I got a call from a client who I will call John. The pandemic had taken its toll— the death of a loved one, the demise of co-workers, and the fight for business survival brought a rude awakening for him. On reflection, John reexamined his definition of success by asking the following questions: "Who am I?" "Why am I here?" "Am I living the life I truly want?" "Am I putting the first things first—my family?" "Do I have deep relationships in my life?" "What's my legacy?"
John wasn't happy with his answers. He was tired of feeling like an extra in the movie of his own life. Like John, many people are asking themselves if their work is meaningful and gives them a sense of purpose. In 2021, 4.5 million American workers quit working in what is called "the great Resignation"—the search for meaning over activity directed employees' feet. According to Whitney Johnson, CEO of Disruption Advisor and author of Smart Growth, "The so-called "great resignation" ought to be called The Great Aspiration." The pandemic has unleashed a purpose-driven workforce that wants to feel alive, have a sense of direction, foster deeper relationships, and make an impact.
Are you holding a dream in your heart yet not permitting yourself to pursue it? Do you want to make a difference in people's lives? Are you allowing the fear of scrutiny, criticism, and self-doubt to prevent you from living your best life? If you answered yes to any of these questions, below are five tips to help you translate your expectations into reality:
#1 Search for meaning, not activity: You always start with a product's purpose before manufacturing. The product's purpose determines the design, features, materials, and the end-user. Similarly, your values, passions, potential, and characteristics are all intricately linked and connected to your purpose. Discovering your purpose is key to maximizing your potential, doing meaningful work, deepening relationships, and making your greatest contributions.
According to Dr. Myles Munroe, "The biggest tragedy in life is not death but life without a purpose." When purpose is not known, you become everything to everybody, and life loses its meaning. According to Naina Dhingra, a partner in McKinsey, "Nearly seven out of ten employees are reflecting on their purpose because of COVID-19." Also, employees whose purpose is connected to their work are 6.5x more likely to report higher resilience. Think about that. Finding meaning, not activity, in your daily job is non-negotiable. Organizational leaders must look beyond compensation to engage their employees. They must help employees align their purpose and the corporate purpose to their work.
#2 Push the reset button: What do you see when you look into the mirror? Do you see the image of a person who adds value? Or do you let other people's perceptions, life's circumstances, or self-imposed limitations define you? Your self-worth is a reflection of your self-image, which determines what you become. If you are not satisfied with where you are, you must change your mindset. Your mindset, not intentions or hopes, determines the results you see in your life.
Shirzad Chamine, New York Times Bestselling author of Positive Intelligence, said, "Your mind is your best friend, but it is also your worst enemy." Your job is to ensure your mind works for you, not against you. Have zero tolerance for any thoughts or mindset that does not serve you. When the inner gremlins start saying, "you are not enough, not ready, you don't have the experience, and why me?" Your response should be, "thank you, I am enough, and why not me?"
#3 Go for what you want: It feels safer to stay invisible. The fear of scrutiny, criticism, and rejection has crippled the hopes and dreams of many people. Dr. Myles Munroe put it this way, "The graveyard is the richest place on the surface of the earth because there you will see the books that were not published, ideas that were not harnessed, songs that were not sung, and drama pieces that were never acted."
The ultimate measure of success is expressing your full potential. What do you want out of life? Are you pursuing what you want or what you think you can get? What environments bring out your best self? Not everyone recognizes diamonds when they see one, so you may need to change jobs, managers, or companies to find a place that appreciates your value. If in doubt, remember the wise words of Wayne Gretzky, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
When you know what you want, you know who you need to become. Ultimately, you have to decide if you're going to live life, wondering what could have been if you had a little more courage. Place a bet on yourself. What would you do if you weren't afraid? That's your next growth step.
#4 Find a journey partner: Amanda Gorman is the youngest presidential inaugural poet in US history. In her interview with Anderson Cooper of CNN, she said, "I am proud of us because this really takes a village." Gorman understood that success is not an island, and big dreams are never achieved alone.
According to Jim Rohn, "You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Association matters. If you stand on the shoulder of a giant, you will see further. Think of the untapped potential you can unlock when you surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you to become a better person. Do you have a journey partner to hold you accountable? To find a partner, you must be courageous enough to ask for help and humble enough to receive feedback along the way.
"If you are trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be." – Maya Angelou
#5 Introduce yourself to the world: The day you were born, you were introduced to the world. The day you discover what you can become, what energizes you, and gives you a sense of purpose, you should introduce yourself to the world. Why is that important? Your gifts are not for you—they are to serve and benefit the community. And, if people don't know you, they can't like, trust, and do business with you. In Justice Sonia Sotomayor's book, My Beloved World, she said, "To succeed in this world, you have to be known to people." Marshall Goldsmith ranked as the number one executive coach, said, "No matter how good you are, the one thing that will hold you back in business is being arrogant enough to think that you, your product or service, are so good that people will search you out. This isn't so! To have a successful and satisfying professional career, you've got to market yourself. You've got to promote your business!" Your business might be helping the less fortunate, influencing your community, teaching, or being an executive. Lives may be dependent on the solutions only you can bring. So, stop getting in the way.
Closing: You are on earth at this point in history because you matter, and the world needs your gifts. Your birth is the only permission you need to go out and leave your footprints on the sands of time. The world is waiting on you. What are you waiting for?
"Love" - Google News
January 31, 2022 at 03:11AM
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5 Ways To Activate The Life You Love - Forbes
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