36| What's Your Purpose? Discover Your Kokorozashi, Intention, and Warp and Weft

How often do you pause to get a clearer view of your purpose and learn how your life experiences influence your leadership impact?

Whether it’s in the moment to reflect on a recent situation or zooming out at a major milestone to see the bigger picture, reflection can be incredibly powerful.

I’m hitting pause myself this week as I turn the big 5-0! I share two concepts that have helped me understand what it means to live a life of intention and purpose.

First, the metaphor of warp and weft—a powerful way to understand the interconnection of the known and discovered elements of your life and see the patterns that emerge in your life’s fabric.

Second, the deeper meaning of my guiding word—Intention—and it's relationship to the Japanese concept of kokorzashi. I explore how I’ve come to see that Intention = Heart + Direction® and the energetic vitality that uncovering your deeper purpose can have in both your personal life and leadership. 

If you are looking for ways to understand your purpose, reflect, to make more intentional choices, this episode is for you.

Let’s explore how you too can lead with intention and can weave purpose into everything you do.

YOU’LL LEARN:

• The importance of reflection to learn and adjust and to understand your purpose
• How the weaving metaphor of warp and weft enhances self-discovery of the known and discovered elements of your purpose
• Why Intention = Heart + Direction® and how to set powerful intentions to align your daily actions with your heart
• The Japanese word Kokorozashi (志) and how its deep meaning of personal and professional purspose can be applied to leadership impact

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources referenced in today’s show: ChainOfLearning.com/36
• Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.com
• Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson
• For additional inspiration and guidance around understanding your own warp and weft, read my book "Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn," along with the companion workbook: LearningToLeadLeadingToLearn.com

TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 

00:40 Reflecting and celebrating turning 50
02:50 The history of the warp and weft metaphor

05:32 The difference between the warp and weft threads, the known and the discovered
06:27 Questions to ask yourself to apply the warp and weft metaphor in your life
09:32 The importance of “zooming out” to see to examine your own fabric of life
11:01 Questions to ask yourself to reflect on your your past life experiences
11:53 The relationship between the warp and weft metaphor with setting intention
12:24 Discovering the richer meaning of Intention = Heart + Direction®
13:36 The meaning of the two Japanese kanji symbols for intention
14:58 How to apply the concept of Kokorozashi to find your leadership purpose
16:54 Questions to ask yourself to embody your Kokorozashi to make a bigger impact
17:21 The importance of reflection at the micro level
18:35 Leveraging Kokorozashi to help take actions that are aligned with your purpose

Apply for the Nov 2025 or May 2026 Japan Leadership Experience
https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/