3 reasons to get clear on your purpose

Purpose is the ‘why’ in our lives: it's the reason we get out of bed in the morning and our driving force towards the legacy we want to leave behind. The idea of uncovering our purpose is becoming increasingly prevalent in both the well-being and corporate worlds. 

The thing is, knowing something's a good idea isn’t the same as actually doing it. Sure, we nod, that sounds great. I’ll make sure to uncover my purpose… once I’ve [insert urgent chore here]. Many of us feel worried or frustrated that the self-reflection required feels a bit indulgent in our busy lifestyle. Maybe you’re hustling at work, or raising a family, and time to think feels scarce. 

And yes, it will take a bit of time upfront. But having a clear purpose brings very practical benefits for our motivation and resilience that will shine through in day-to-day life. It helps us focus on the parts - of our job, of parenting, of our relationships - that really matter and cut ourselves some slack on the parts that aren’t so important to us. Think of it as slowing down to check the map, fuel up, and then speed off in the right direction. 

Practical benefits of discovering your purpose

Here are three practical benefits that you’ll notice in your daily life:

1. Make resolutions that stick

Ever made some well intentioned resolutions which you managed once, possibly twice, and then they fell by the wayside? Get up earlier! Run to the gym! Finish work on time! Often these resolutions lack sticking power because they’re not linked to anything deeper.

Rather than saying you’ll go to the gym because you “should”, connect it to your purpose. Do you want to keep fit and mobile so that you can keep exploring the world into old age? Perhaps finishing work on time is crucial for getting home for dinner, meaning you have quality time with your housemates, partner or children every day and feel more connected. 

2. Feel more comfortable saying ‘no’ to things

We have a finite lifespan to pack in everything we want to achieve. As author Oliver Burkeman reminds us in his book Four Thousand Weeks, that’s how long we get if we live to 80 years old. Scary, right? And that means we simply can’t do it all.

Having a clear purpose helps us prioritise, from the big (what type of job should I do?) to the small (how shall I spend this evening?). Once we’ve got activities that we’re excited to fit in, it becomes easier - even for us people-pleasers - to say a polite but firm no to plans that don’t serve us.

3. See the golden thread

“Am I doing enough?” Many of us battle with a constant urge to strive: to work hard and tick off achievements in order to feel like we’re good enough. But naturally, things ebb and flow, and so having a purpose gives us a positive theme to work towards, whether that’s in big or tiny ways.

Say you’re driven by environmental sustainability, you might find huge satisfaction volunteering with your local primary school. But the following year, it could feel demoralising if you need to step back from that volunteering when work or family life becomes more demanding. Rather than beating yourself up for 'quitting', embrace this new phase. Could you honour your purpose in smaller ways like teaching your family about recycling, or taking a holiday by train rather than flying? 

If you're ready to uncover your purpose, check out my article, How to find your why, for my top tips.