THE POWER OF PURPOSE
When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, what do you hear? He or she is likely to respond with big dreams and adventurous ideas such as becoming a sports star, ballerina, or marine biologist (my personal favorite). Childhood is a time of innocence where any dream is possible, and there are no preconceptions, practical notions, or pressures creeping in to cause feelings of worry or doubt. If a person could approach their entire life with this mentality, it would help free them from both the real and imaginary constraints that guide their paths and allow them to experience the wonder of what might be. As we age, learn, and grow from life’s lessons, the pure pursuit of purpose and passion get lost amidst expectations and responsibility.
Blue Zones researchers have found that people who have a clear sense of purpose in life tend to live about seven years longer than those who do not. Yet 46% of men and 40% of women say they’re still trying to figure out the meaning and purpose of their life. Another survey found that 50% of Americans say they’d make a different choice today than they did when they first entered the job market. Perhaps pressures or expectations on them caused them to settle for something they knew they were good at rather than discovering and pursuing how they could be great.
If you take a moment, step back, and think about your life, what would you do differently? When retirees (65+) answered this question, a majority said they would:
- Hit the “pause button” to reflect on their lives and make the most of the time they had.
- Take more risks to pursue their dreams and life priorities.
- Find their purpose earlier in life.
