Design Students! What is your purpose?

Do you remember what made you decide to go to design school? What was it that made you think this was the right decision? What end goal did you fancy all of this time, schooling, and money would get you? Do you remember how you felt when you were accepted into your design program? Do you remember what you thought was possible for you?in?that moment? Were you optimistic? Did you have aspirations? What were they??This?is your purpose, your why —?or at least it was. Maybe it is the same; perhaps it has changed.?

No matter what stage of your design education, you?need to be cognizant?of the?why.

Why do you need to know why? Because your purpose, past or current, can act as a touchstone.?It is an honest, personal, and?true?source of energy, focus, and determination that will get you through?the?tough?spots.?It is a reminder that the decision was yours and that the decision had purpose. It is your most reliable source of motivation.?

During those times in a semester when it feels pointless,?or?unnecessary, or without any value or worth, or those times when you?feel?there are too many projects, too many deadlines, and none that you like or?feel are?successful —?it happens, don't worry about that too much, that is when you need to remind yourself of why you are continuing to endure.?

I often see students get bogged down by the workload or consistent pressure to deliver.?In?the moment,?it can seem overwhelming, and many lose sight of their purpose and forget why they are spending some much time doing what they are doing.?Some?are able to?bear down and get through out of sheer determination. Others recognize that this struggle is temporary.?And?sadly, some step back and choose not to move forward or finish the tasks at hand —?often with significant consequences. Mostly, I think, it is because they have lost sight of the 'why' which would have kept the challenges in perspective and helped them to realize that this is likely a?small,?difficult?step in a?larger?process to get them where they want to be —?that place they aspired to be when they dared to imagine the possibilities. Do you remember what you thought would?be the result of your investment and efforts?

Most likely, you already know the why.?It's?there?inside your mind,?a memory, maybe?a little?obscured by daily distraction and cerebral dust.?And?maybe?you have forgotten to conjure it?on a regular basis?—?at least weekly, maybe daily, or as often as needed.?Write?it down, maybe in secret, maybe?on a giant poster?up?on the wall.?Put it somewhere where?it?can remind yourself every day. On days when you don't want to go to class, on days when you don't like the project (or the instructor), on days when you are tired, on days when you don't want to present, on days when the effort seems too much, those are the days when you need to remind yourself of your 'why'.

I?really?don't want to sound like some high-energy-out-of-touch motivational speaker here. But your purpose is your fuel. Or it can be if you choose to let it. And I don't mean this in an unrealistic jump out of bed at 4:00 am every morning to start your high energy, super disciplined routine to become the ultimate designer while achieving maximum physical fitness while volunteering at an animal shelter while practicing meditation for several hours per day.?I think?of?it?more?as?a quiet reminder to help you stay mindful.

Mindful that your purpose is perspective.?It should help you know which things are important?and which?things?are distractions. It should help you prioritize your time and effort.

Mindful that your purpose is your path.?Life is?full?of different adventures, activities, interests, and explorations. Your purpose should be your primary one.?It's?helpful and likely beneficial?to have a diverse set of interests or activities, but you need to?make sure?that your primary goal is at the centre.

Mindful that your purpose strengthens your resolve.?When you have a clear goal or destination, the steps in between will each have a reason for being. When you hit the?difficult?spots, that clear goal will make those steps?easier.

Mindful that your purpose supports mental health.?How difficult might it be if everything you were working on was nothing more than the task at hand, the challenge to?be overcome, or the burden to?be endured? Ugh,?so?depressing. But with purpose, all?of?those things become small temporal things that pass and fade over time as we take steps to get where we want to go.?The focus?on a?more useful?or valuable result helps?to?keep challenges in perspective.?The expectation of success and progress can assuage the?anxiety of the moment?— eyes on the prize?as?they like to say.

Mindful that your purpose promotes better work.?Staying?mindful?of your goals and objectives helps with everything mentioned so far.?And?in?doing?so?it?sets up a context where you can be mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually ready to do your best work.?It's hard to do your best work when you are anxious,?or?tired, or disinterested. Keeping your purpose front and?centre?helps to alleviate those feelings and prepares you to focus on what is?really?important.?

So…?maybe it is a good time to step back and remind yourself of the 'Why'.?

Let it be a positive source of strength and encouragement to?get further along?your path.?Write?it down somewhere so the cerebral dust doesn't hide it from view.?Maybe make?a poster.?I'd love to see what you come up with and hear if it helps.