In her December 2023 year-end blog, Diane Gorsky reflected on the evidence-based benefits of life purpose for personal and professional success. In this second blog instalment, Diane provides actionable suggestions for 2024 on enacting purpose --guiding your attention to what matters most.
As 2023 drew to a close, I had a poignant conversation at a festive event in the heart of Cambridge. I met with an accomplished group of professionals celebrating the holiday season and conclusion of a productive year. When the conversation turned to the topic of life purpose, I was struck that even those at the top of their game struggle. While endorsing the benefits of purpose, they discussed life’s distractions that grow rapidly, paradoxically, at the very time we need our “inner radar”.
“How can I embrace life purpose when my daily tempo is driven by my to do list? When my energy is drained, I just focus on getting through the day,” was one person’s heartfelt yet sceptical perspective.
When it comes to purpose, the time and tools to explore are not always at hand. Purpose is notoriously amorphous and complicated by the expectations of others. To facilitate your reflection, I offer three practical, actionable approaches to help shape a stronger sense of purpose in the year ahead.
- Talking to a supportive conversational partner
Dialogue with a supportive conversational partner is an important part of personal sensemaking. Self-expression is integral to self-discovery. Meaningful discussion with an active listener (like-minded peer, coach or counsellor) can help uncover your sense of purpose and what matters to you most.
- Guided questions and prompts
Thinking about purpose can be disorienting and unfamiliar. As such, guided prompts can help structure the exploration. “Over the course of a typical week, when do you feel most energised and fulfilled?” is a simple yet powerfully insightful question to get you started.
To help thoughts flow, step-by-step tools can also be instrumental. This was one reason why I wrote a short book “60 Minutes to Reveal Your Purpose”, offering an interactive (hopefully fun) approach with guidance to help articulate and enact purpose.
- Events and resources
There are events and forums on this topic, often with tools to take away. For instance, “purpose” is the conference theme of the 2024 WOHASU World Happiness Summit (Southbank Centre, London, March 19-20). The WOHASU app features free, evidence-based resources. I am facilitating a guided group reflection at the summit, and I look forward to reporting back on lessons learned from mingling with others who are intrigued by the potential of life purpose.
About the author
Diane Gorsky is an international writer, facilitator and speaker on the topic of purpose at the personal and organisational levels. With a Master of Social Work (MSW), MBA and 20+ years senior leadership experience, areas of expertise include group facilitation, culture change and organisational planning. www.linkedin.com/in/diane-gorsky