The podcast explores the concept of purpose, its relationship with values and work, and the pitfalls of being overly fixated on purpose. The hosts provide an exercise for identifying purpose and discuss pursuing purpose when lacking agency. They also emphasize finding purpose beyond work and the value of open discussions.
Purpose can be pursued through various activities and contexts, not limited to one's job.
Purpose should be seen as a directional tool, guiding decisions and actions while allowing space for personal growth and exploration.
Deep dives
Purpose as a Directional Tool
Purpose is discussed as a way to provide clarity and direction in life. It is seen as a combination of values, direction, achievement, and fulfillment. Purpose is not necessarily a rigid concept but can evolve over time and present itself gradually. It is important to recognize that purpose can be distinct from one's job and can be pursued through various activities and contexts. The exercise of defining purpose involves listing personal attributes, identifying activities aligned with those attributes, and envisioning an ideal world. Purpose is seen as a way to align one's being, doing, and contribution to the world.
Agency and the Pitfall of Expecting Job-Related Purpose
One pitfall of purpose is expecting all of it to come from one's job and feeling a lack of agency in pursuing that purpose within the organizational context. This can lead to dissatisfaction and frustration. It is important to explore avenues for purpose outside of work and find alignment and fulfillment in other areas of life. Accepting that a job may not provide full purpose but serves as a means to support other purpose-driven activities can be a valuable perspective. Recognizing personal values and finding ways to incorporate purpose into different aspects of life can help navigate the limitations of job-related purpose.
Flexibility and Fluidity of Purpose
Purpose should not be seen as a rigid concept. It can evolve and shift over time as one gains self-awareness and experiences new things. It is essential to avoid making oneself feel bad for straying from purpose and allow room for purposelessness and frivolity. Embracing moments of not being on purpose can be equally valuable. Purpose should be viewed as a directional tool, a way of being, rather than a goal to be achieved. It should be leveraged to guide decisions and actions, while also making space for personal growth and exploration.
Is Purpose bullshit or does it have a use? In this episode we talk about what we mean when we say purpose, what it’s useful for, and the pitfalls of being overly fixated on purpose. Rikki also holds the line of the purpose-skeptic, making this episode particularly juicy.
Join executive leadership & career coach Rikki Goldenberg, conscious leadership coach Justin Mulvaney, and licensed clinical psychologist turned creator coach Corey Wilks as we discuss all that and more in Episode 7 of No Clear answers on Purpose.
Learn more about the hosts: https://www.rikkigoldenberg.com/ https://justinmulvaney.com/ https://coreywilkspsyd.com/
Intro Music Credit: http://www.aaronwaltersmusic.com/
0:00 Cold Open 1:14 (We screw up the) Show Intro 3:04 Today’s Topic: Purpose 3:39 What do we mean when we say purpose? 10:32 Purpose doesn’t have to be about work 13:52 How does Purpose relate to Values? 20:12 Why does Purpose matter? 22:25 What place does Purpose have in our lives and work? 29:07 An exercise for identifying your purpose 35:57 How to pursue Purpose when you lack agency 46:57 Pitfalls of being overly Purpose-Driven 58:08 Wrapup
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