Honoring Your Purpose
July 2024
My business name, Honor Your Purpose, has been unexpectedly showing up in different ways in both my personal experiences and coaching sessions with clients, so I’m giving it some attention this month. This topic is important because honoring one’s purpose helps us live and work in alignment with who we are, attracts that which is meant for us, and leads to greater satisfaction and joy.
Purpose provides us with meaning and direction in life. It is a compass for decision making and action taking. For some, their purpose is evident from a young age, allowing them to enjoy a fulfilling life in alignment with it. However, for many, purpose remains elusive and hidden until feelings of dissatisfaction, frustration, overwhelm, or apathy become too prominent to ignore.
That’s what happened for me. Especially as it related to work, I didn’t have a North Star guiding me to what my career path would be. It wasn’t until I started having conversations with other coaches and engaging in coach training that I explored this concept for myself. And it was through that process that I drafted a Purpose Statement for myself to help guide me moving forward.
Curious about my statement? It’s pretty simple and yet very meaningful to me: “I am the Spark who ignites the confidence and courage in others to be their authentic selves, pursue their joy, and believe in new possibilities.” I reread this whenever I’m feeling uneasy about things or unsure about next steps. It provides a reminder of who I am, the impact I want to have in the world, and why I’m doing the work I’m doing. It centers me.
I love exploring Purpose with my clients too. Although I often present exercises with imagery and visualization to unearth what is uniquely true for each client, here are some things you can do on your own to start exploring and defining your own purpose:
Self-Reflect and Journal
Genuine purpose comes from within, so self-reflection is a powerful tool in uncovering your life’s purpose. Take time to write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Reflect on moments when you felt most alive and fulfilled.
Ask yourself:
When do I feel most energized and engaged?
What activities make me lose track of time?
What do I want to be most remembered for?
Explore Core Values
Understanding your core values is an essential part of defining your purpose. Values often show up as key words within your purpose statement because they hold significance and importance to you.
Ask yourself:
What are the moments in my life when I felt truly proud and satisfied?
What values were being honored in those moments (e.g., integrity, creativity, connection)?
What situations most frustrate or aggravate me, and what absent or compromised values might be contributing to those challenging experiences?
Explore Visualization of Your Future Self
Visualization can be a powerful technique to unlock creative insights related to your purpose. One way to do so is to connect with your future self. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in the future, living your ideal life and allowing everything to be exactly how YOU want it to be. Visualize your surroundings, the people you are with, what you are doing, and how you feel in that space.
Ask yourself:
What do I most admire about my future self?
What impact has my future self made on others?
What advice does my future self want to share with me in the present moment?
These exercises can provide profound insights into what truly matters to you. Listen to your inner knowing of what has significance for YOU, follow those little whispers of your soul, and trust yourself.
Knowing your purpose allows you to be an authentic architect of your life, provides clarity and direction for your choices and actions, and enables behaviors in alignment with who you are. Living out your purpose not only enhances your well-being but also allows you to make a positive impact on the world. And what a beautiful thing that is. ✨
If you are interested in creating a meaningful Purpose Statement for yourself and need a little bit of help, let me know. Not only is it such a fun exercise to work with clients on, but it relates to my OWN purpose statement. Let’s help each other to honor our purpose. 😉
