Have you hit the mid-year hump?

I’ve been writing a bit this month about the sense of life happening to us by default. At this time of year, it can become exacerbated. In Australia, we are in winter which tends to be a time to hibernate. (Side-bar - I don’t know about you, but I have been looking longingly at everything happening in Paris feeling the summer feeling over there, how bl)^dy amazing were the Aussies!)

So, you can be forgiven if you have hit the ‘mid-year-hump', going how-the-hell are we in August! This time of year, can be void of all the fun activities and connections that come with the spring and things can start to feel like ground-hog-day.

It can leave us feeling a little empty and uninspired. In my experience this can knock on into questioning our life’s purpose. We can hear the underlying whisper that there’s more out there...that monkey mind can play tricks on us and start to tell us that we ‘haven’t achieved anything this year’ or that we ‘should have our career and life all figured out!’ ?

Have you had these thoughts recently??

You wouldn’t be alone if you have and this has been coined ‘purpose anxiety’, AKA the sense of anxiety that we have when we feel like we are not clear on and / or connected to a sense of purpose in our day-to-day lives. In fact, a recent study I was reading suggested that not feeling connected to a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives can impact our mental and physically wellbeing. Conversely when we are feeling connected to meaning in our lives this has been linked to better wellbeing outcomes and longevity.?

Purpose with a little ‘P’?

When people ask us ‘what’s your purpose in life?!’ It can often feel like we are seeking a holy grail and builds up this sense of anxiety vs, in my experience, it’s much more productive to channel this energy into finding a sense of meaning right where we are. I call this little ‘P’ and it can be about taking conscious control of designing the life and career that feels more purposeful in incremental steps that can add up to build a picture of that longer term purpose....?

So, if it’s time to over-come the mid-year-hump and start dialling up more inspiration, energy and purpose in your career and life then here are;?

3 simple steps to ignite more purpose and meaning into your day-to-day?

1) Push reset on your mindset ??

Adopt an exploratory mindset that allows you to be curious about the things you are loving in work and life right now and use this as a foundation for growth. What we think, we create. Use the power of reframing and positive intention to calm down your mind, build confidence and trust in yourself. Say to yourself:? “This is exactly where I’m supposed to be right now for the next phase of my growth and purpose to emerge.”?

2) Use your support crew ?

Go for an uplifting walk in nature or coffee with a friend, someone who sees and hears you. Tune back in with an old mentor or work with a coach to start bouncing ideas and thoughts off them to spark new energy and identify the steps you need to move towards more purpose. See below - I have a little more help for you this week with this one!?

3) Get inspired ?

Build self-awareness around what you love and what your unique experiences and talents are. Update your Gallup Strengths profile . Go to interesting and diverse events to spark new ideas and connections. Read the book Ikigai, to understand the intersection between what you love, what the world needs, and the skills that can help you get paid. Start with identifying one new thing that enhances your life to bring more meaning and joy into it.? Let me be in your support crew!?

On Friday I’ll be sparking our latest coaching conversation with those that follow our work on;?

How to get clarity on creating your leadership (and life) by design.?

We’ll be talking about;?

• Why our lives can feel like they are happening to us in today’s modern workplace?
• Why it can be difficult to be authentic about what we really want in leadership and life?
• What life by design is and how to unlock it?
• The power of energy and the role it plays in helping us create what we really want in our lives ?
• The one tool I use with clients to help them create clarity on what their leadership and life by design could look like?

This is a sure-fire session to start getting you out of purpose anxiety and into a greater sense of meaning in your day-to-day and I’d love you to join me.

RSVP here.

When: Friday the 16th August at 8.30- 9.30am AEST live on Zoom. ?

BYO your tea and coffee of choice, all welcome if you want to share this invite in your networks.?

Here’s to getting over the mid-year-hump and sparking more luminosity in our lives' in 2024!?