John Hersey Leadership Blog

The meaning of our life is closely related to the personal purpose we discover in it, most certainly one larger than oneself.

In the course of our life, we never stop looking for who we truly are, for our reason for being; it is our way of being the leaders of what we may become.  We are as big inside as our world is outside, and we look without end for the next frontier on self-improvement and self-knowledge.  The more we dig inside ourselves, the more we grow.

Developing your personal purpose involves a journey of discovery and learning. It is not a problem or situation you have to solve.  It can take you many years and countless hours of reflection to define what is truly valuable and significant in your life, however, one thing is certain, your purpose in life is tied to your vision and values.

In order to advance in your search for your purpose you have to ask lots of questions:

-    What’s in my dream list?

-    What does this list say about my inner desires and purpose?

-    What activities and work energize and excite me?

-    When am I my best self, most happy and alive?

-    What are my special talents and strengths?

-    How do I want to be remembered when I die?

-    What would I like to tell about my life when I’m older?

-    What would I like my family, friends, colleagues, and partners to say about me after I’m gone?

-    Did I contribute to society?

No dream should stay unaccomplished, no book unwritten, no love concealed, no bright idea discarded.  If anything, we all should live determined to find our purpose; this should be our strongest motivator to be our best and never give up.

It is not easy to state your purpose; after all, how easy is it to put in words your deepest inner beliefs and thoughts?  It can be truly frustrating; however, it is worth it.  Once you get there, you will have more clarity and will feel stronger emotions and passion for your purpose.

Once you know what your purpose in life is, use affirmations to strengthen it in order to center on realizing your reason for living.  Use quotes that inspire you and energize you, and consider these too:

-    Support it with your work
Does your work support your purpose?  If not, try to find ways to fit your purpose within your job before you decide to leave it.  Talk to your manager about aligning your purpose with your responsibilities; make a list of the positive good things your work offers you and review it regularly.  Stay in the loop about opportunities to practice your purpose within the organization and your team.  Once you start looking for the good things, you will find a huge amount of them all around you.

-    Support it with your family
Talk to your family and write a list of family values and mission.  Everyone has to contribute with their idea of the perfect future for the family.  Find common ground and a comprehensive view of what you want your family life to be.

-    It is not about setting goals
It is a common confusion to think of goal setting as the tool for envisioning your best life and identifying your purpose, however, goals are merely stages in the journey.  In order to make your purpose a reality and to advance towards your dream you have to set goals and reach them, but these goals are a means, not an end.  Goals have a beginning and a conclusion, while the process to find your purpose never ends.

-    Be authentic
Your purpose must be yours, do not let external influences manipulate it.  It is about what you wish, not what others think you should do or be.  Forget about impressing anyone, you are the only one who should be positively affected by it.  Keep it to yourself.

-    It is a process without end
You whole life you must work to refine the expression of your values, vision, and purpose.  It never stops, like the need for food; it is something you require, something you live on.

-    Spend time alone
Learn to meditate.  Get some time to be alone, to be still, to reflect and to look for spiritual connection.  During this time, between 30 to 45 minutes, you will clarify your values, mission, and vision, because you will be listening to your inner self.