children.
The problem was that he never updated his purpose.
Ten years after his children had graduated from college and started lives of their own, he was still working at the same frantic pace. He kept chasing yesterday’s purpose long after it had fulfilled its mission.
It took a heart attack to force him to stop and ask, “What am I really working for now?”
The truth is, every one of us needs to revisit our purpose from time to time. Some people discover they’ve outgrown the purpose that once drove them. Others realize they’ve been going through the motions for years without a clear sense of direction. Either way, the result is often the same. Life becomes routine. The days become predictable. And the excitement, meaning, and satisfaction begin to fade.
I believe you have a purpose. In fact, I believe your purpose is much bigger than earning a paycheck, paying the bills, or simply getting through another day. You’re here to make a positive difference in your family, your company, your community, or your corner of the world.
The question is this:
Are you living with a clear and compelling purpose today?
To find out, ask yourself the following five questions. If you can answer each one with an enthusiastic “yes,” keep moving forward. But if you find yourself responding with “no” or even “sort of,” it may be time to refresh your purpose for the next stage of your life and career.
- Do You Have a Clear Sense of Direction?
Have you ever been busy all day, worked hard all week, or even achieved a major goal and still wondered, “Where is all this leading?”
That’s what happens when activity replaces purpose.
Without a clear purpose, it’s easy to spend years checking items off a to-do list, meeting responsibilities, and staying busy without being sure you’re headed in the right direction. You may be making a living, but you’re not necessarily building the life you want.
Purpose changes that.
It acts like a compass. It gives you a framework for making decisions and helps you determine what deserves your time, energy, and attention. Instead of simply reacting to circumstances, you begin intentionally shaping your future.
Of course, a purpose that fits one stage of life may not fit the next. That’s why it’s important to periodically ask yourself whether your purpose still provides meaningful direction for where you are today.
If you’re feeling stuck, restless, or uncertain about what’s next, your purpose may need refreshing.
- Can You Keep Going When Life Gets Difficult?
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl discovered the power of purpose under the worst possible circumstances. As a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, he observed that people who maintained a strong sense of purpose often endured hardships that seemed impossible to survive.
Some wanted to reunite with family. Others believed they still had important work to do
After the war, Frankl summarized his discoveries in his classic book, Man’s Search for Meaning. He concluded that those who have a “why” to live can bear almost any “how.”
Purpose doesn’t eliminate obstacles. It gives you the strength to move through them.
When setbacks occur, people with a clear purpose don’t necessarily suffer less. They simply recover faster because they know what they’re living for and what they’re working toward.
- Are You Focused on What Matters Most?
One of the greatest challenges in modern life is not deciding between good and bad. It’s deciding between good and best.
Many people spend their days responding to emails, attending meetings, solving problems, and handling endless urgent demands. They’re busy, but they’re not always productive in the ways that matter most.
Purpose acts like a compass. It helps you distinguish between what is merely urgent and what is truly important.
When you’re clear about your purpose, your priorities become clearer. You spend less time chasing distractions and more time investing in activities that align with your values and goals.
When you’re purpose-driven, your vision clears. You can see what matters most, and you develop a laser-like focus on the things that truly deserve your time and attention.
- Do You Experience a Deep Sense of Satisfaction?
Deep satisfaction rarely comes from achieving more. It comes from knowing that what you’re achieving actually matters.
One of the best examples of purpose-driven living comes from legendary basketball coach John Wooden.
Most people remember Wooden for winning ten NCAA national championships at UCLA. But winning games was never his primary purpose.
Wooden believed his purpose was to help young people become the best they were capable of becoming not just as athletes, but as human beings.
That’s why he told his players:
“Success is peace of mind … which is a direct result of the self-satisfaction you get when you know you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”
Notice what he didn’t say. He didn’t define success by championships, rankings, money, or fame. He defined success by becoming your best and helping others do the same.
Ironically, when he focused on that larger purpose, the championships followed.
The same principle applies to all of us. Success answers the question, “What have I accomplished?” Purpose answers the question, “Why does any of it matter?”
- Are You Willing to Take Courageous Risks?
A powerful purpose gives you the courage to step beyond your comfort zone.
As one of my corporate clients likes to say, “We’re not here to test the waters. We’re here to make waves.”
People with a strong purpose understand that growth requires discomfort. They are willing to take constructive risks because they believe the outcome is worth the effort.
By contrast, if you’re more concerned with simply getting by than making a meaningful difference, chances are your purpose is either unclear or not doing much to inspire you.
When your purpose is clear, fear no longer gets the final vote.
One Final Observation
Purpose is not merely a nice idea or a motivational slogan. It influences how you think, how you work, how you persevere, how you lead, and how fully you live.
So ask yourself one final question:
Are you living with a clear and compelling purpose today?
If your answer is yes, keep moving forward.
If your answer is no or even “sort of” this may be the perfect time to refresh your purpose for the next stage of your life and career.
Because when your purpose is clear and compelling, you’re not merely making a living you’re making a life.
Dr. Zimmerman’s Tuesday Tip 1350 => 5 Questions to Determine Whether You Need to Refresh Your Purpose
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Dr. Alan Zimmerman
CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame
Zimmerman Communi-Care Network
alan@drzimmerman.com
(239) 273-7743 – Work
www.DrZimmerman.com