How to choose your purpose. (Also: a fun survey!)

Published: Thu, 02/23/17

Earlier this week, I got an email from someone who wanted to know, "How can I find my purpose?"

This person feels lost and directionless. She's so tired of searching, wondering, and "not knowing."

Yup. I've been there. I spent many years comparing myself to my parents (both very high achievers), to my older brother (a Grammy Award-nominated musician) and to my super-successful friends (who all seemed to have things "figured out"). I wanted to discover my purpose so badly. I would journal, walk, think, vent, meditate, ruminate, and stress about it. On multiple occasions, I literally burst into tears of frustration.

Then one day, I realized that you don't "discover" your purpose. You don't "uncover" it. You don't "find" it. You just pick something and you do it.

Here's what I mean:

1. Think about something that bothers you.

Maybe "online bullying" bothers you. Maybe "poorly designed websites" bother you. Maybe "animal cruelty" bothers you. Maybe "boring dinner parties" bother you. Maybe "seeing talented people stuck in the wrong type of career" bothers you. We're all bothered by something. What irritates you? What makes you groan? What breaks your heart?

2. Ask yourself, "What's a cool project that I could do to help 'solve' this issue that bothers me?"

Maybe you could do a fundraiser. Maybe you could write a book to change people's hearts and minds. Maybe you could invent a new product. Maybe you could teach a "lunchtime class" for your colleagues at work. Maybe you could record a 10-episode podcast series. Maybe you could do a letter-writing campaign. Figure out a project that sounds interesting to you. Map it out. And then...

3. Promise yourself that you'll complete this project, no matter what.

Completing this project is now... your purpose.

That's it. Get bothered. Come up with a project. Work on completing that project. And then once you've completed that project, then ask yourself, "OK, what else?"

Living "purposefully" can be that simple.

(Special thanks to some very smart friends and clients, including Ellen, Nicole, Andrea, Paul, and Phil, and so many others, for showing me what it means to "choose your purpose.")

While you chew on that, here are a couple fun things for your weekend...

* FREE COLORING SHEETS *

I love doodling and drawing silly pictures. It’s one of my favorite ways to de-stress and un-clench my brain. If you’d like to download some coloring sheets that I made, you'll find them right here.

You can print these out at home. Go to town with your Crayons and pencils. Have fun!

* THREE QUESTIONS *

This April, I'm flying to NYC meet up with my friend Susan Hyatt. She's a remarkable activist, author, public speaker, and business coach, and someone I deeply admire.

And... we're creating a new writing class! Specifically: an online writing class for business owners. (Consultants, freelancers, restaurant owners, artists, all types of entrepreneurs.)

Susan and I would both love to know... "What would you like this class to include?"

If you'd like to add your thoughts, ideas, and special requests, I made a 3-question survey for you to fill out. I haven't released an online writing class in several years, so I'm determined to make this new class the BEST it can possibly be. Thanks for your input!

That's all for today!

Thanks for reading. Have an excellent weekend. Drink some water. Move your body. Write a nice "thank you" note, or a blog post, or a love letter. Your words and actions can change someone's life. We're all so much more powerful than we think.

I'm sending a hug in your direction...

-Alex

PS. This "blissful solitude" music playlist is one of my new favorites. Perfect background music for thinking, dreaming, writing, working... or choosing your purpose.

PPS. I've got 2 more bedrooms available for my writing retreat on the Big Island of Hawaii. Fri, June 16 - Wed, June 21, 2017. Writing. Yoga. A hula dancing lesson. Waterfalls. Beach trips. It's going to be pretty sensational. Maybe you'd like to come? :)