Can You Find Your Purpose In Your Career?
Have you ever been asked, “what is your life purpose?” If so, were you able to easily answer the question? The truth is, I come across many who aren’t sure about their purpose or even what it means.
Purpose can be defined as the reason something or someone exists. It helps to guide our life path, our goals and dreams. Purpose can also be termed as something you love doing so much you don’t mind getting up in the morning to do it because it brings you life. It is a calling or what you were meant to do in life. Finding one’s purpose is especially important because it gives you a reason for living. A reason for being. A reason to carry on despite life’s ups and downs.
I have personally heard many stories about how individuals find their purpose. Some have always known, while others discover their purpose in different ways such as an epiphany, a gut feeling, a meaningful life experience, a tragic experience, through coaching, carrying on a family legacy or even on the job or through one’s career journey. Can purpose be discovered in your 9-5 job?
The answer is YES. Your career is one of many ways your purpose can be discovered.
This very subject was discussed on one of my Dream Living Podcast episodes – Can you Find Your Purpose in Your Career? Me and my good friend and HR professional, Terri Thomas discussed how we discovered our purpose through our career experiences and how you can do the same. Click below to listen!
Here are some tips to help you be mindful about the possibilities of discovering your purpose on the job or throughout your career journey.
1. Be Open
Be open to take on new opportunities at work. Take on a new project. Volunteer to lead a group. Participate in important organizational initiatives. Mentor someone else. Think about not only the skills you will develop but the possibilities of what you will discover along the way. You might discover something you love that can take you in a new and fulfilling direction in your career or even your life.
2. Take Risks
Along with being open to new and different opportunities, take risks. Think about ways to solve work challenges and volunteer to lead the charge. Get involved in something that is outside of your comfort zone.
I always say if you aren’t learning you aren’t growing and in learning, you could discover something meaningful that can align with your purpose. This can ultimately lead you to something even more meaningful in your life and career.
3. Take Personality Assessments
There are many assessments out there that can help you to learn more about yourself – your personality, career interests, motivations, stressors, etc. My go to assessment is the Birkman Assessment because it is personal and integrates the concept of self, career interests and motivational factors all in one assessment. I use this with my clients as we embark on a journey to create more self-awareness and map out a plan to achieve career goals and dreams.
4. Get the Support of a Coach
The role of a coach is to help create more awareness in your life and achieve specific life goals. I have personally used coaching to help me get clarity in specific areas of my life and helped many others as a Life, Career and Executive coach, helping clients find their purpose and define and achieve meaningful goals and dreams. I start with an initial consultation to discuss how we might work together, then create a package that best suits the situation. If you need help finding your purpose, schedule an initial consultation with me by clicking the button below. What do you have to lose? The initial meeting is free.
In addition to following the steps above, it’s important to note that purpose can change and evolve over time. What you were passionate about at 20 might be different than your passions at 30 or 40. This makes being open to possibilities even more important. Be open to change and new and different things in your life because it can lead to something more meaningful – even discovery of your purpose.
Purpose is about YOUR life. Once you discover your purpose, there can be many outlets for which you express it. Your job, volunteer work, your church, your business, your family and host of others areas.
The most important thing is to not give up. If you are still breathing, you still have a purpose to fulfil in life and be open to the possibility of discovering it not only at your 9-5 job but a host of other ways.
Angela Spears is a Certified Career & Executive Coach through Coachville and the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is the owner of Dream Living with a mission to help you achieve phenomenal results in your Life, Career and Business. To explore how Angela can help you take charge of your career, schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation by clicking the button below.
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