what is the purpose

Each of us has a purpose, for what. It is important to explore what moves us and act accordingly; Behind every thing we do, every activity or profession, find the meaning that resonates with who we really are. Start answering these questions:

  • What do you want to invest your time and energy?
  • Why do you get up every morning?
  • What causes you pleasure?

It is good to think about the purpose as a path. If every step we take in life, marking a footprint, then our purpose would indicate the north. In this way, making decisions in life is easier because it implies understanding whether each of the things you decide is related to your purpose or not. Your purpose does not have to be something great, but, on the contrary, something attainable that guides and motivates you. For example, it is not necessary that your purpose is to end poverty and hunger in the world, but it could be to put your grain of sand to help in this regard, doing small things like sponsoring a boy on their school path or cooking food for a dining room. It is better to take small sustainable steps in the time than to paralyze for setting very ambitious objectives.

Because it is important

“Because it is not the same as living, honoring life“, Eladia Blázquez's tango sings, and very clearly synthesizes the importance of having a purpose in our lives, whatever their magnitude, importance or transcendence. In other words, it would be something like: let's take advantage of life, what footprint do we want to leave? How do we want to be remembered? Because it is not the same to live and point to honor life. Honor life is to live it with intensity and give them a meaning.

There are people who manage to align their daily activity with their life purpose, but, in many other cases, the work task is not the one we long for, although it can be complemented with other activities that fill our soul, that help us carve a footprint from which we are proud. They can be small actions, such as collaborating with some foundation, separating and recycling waste, growing your own food, rescuing street animals or any search that relates to your purpose. "Ask yourself if what you are doing today will bring you closer to where you want to be.“, Said Walt Disney, and the phrase resonates in each line of this note.

How to discover yours

To discover your purpose, you have to connect with your essence first, with your bases, with whom you are and what does you well. But of course, it is not an easy task. There is a story that graphs it well. He says there were two eagles chatting:

“ - What is the destiny of the eagles? - The realization, enjoy every moment of life. Be happy, reach the top of the mountain.

- Why are you here then? Why don't we try to reach the top of the mountain?

- Here I have never felt satisfied (…) But this situation gives security and with this I am satisfied. ”

And then, in that story, one of the eagles finally together courage to pursue its purpose. He tries several times, analyzing different roads and alternatives, and begins to ascend the mountain. In the end, when it reaches the top, look down and remember many difficult moments, but also note that I had always decided to move forward, surpassing itself. And the story continues: "Then it was in search of the other eagle and told him what was lived. Upon hearing what he told him, he asked:‘ All that potential, that spirit of freedom and that security that you have, where do I find them? ’.

Why do we tell you this story of the book The search, by Alfonso Lara Castilla? Because defining your purpose sounds simple, but implies a challenge. The path that must be traveled to achieve it requires effort, will and commitment.

Keys to define your "for what"

  • Identify what personal values ​​that define you are. Those who bring you the most to achieve your life purpose. Being clear what they are, you could see if these values ​​are reflected in your daily task and include in your agenda those that you are not practicing. Specifically, align your daily activity with your purpose. This search often requires enhancing certain skills, but, in turn, also shut up or mute certain others. We were not born "tailored" from our purpose, so it demands that we be encouraged to face the process and learn to grow with it.
  • Do not compare yourself with others. Do not think that they are more successful or that they earn more money or that they have their life totally resolved. The reality is that life is a constant learning and each one of us goes through their way and learning. Our purpose in life is not simply or discovered, but is being built.
  • Allow you to try new things. Many people live dissatisfied and do nothing about it, complaining about their situation, without trying to modify what produces it. Finding alternatives that we are interested in experiencing is the best way to take advantage of our free time and expand the range of possibilities to incorporate into our life purpose. Curiosity develops. Investigate everything that caught your attention, I left your comfort zone and abmit new possibilities, in which you may never have thought.

Was having a purpose to make me happier?

The neuroscientist Facundo Manes affirms that, according to scientific studies, factors such as money, luck, image and place of birth contribute only 10% of happiness. 50% is associated with genetic predispositions and the remaining 40% is in our hands. 40% is a lot. Therefore, having a purpose can help us take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to us and see more clearly if what we do brings us to achieve our goals. As Robert Louis Stevenson expresses, "life is not always a matter of having good letters, but of playing a bad hand."

In first person

On January 9, 2006 I started my activities like so many others: resigned to losing 9 hours to do something I did not enjoy. I listened to the clock ICT and thought about everything that was happening "out of the office." I was already received from engineer and worked in a renowned company, and, of course, giving up to jump into the abyss was ridiculous. But that day I received a call. They told me that they had hospitalized my grandmother again, and asked permission to visit her. My boss said no. So, I paralyzed: What price was willing to pay for a life that I did not choose? I frant, I thought and made one of my most significant decisions: put the really important above all. I resigned and went to visit her, spent a beautiful afternoon with her and, the next day, she died.

Since that day, my goal against each decision was to choose what I want to invest my time. I stopped being a spectator of my life to become the protagonist. I understood that the only person with whom we are going to live every day we are ourselves. Therefore, today, every time I face some new challenge, I think if it will approach the place where I want to reach or if it resembles the ICT TAC of the office clock.

After discovering my purpose that day in which I renounced my work, I also set out to convey that search for what. Thus, from the consultant I founded and directed for more than 10 years, Dinka, helped others to jump in their companies or ventures and to implement their projects, if possible, before reaching a trigger that hurts, a limit situation as it happened to me.

–

Por Sandra Felsenstein
Founder and Director of DINKA