Purpose

When you are driven by PURPOSE, you derive energy and inspiration from the sense that your work fulfills a deeper meaning in your life. PURPOSE, along with PASSION, is in the Meaning Domain. Although we all share a need to pursue meaning in our lives, for you meaning is a vital component to thrive at work. You may seek work that you feel you are “meant” to do and that aligns closely with your values. Practically speaking, you like a job that entails tasks or projects that make a worthwhile impact on something that matters to you or others. You will likely be most fulfilled when at least some facet of your work life feels like a “calling” or part of who you are. At the same time, because you are deeply oriented toward seeing meaning, you are likely to find PURPOSE even in roles or tasks that you would not necessarily consider your calling. You can feel purposeful in small but significant ways. When your PURPOSE motive is engaged, you not only have a healthier outlook on your career, but feel motivated to achieve your work-related goals. When your work relates to your sense of PURPOSE, you are more resilient to stress and more smoothly overcome failure. When a sense of PURPOSE is absent, you may feel aimless, anxious, or find yourself demotivated or vulnerable to apathy. You want to love the “why” behind the work you do each day. For your best quality work life, you need to feel like the work you’re doing means something significant to you or to the larger world. 

 You feel this motive being met when…

+ You have a deep-seated and personal reason for pursuing the work that you do.

+ You can see your impact and can feel that what you do is of worth to yourself and to others.

+ Your professional PURPOSE is in balance with your personal PURPOSE.

+ Though stress and other negative emotions may surface, you typically feel a positive sense that your current role is “where you’re supposed to be.”

 This motive is at risk when…

– You do not like or connect with the “why” behind the work that you do.

– You are unable to connect your role or tasks with a bigger picture without doing mental gymnastics.

– When you evaluate where you are in your work life, it conflicts with your deeper sense of identity and values.

– There is something else you feel you are meant to do, and it is not what you are doing now.

– You do not currently have a personal, interior sense of PURPOSE that allows you to find meaning wherever you are.

A Work Wellness Check-In for PURPOSE

1. On a scale of 1-10, how much meaning do I experience at work? (1= my job is completely meaningless, 10 = incredibly meaningful) How do I feel about my answer?
2. What do I find meaningful about what I do? Why? Do others I work with know this about me?
3. Do I feel I know what my PURPOSE is or am I in a place of trying to discover it? Am I somewhere in-between?
4. How does my work impact other people? Am I energized by the answer to that question? Can I extract meaning in how my efforts affect others? Would helping others in new ways add to my feelings of PURPOSE?
5. Does my work matter to something greater than my financial security or my company’s bottom line?
6. Does my personal PURPOSE and professional PURPOSE complement one another? If my job helps me strengthen my personal PURPOSE does that help me meet this motive?
7. Do I spend the majority of my workdays on PURPOSE or “off PURPOSE”? If I spend more days “off PURPOSE” what are the main reasons why? Are things like distractions, burnout, or conflict getting in the way? What can I change or where can I seek support from others? If I am on PURPOSE do I remind myself of this and feel grateful?

8. Does my current work support my personal goals and values? Does my company? Does my current work align, directly or indirectly, with my personal mission or sense of PURPOSE?
9. Why did I take the job I have now or pursue the work I am doing today? Do I still feel connected to those reasons? If I feel I have lost the PURPOSE I once had can I reinvigorate it?
10. What is one contribution I want to make, work I want to engage in, or goal I want to achieve in the next year that would elevate my PURPOSE in my work life?
11. If I feel my PURPOSE lives elsewhere, and the work I am doing now isn’t aiding that PURPOSE in any way, what is stopping me from pursuing the work I find most meaningful? What payoff do I get for putting PURPOSE to the side (e.g. financial security or meeting other motives, etc.)? Is it worth it?
12. How can I find or create PURPOSE and meaning at work in both small and larger ways? To what extent have I tried? Do I have a mindset that helps me find meaning in day-to-day life?
13. Do I feel my work impacts something that matters in the world, to me personally, or to others? If so, can I take the time to reflect on the positive impact I am making? Can I remind myself of this when work gets hard?
14. Do I put too much pressure on PURPOSE? Do I accept that some parts of work won’t always feel inspiring? Do I worry about “finding” my PURPOSE, or am I able to focus on creating and engaging in it?
15. Am I searching for my larger PURPOSE? If so, can I follow my inspirations and curiosities? Can I seek out ways to explore things I find meaningful on a path to discovery?
16. If I want to cultivate more meaning at work, what are my actionable next steps? Do I see concrete ways I’m pursuing creating more PURPOSE, or am I walking away from it?

17. If there are other things I want to pursue in my career to live my PURPOSE, can I see how the work I am doing now is supporting the bigger PURPOSE I desire down the road?
18. Do I feel blocked at work? If so, is there something stopping me from finding meaning, or from pursuing my PURPOSE in my job? How might I address those blocks?