Let's Talk.... Purpose

Your purpose is your objective. It’s your reason why. It guides you, gives you clarity and focuses your thoughts. The sooner you get to know it, to work with it and not against it, the more content you become.

Purpose is something you choose to follow. If life's a boat sailing across the ocean, your purpose is the desert island you where born to reach. Knowing you're on your way there is the ultimate motivation.

We all know that in the boat analogy we can’t control the weather, but we can choose the direction we head in. When life inevitably blows you off course and things get really stormy, knowing you're following your Purpose, will get you back on track and keep you focused. Over the course of your life hopefully you'll make it to many of these desert islands, be thoroughly content where you are and know exactly when it's time to go off and explore again.

Making purposeful choices, working towards a goal that is important to you is what it's all about. Because having Purpose is what makes us happy. Don't underestimate it- it's powerful stuff. It has been a driving force that has shaped our progress as human beings and can give meaning to our very existence.

However, nobody tells you the bravery required to be deliberate in your decision making, to choose to do what makes you happy and discover what is really important to you. You see there is a level of bravery involved. Maybe you have to quit your job, disappoint those around you or say no to something that, to everyone else, seems like the opportunity of a lifetime.

But finding your purpose can be the most incredible gift you give to yourself, not to mention to those around you, as you become the best version of you.

Every year on my birthday, I set my new years resolution. This year was the big 3.0 and I decided that I would use this trip around the sun to find my Purpose.

A heads up for anyone thinking of really doing this- it can be more challenging than you might expect. It doesn't matter how clever you think you are, how great your score board of life achievements reads or how well you believe you are perceived by other people. Finding your purpose is all about your ability to really look inward and (very honestly) get to know yourself. For me this was one hell of a confronting thing to do. But the truth is, deep down, we always know when we’re going in the right direction and usually our gut lets us know when we've gone off course.

But...only if we learn to listen.

Just imagine how different life could be if we learned to tune in and get to know our Purpose? I recently read something that struck a chord with me:

'What if we started asking ourselves WHO we are instead of just WHAT we do? What if we focused on building our character as much as we invested in building our resume?

Because when it comes to who you are, it’s ironically not the things we find ourselves worrying about, that actually define us. And this is so important to remember.

So for anyone reading this that might want to start this process...10 weeks in to this year's resolution and here's what I've learnt so far:

• Most Important Thing: Nobody else can tell you what your Purpose is. Not your parents, your friends, your partner or even the person you respect and admire most in the entire world. Absolutely nobody but yourself. Let's just let that sink in for a second...
• Get started by thinking about all of the things that make you happy. Really happy. Do this without judgement and with no expectations on what you think your answers 'should be'. Try to fill your time with more of these things and think about what it is about them that makes you feel fulfilled. Your North Star will soon start to emerge. That’s the direction you need to go.
• It takes time. And I don’t mean a weekend or a few weeks. It’s a work in progress and not a race or something 'to be achieved'. If you are an impatient, highly strung type A personality like me, then this is going to feel very very uncomfortable. But good things always come to those who wait...apparently!

You only get to do this thing we call life once. Nobody wants to wake up one day to realise they have had a passive career, are ploughing all their energy into something unfulfilling or are too far down a path they didn’t choose.

So go and get the clarity you need to start living your best life.

It all starts by finding your Purpose.

Laura x

To hear more on this subject from Neuroscientist Dr Diane Harner, check out this latest podcast episode of Splash of Colour (now also available on iTunes and Spotify)