Finding Your Everyday Purpose

It’s easy to fall asleep with a dream– after all, who doesn’t drift off with hopes, goals, and inspiration buzzing in their head?– but waking up with a purpose can be a real challenge (it certainly is for me).

We talk a lot about dreams and goals in this space– but what about purpose? How do we define purpose and make it a driving force for good in our lives, instead of an extra pressure, an anxiety-inducing concept?

Purpose, for me, can be both an organizational inspiration and a secret motivation weapon. When I wake up with a clear idea of what I want to accomplish, in both the Big Picture and Daily sense, I can chart out my time and energy accordingly. Take that nightly dream, those scribbled ideas and secret hopes, and make an action plan. Those dreams will morph into a tangible passion, a plan you can follow towards success.

On the “secret weapon” side, I take my dreams and purpose and find a way to motivate myself when my energy is really failing. Think of it like luring a mouse with cheese or a 20-something girl living alone with chocolate. It’s a last resort, but it usually works. When I’m slogging through a run, questioning why I subject myself to grueling training every day, or when I feel uninspired with a client project or this blog, I turn to my purpose and find an unexpected way to motivate myself towards the finish line.

The best part about waking up with a purpose? It makes each day special. It makes every day worth it. You’ll never have a “bad day” again– because each day will contribute to your purpose and, thus, your dreams, in their own way. No two days need to be the same; maybe you’ll still wake up and go to the office, swing by the gym, and come home, but the way you prioritize your time, the tasks you do, the focus you have, can all vary based on what your dreams and purpose require.

Does any of that make sense? Let’s just leave it at this: purpose, passion, dreams, and goals– this is the stuff that makes life great. Take a moment this week and find yours. Draw out your map. Define what these words mean to you and your life.

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