“Wow. I don’t have to change jobs. I don’t have to figure out how to make money from my purpose!”
This revelation blew the mind of one of my clients, who I’ll call Hayley. More importantly, it eased the pressure she’d been feeling to translate her purpose into a business.
The Pressure to Monetise Purpose
When we hunger to know our purpose, it’s often because we long for our lives to feel more exciting, meaningful and fulfilling. As a result, it is natural to assume that discovering our true purpose will mean we have to make a career shift. This can be scary, because it involves change, uncertainty or entrepreneurship, which is not for everyone.
So it was a revelation to Hayley to discover that she didn’t need to build a business around her purpose. She visibly relaxed and settled into the process of gaining greater purpose clarity and using what she already knew about her purpose to optimise her impact without any dramatic life or job changes.
The Three Components of Purpose: Being, Doing, and Becoming
Most people confuse purpose with mission, forgetting that purpose has three components: being, doing, and becoming. Each is essential to living authentically while contributing optimally. Let’s look at each in turn.
- “Being” is often neglected, but may be the most important component. Insight into who we are at our core, our never changing essence, is profoundly liberating and useful. It is a form of deep self-knowing. I have witnessed many clients shed tears of joy as they have crystallised their essence statements. It helps them reconnect to their true selves, shed layers and protective mechanisms, and bring more of themselves to all that they do.
- “Doing” is where most people focus. In the True Purpose work, each of us has a unique process (or blessing) – the natural action of our essence. It is so innate to us that we may not recognise it. It evolves as we evolve. I am on the third iteration of my blessing, the details of which help me determine where and how I can best contribute.
- “Becoming” is not explicit in the True Purpose framework. However, there are two ways that we can see the power and effect of becoming. The first is by applying our blessing to ourselves. This is profoundly healing and growth inducing. The second is “living into our mission”, which often requires us to grow ourselves so that we can more easily and effectively fulfil our mission. As we do, we may well receive a further mission, catalysing our next level of growth and becoming.
For each of these three components of purpose, we have choices. Choices about where, when, how and how much to live into our purpose. No job changes or new businesses are required, though they may help at some point. But here too, we have choices.
Living Your Purpose Right Where You Are
In summary, you don’t have to change careers or start a business to live your purpose or feel more fulfilled. There is always a way to live more into your purpose right where you are, in ways that feel natural, joyful, and deeply aligned with who you are. Because purpose isn’t a job description. It’s how life expresses itself through you. And often, the sheer joy of discovering and living your purpose is reward enough, and will guide you forward.
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If you’re ready to discover your true purpose, reach out to one of the True Purpose Institute certified coaches.