Purpose

Behind mountains, there are mountains - Jamaican Proverb

I read an interesting take on the concept of purpose this week.

It suggested that we don’t discover our purpose, we create it through values-aligned behavior.

That we construct meaning through action.

Purpose isn’t something waiting out there to be found. It’s something we build.

Which means our accomplishments — triathlons, fundraising, career milestones — become smaller parts of a much larger story of who we’re becoming.

Our daily actions and decisions create the meaning.

As the energy of a new season arrives, and I recalibrate my focus, it’s useful to think of purpose this way.

It reminds me that reflecting on my values always helps guide my effort in an intentional direction.

And that when I keep focusing on the next small step, the bigger picture takes care of itself.

Values

One of the first things my coach asked me to do several years ago was define my values.

He gave me a list of dozens of attributes. I circled everything that struck a chord, then refined the list down to a half dozen that truly resonated.

That simple exercise was enlightening. It showed me where I was out of alignment in my life.

And that awareness became the first step in a new direction.

I didn’t make wholesale changes overnight. But I started with small steps, small actions that helped me live more in line with what mattered most.

Over time, I became more mindful of my decisions. It became harder to ignore the behaviors pulling me away from my values.

And eventually, I found the courage to take on bigger challenges. For me, one of those was giving up drinking. Overcoming it opened up an entirely new way of seeing the world.

That level of empowerment helps you navigate anything life throws at you.

Trusting that direction and moving step by step in alignment will always lead you to where you’re supposed to be.

Intuition

So we keep moving. A new week begins. A new season arrives.

As we pass one milestone on the journey of growth, how do we decide what the next destination will be?

We don’t. That’s the lesson, and the fun.

We need simply be pointed in the right direction and ready to take action. Any action that moves us in a direction aligned with our values.

Especially if the outcome is uncertain and the process will stretch us.

That kind of action creates clarity. Clarity that propels growth.

And over time, it strengthens our intuition which serves as our most trustworthy guide.

As we expand, we learn to let go of needing to know the purpose of it all. We find purpose in the experience itself — in connection, in love, in growth.

And maybe the deeper truth is this: our purpose isn’t something to figure out. It’s something to live.

It’s been hiding in plain sight all along.

#Coach Kris