You've reached the pinnacle of success, accomplishing all the goals you set for yourself, yet a sense of emptiness lingers.
You are in a perpetual struggle, unable to pinpoint the missing piece of the puzzle that would infuse your life with more meaning and purpose. The relentless pursuit of change to fill this void becomes a constant battle.
Our society has ingrained in us that success and happiness are inextricably linked to external achievements – establishing a career, getting married, purchasing a home, and the unending checklist continues. People often realize their unhappiness and the gaping void only after ticking off these milestones. Desperate to the chase for fulfillment, they relentlessly search for the next goalpost. However, this cycle never leads to happiness.
Some questions to think about:
-How do you define your purpose?
-Are you tethering your sense of purpose to your accomplishments?
-What is the true meaning of success – is it your definition or an acquired belief etched into your psyche as you grew up?
As a professional coach who has worked with numerous individuals, I often ask: "What motivates you?", ”What brings you energy?” and "What brings you genuine fulfillment and contentment?"
Surprisingly, the response I occasionally receive is a resounding "I don't know." Here's how I assist them in uncovering these answers:
The Values Assessment: The first step I take when coaching individuals is introducing them to a "Values assessment."
Alignment with Values: Subsequently, I encourage them to explore how they can align their daily tasks and assignments or work with these core values.
Observation and Reflection: Finally, I ask them to reflect on the insights gained from this exercise.
Aligning inner values with external goals helps unlock the purpose and fosters a heightened awareness of why we do what we do and the impact we make.
For example, if your core value is "Service," then:
· If your daily work involves coaching others, you are contributing.
· If your daily work involves client interactions, and you perceive it as impactful, you are contributing.
· If you volunteer in a school and aid in students' career development, you are contributing
The crux lies in how you perceive and connect your daily responsibilities to your inner values. This interplay infuses meaning, energy, and fulfillment into your life.
I'm not advocating that you relinquish external goals; instead, I propose embracing the journey towards them with heightened awareness, aligning them with your intrinsic values, and purposefully savoring every step.
Comments