Imagine how different the world would be if every one of us had discovered our purpose in life. Think of all the people out there with dreams unrealized, with work that depletes without re-energizing, the ones who feel aimless. I’ve been thinking about it all day, and I actually can’t wrap my mind around it. Could the world absorb that energy? Would we all join hands and have one big Kumbaya?
The people I’ve met who have come to know their North Star are full. By this I mean they seem to have so much energy. They’re resilient, productive, driven, thoughtful, joyful.
If I could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the world, I’d give that gift to everyone. Would a North Star for one and all be the silver bullet that solves all of the world’s problems? I don’t know that a “one thing” exists. But I’ve seen what can happen for one person fired up with meaning. Have you noticed how it can change people?
I asked via twitter, What changed for you once you understood your purpose? and got these answers:
@sara_mc perspective and the need to suck all the marrow out of every day possible. With a calm confidence
— Bearded Brother (@KyleHodges1) December 8, 2014
@sara_mc It became the major filter for most of my choices & it helped me determine the communities to which I wanted to belong/contribute.
— Jeffrey Cufaude (@jcufaude) December 8, 2014
I love thinking about purpose in both of those ways – as a lens, and as a driver. My own North Star – to make goodness – has provided both for me. I like this simple statement because I can apply it to many things that I love. At the core, it’s about using my creativity and doing good in the world. Over time, it has been like peeling an onion. I find new layers of meaning, new ways to tap into that purpose.
Have you found your purpose? What’s your North Star?
This post is part of Think Kit by SmallBox
Prompt: “Alla-Kazam! Wave your magic wand – whoosh – what would you transform, create, or make disappear in 2015? Don’t be afraid to change the world, or merely alter the mundane. Just be prepared to defend your decision with reason, or irrational emotion! Oh…this wand will self-destruct after a single use, so choose wisely!”