In today’s work-oriented society, what you do has become synonymous with yourself.
But I have found that your purpose in life is not what you do. it is who you are Purpose is your way of life and only you can offer it to the world. If you are an entrepreneur starting a purpose-driven business, the more you stand up for your business, colleagues, and customers the more you step into your true purpose.
If things in your life or business aren’t perfectly aligned, it doesn’t matter. The real purpose can be revealed in a crisis. If you choose to emerge as your best self, even if it feels like the world is against you, then you know that your steps are rooted in something timeless.
Instead of focusing on your next business budget or marketing campaign, take the time to focus more on your personal purpose. Focus on showing yourself for who you are. Here are three considerations to guide you along the way.
1. Take an inventory of your character.
In order to lead a purposeful life, knowing who you are is non-negotiable. If you are not clear about who you are, you cannot do your best.
Build a strong foundation to find out who makes you unique. Start with personality tests to identify your strengths and natural character traits. Identify your values by finding out what is most important to you in life. I once worked with a values coach to create direction in my life. After defining these values, I realized where to focus each day.
So many times we see each other through a single lens, but adding an outside perspective brings up a truth you don’t always know. Talk to mentors, friends, and family members to see what they appreciate about you. Your feedback serves as a check on whether what you see in yourself is correct or targeted. For me, people appreciate the level of compassion I offer along with my ability to be present. These are attributes that I personally value and know that lead to the greatest impact.
By identifying your values, traits, and motivators, you can live a fuller life and know exactly how to show yourself.
2. Changing the world starts with making your bed.
If you want to make a huge impact on the world, start by making a huge impact on what is right in front of you.
Instead of getting into the big picture of how big your business should be or how much money you can make, focus on being your best self in every action you take, every day. If you don’t lay every single brick as perfectly as possible, you will never have the wall you dream of.
Whether this looks like you’re preparing to hold a podcast interview, host a team meeting, connect with a potential business partner, or make your bed wondering how you’re going at any given moment and everyone can bring action. If you value honesty and you are a humorous person bring this to the table every day. All those little moments when you are your truest self and give your all will lead to a huge world of success.
3. Design an environment in which you can show yourself.
Execute yourself like it’s your only job. If you want to show yourself as your highest self, you have to live in it. That starts with adding rituals to your day that remind you of who you are and what you want. I have a ritual every morning where I sit down and check who I am. I have my values printed out in my shower and I have affirmations that I recite out loud every day.
While you may not have a million stores, you can safely pretend you are. While you may not have the leadership status or industry presence that you desire, you can show up or call a meeting as if you are. The more you live in what you want to become, the easier it becomes to achieve it.
Purpose is nothing more than to be who you are. Take the time now to find out who that is and bring that version of you into every single thing you do. You will be shocked at the effects you get naturally.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
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