Your purpose, or True North, is the single focus that pulls you forward. In this episode, I ask a series of questions about your life, your work and your mornings to help you see where you are versus where you want to be, then share the mindset, passion and resilience it takes to move toward it.
Key Takeaways
- Compare your real life with the one you imagine in detail. A mismatch is a good sign that you still have room to grow.
- Pick one focus, your North Star, rather than scattering your effort.
- Use a get-to mindset instead of a have-to mindset.
- Passion grows over time, and resilience means falling down nine times and getting up ten.
How Do You Find Your Purpose?
Start with honest questions. Is your life what you imagined? Do you want to become better at your job, a better parent, a better friend, a better husband or wife, or learn a new language? Are you using your best talents to add value in your industry?
Imagine your life as you want it to be, in detail. What do you see around you, and does it match what is going on in your head? If it does not, that is fine. It means there is still room to grow, and there is no finish line.
Do You Wake Up Excited?
Ask what you feel in the morning. Are you excited, optimistic and grateful for the day ahead? Do the things you are working on give you energy? Do you feel you are giving your highest talents and contributing something bigger than yourself?
Look at your surroundings too: what you hear, what you see out your window. It is important to ask whether this is where you want to be. If the answer is no, that points toward what you are striving for.
What Is Your North Star?
Your brain works like a time machine. Looking back, we notice what we appreciated. As a kid I imagined the life I wanted, and I keep little lessons from those years as tools for the future.
To focus on the one thing that matters, choose a single North Star that pulls you.
Which Mindset Helps You Move Toward It?
- Get to, not have to. Feeling that you get to do something brings aliveness.
- Passion. It shows in conviction, body language, eye contact, tonality, focus and discipline. It grows over time, and it is something you would suffer for. Once you have it, your brain finds tools, resources and people.
- Resilience. Obstacles will come. Fall down nine times and get up ten. Breaking through makes you more than you thought you were.
- Enjoy the process. Score your journey with music that intensifies your focus and brings out positive emotions.
What others think does not matter. People pointing out what you do wrong without offering a solution probably have the same pattern in their own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does True North mean?
It is the single guiding focus, your North Star, that pulls you toward the life you want.
What if my life does not match what I imagine?
That is fine. I say it is a good sign that you know there is room to grow.
Can passion be forced?
No. I describe passion as something that grows over time through doing, understanding and emotional intensity.
The Short Long Of It
Get clear on the life you want, choose one North Star, and bring a get-to attitude, passion and resilience to the journey.
Suggested Reading
- 12 Graphic Design Secrets That Will Make You A Pro In No Time
- 10 Creative Hacks for Artists & Designers
- 7 Easy Ways to Innovate With Your Team
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