Along life’s bendy byways, we can lose track of our core: that piece inside of us that connects to a greater purpose, that nagging ache we feel when we’re unsatisfied in our work. That loss of direction begs the question: Is this what it’s all about? Having a clear sense of purpose can mean the difference between merely going through the motions vs. living a fulfilling life.
Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were a kid? I wanted to be a writer. In grade school I relished vocabulary lessons. At age 9, I was scribbling poetry in the car while my parents drove from our New Jersey home to visit family in Maryland. When I was 12, I switched from playing Barbies to writing stories in notebooks. For my 14th birthday, my parents bought me my first typewriter, an IBM Selectric that weighed about two tons. In high school, I took every English elective offered; in college, I majored in English and minored in creative writing. Writing was my identity and my purpose in life.
My parents whole-heartedly embraced my passion, encouraging me to pursue fiction writing throughout my schooling and during my ventures into publishing. Although I now work as a coach, writing is a big element of my work, and it remains my passion.
Are you pursuing your childhood dream? If not, what derailed you? Are you living out a life that others mapped out for you? Nothing makes me sadder than to hear a young person state, “My parents want me to be a ______ after college.” I think the question should be: What do YOU want to be? You’re the only person responsible for living your life. You’re the one who’s going to have to answer a question at the end of this long journey: Did you accomplish what you wanted in this life?
But how? I encourage you to spend a few minutes listening to Alan Watts on YouTube. (Check out his “What Do You Desire?” lecture.) Or, pick up a copy of How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen, a book I frequently suggest to my clients.
Ready to start your own journey? Begin by journaling, chatting with a friend or just thinking through the answers to this question: What did I want to be when I was age 9, age 14, age 23?
Don’t want to go it alone? Perhaps you don’t have the right friend to join you on the journey of deciding what and who you want to be next. If that’s the case, reach out to me. As a career mentor, I specialize in helping people reconnect with their passion. And, the first 30 minutes of consultation are always complimentary.