Igniting Passion and Purpose
“The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.”
– Pablo Picasso
Every year as the clock strikes midnight ushering in a new year, many people resolve to make a change in their lives. Some are swept up in the moment, others have been contemplating the change for some time. Unfortunately, the success rate of New Year's resolutions can vary widely depending on the source and the specific resolution in question. Research suggests that a significant number of people abandon their New Year's resolutions within the first few weeks or months of the year. One frequently cited statistic is that around 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by February, which would imply that only about 20% are still being pursued or achieved by the end of January.
How can you ensure that you can make your resolution a reality?
It is important to note that these statistics can vary greatly from person to person and resolution to resolution. Success in keeping resolutions often depends on the nature of the resolution, the individual's commitment, the support system in place, and the specific strategies used to achieve the goals. The critical factor in deciding to change a behavior is “why” you want to change. Knowing "why" when embarking on a new behavior is of paramount importance as it serves as a powerful motivator and provides clarity and direction. Simon Sinek in “Start with Why" suggests that emotionally resonant reasons for new actions are more likely to drive change because they create a strong connection between feelings and actions.
Passion and Purpose
Along with knowing the “why” for a resolution, successful navigation of sustained change requires alignment with both passion and purpose. Passion refers to a strong and intense emotional or enthusiastic connection to something, whether it is an activity, hobby, interest, or cause. It is the deep and abiding enthusiasm that drives individuals to invest time, energy, and effort into pursuing what they love. Purpose, on the other hand, is a broader and more profound sense of meaning and direction in life. It involves understanding one's unique role or mission in the world and how one's actions contribute to a greater good or fulfillment of personal goals. Having a sense of purpose gives life a deeper meaning and helps individuals set meaningful goals, make decisions, and find satisfaction and contentment.
Passion
Have you given thought to what you are passionate about? Angela Duckworth shares in her book "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," the connection between passion to long-term success. She believes that passion is the long-term commitment to a particular goal or interest and that passion, perseverance, and achievement are intertwined with one another. When individuals are deeply passionate about something, they are more likely to put in the effort required to excel in that area. A favorite coaching question to surface passion is “what gets you out of bed in the morning”?
Purpose
Defining purpose can be a bit more elusive. Have you even thought about what your purpose is? Jim Loehr in “The Power of Story” captures the essence of identifying one’s life mission/purpose. He suggests that your purpose should continually renew your spirit; get you going every day; provide an indomitable force towards action; and ground you in your quiet moments. Essential questions to reflect upon, whether you are twenty or seventy, are “what do you believe is your legacy; what do you want to be known for?” I would also include “what do we want to leave behind as a testament to a life well lived?” As a graduate of Antioch University, I connect and resonate to our mission -a quote from Horace Mann “Be Ashamed to Die Until You Have Won Some Victory for Mankind.” What quotes inspire you into deeper connection with your purpose?
Viktor Frankl in "Man's Search for Meaning” viktorfranklamerica.com shared that finding meaning and purpose, even in the most challenging circumstances, is essential for human survival and resilience. Dan Pink in "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" adds that purpose is one of the drivers of intrinsic motivation along with autonomy and mastery. In fact, finding our purpose is a discovery not a goal. When we try to make our purpose goal directed we risk losing our joy, passion, and fulfillment. There is a sense of deep connection to our purpose that is about being rather than doing. Our purpose is not necessarily what we are naturally good at, rather it is what drives us; what bubbles up from our hearts. It is how we show up when we are passionately engaged in activities that energize us rather than those which are obligatory. Living into our purpose not only energizes us, it frees us up to new energies.
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