Big Dreams Start with Small Steps

If your interests are consistently at odds with your obligations, it might require some more time understanding your bigger why. 
 
In the last week, I’ve spent a ton of time helping others understand the importance of their WHY. Between a Goal Setting Workshop and a 3 Pillars of IMPACT session, the discussions would lead to activities that would lead to debate about the WHY that drives them.
 
It’s not uncommon for people to describe their why with the same words used on their job description. The issue with this is that they are actually giving the job description because they are describing WHAT they do and not WHY they do it. 
 
That is where the uncovering begins but also highlights why it’s so important. For many, there is a fear of expectations that may have been put on you or you have put on yourself based upon what you think you should be doing based upon others.
 
To dig deeper into ‘why you do your job’ may become uncomfortable when the answer is simply that you don’t know. You probably do it because when you started, you needed a job and now you are in a cycle of work to receive money, use money to exist and repeat.
 
It is becoming an epidemic as young adults struggle with a lack of purpose. Among them, a purpose. You may be saying to yourself, “suck it up it’s not life or death.” But a 2014 study in Psychological Science showed that having a greater sense of purpose predicted a lower mortality rate across all ages. 
 
So… what is your Why?
 
If you are not ready to ask for help as with IMPACT Coaching, then at least start the process. Spend time in reflection to identify where your passion lives and where your energy is being drained from you.
 
Keep a Journal
Write about your day. After you capture the events, the thoughts, the experiences that you encountered on that day, finish off by writing what you are grateful for right then. Many times we use the journal to capture our complaints and frustrations. That can take us away from our purpose. Coming to showing gratitude puts us on a positive tract and we may begin to see a trend on where we are grateful. I personally journal in the morning so I can reflect on the previous day and to start my day out right. 
 
Picture the Future
Block off time to picture yourself at a future point in time where you feel great, are happy, and that makes you smile as you contemplate. Spend time digging deeper, adding clarity to this picture, making it a solid, future reality.
 
Assess Where You Are
Ask yourself what is at the core of that future state and reflect on whether the path you are currently traveling will get you there. If not, then it might be time to engage others so that the future state you picture in your mind can start to become the current state you that are living. 
 
It all starts with a step.
 
Take the first step in finding your WHY so that your journey will have purpose as it takes you Beyond Today. 

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