PROFESSIONAL PURPOSE
A JOURNEY TO MEANINGFUL WORK
- MINDSET
Professional Purpose:
A Journey to Meaningful Work
Do you ever catch yourself just “going through the motions” during your daily grind and longing for more meaning and purpose in your work? If so, you’re not alone. The desire for meaning and purpose is universal, and often, it’s a transformative journey that begins within. Many professionals feel unfulfilled and disengaged at some point in their careers. However, you have the power to change that by getting clear on your core values and connecting your work to a higher purpose.
As leadership guru Simon Sinek says, “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.” When you find true purpose and meaning in your work, you’ll bring far more energy, creativity, and inspiration to all that you do.
Let’s explore practical steps to infuse your career with passion and purpose.
Here are 5 ways to infuse your career with passion and purpose:
- Identify Your Core Values. Our values are the compass guiding our decisions. As we act in line with our values, we find more purpose not only in work but in life.
What principles matter most to you? Is it faith, innovation, integrity, serving others, creativity? Use your values to guide decision-making at work and allow yourself to grow in your discipline and adherence to these values. Also, sometimes realizing you are in a place that is in direct conflict with your values can be the catalyst for you changing the company/team’s direction or finding work that is more inline with what’s important to you.
- Connect to Your Strengths.Each of us possesses unique talents (gifts) waiting to be uncovered. Delve into your strengths, both professional and personal. What unique talents can you bring to your role? Your sweet spot is where strengths and passions intersect.
A pivotal moment for me was discovering how my ability to listen and make people feel important was a key in transforming me from a manager to a leader of my teams. Your sweet spot lies where your strengths and passions intersect but if you are unsure where that is think about these questions.
What do I think I’m good at?
What do others say I’m good at?
What type of activities seem to give me energy instead of making me feel depleted?
Now that you have some starting points, look for ways to apply them more. It can be extremely fulfilling to both realize and begin to utilize your gifts daily.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) reassures us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Embracing our gifts, we step into the purpose for which we are uniquely created. - Align Work with Who You Are. Authenticity is one component to a fulfilling career and life. How can you express more of yourself and your gifts on the job? Bring your whole self to work, not just a professional persona. Authenticity helps create a positive work environment for both you and others.
I get that it can be hard sometimes to express your personality and interests. I remember back in my retail management days when we used to tell people to check their emotions and baggage at the door. While this worked sometimes for the moment, it created a divide when it came to the value of our next point of developing relationships.
When your work aligns with who you are, it becomes more meaningful and enjoyable. - Develop Personal Relationships. In the hustle and bustle of professional life, personal connections often take a backseat. I know, from doing remote work for over 10 years now, that in this remote age it becomes harder and harder to develop meaningful connections with others, but it is not impossible. When I was doing IT consulting, even though our work was siloed and very lonely, I was able to create some great relationships with people that made every day/week/year better than it would have been without their emotional support. I am blessed to still be in contact with some of them today.
Co-workers who know and appreciate you as a human being give more meaning to your day-to-day work. Build connections with your colleagues on a personal level. These relationships are the threads that create a supportive work environment. Feeling valued as an individual (or a human being), not just as an employee, enhances the overall sense of purpose and community and adds tons of meaning to your day-to-day life.
- Serve “Something” Bigger. Ok this is by far the most important tip I can give you. We are all called to, in its simplest form, Love God and Love People.
The “Great Commandment”: Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV): “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Having an inspiring “Why” fuels clarity around this. My personal why is “To Bring Glory to God and a Smile to His Heart”. I do this by helping to make positive changes in people’s lives each day in areas such as peace, positivity, and to love & serve like Jesus. This helps me take action when I don’t want to and show up at a level which I would not be able to do if it was all about me. What is your “Why”?
True purpose often lies in contributing to the greater good. Connect your work to your higher purpose, whether it’s uplifting others, creating positive change, or serving like Jesus.
Oprah Winfrey wisely stated, “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
When you take time to discover purpose and meaning in your career, you’ll be amazed at the energy and inspiration it unlocks within yourself and your team. The work itself becomes the reward.
And a final thought, as Colossians 3:23 (NIV) states, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Self-Reflection:
What values resonate most with you, both personally and professionally?
In what ways can you bring more of your authentic self into your professional life? Have you experienced a moment where being true to yourself positively influenced your work environment?
What broader impact does your work have on others or the community? Can you envision a specific project or initiative that aligns your work with your greater purpose?
Actionable Steps:
Create a Values Roadmap: Develop a list of your core values and use them as a guide for decision-making. Create a visual roadmap to remind yourself daily.
Authenticity Challenge: Challenge yourself to bring more authenticity into your professional interactions. Start by sharing a personal insight during a team meeting or networking event.
Purpose-Driven Project: Select a project or task that allows you to see the broader impact of your work. Whether it’s contributing to a community initiative or mentoring a colleague, connect work to your higher purpose.
Coffee Chat Initiative: Initiate informal coffee chats with colleagues to foster personal connections. Ask about their interests outside of work, and share your own. Building these relationships can significantly enhance your sense of community at work.
I am passionate about my Why of “To live each day in a way that brings Glory to God, and a Smile to his heart!” My Vision is “To cultivate a world where individuals radiate peace & positivity and, like Jesus, embody love & service.” I hope you will join me on a journey to foster a global community united by compassion, purpose, and transformative growth.
I love to learn, serve, give hugs, and have always loved the word Awesome!
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