It’s a busy world we live in, and it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind, treating things as a list to be ticked off. But for fulfillment and motivation, we need to know how our chores are connected to that big goal, or our personal values. It improves our productivity and makes what we do meaningful.
Why Purpose Matters
A sense of purpose is a powerful motivator, both for success and happiness. You feel a combination of greater satisfaction and being able to withstand some pressures and distractions when your actions are aligned with your values and your long-term goals. “A sense of meaning in what we do leads us to be more engaged, more creative, more persistent, and more likely to overcome challenges,” said Marika Lindholm, the author of this Finding the Right Balance post.
Identifying Your Bigger Goal
Begin by defining your long-term goals and your core values to tie your tasks to a bigger picture. Ask yourself:
- What am I passionate about?
- There is no higher purpose compared to: What difference do I want to make?
- Does what I do every day supports the vision I have for tomorrow?
Once you really know your purpose, you can plan your daily tasks around it.
Ways to Ground Tasks in Purpose
- Reassess Your Approach – Rather than seeing your daily responsibilities as tedious chores, treat them as milestones in the path to achieving your bigger vision. As another example, an employee who answers customer service phone calls may perceive their role as the opportunity to make someone’s day better instead of simply resolving grievances.
- Set Meaningful Goals – Everyone has their bigger dream but break them into small actionables. Every blog post or journal entry is part of the process, if you really want to be a writer.
- Intrinsically Motivated — Find the ‘Why’ in Everything You Do — Even routine responsibilities have a larger purpose. A student sitting for an exam is not merely memorizing facts but scaffolding knowledge for an impactful career.
- Match Work with Core Letters — If serving others is key to you, look for opportunities in your work, or personal projects, to impact.
- Look Back and Celebrate – Each day remember and celebrate how far you have come towards your goal. This positive reinforcement helps motivate and validate anything, no matter how small.
Conclusion
When we find purpose in the everyday work we do, it changes how we work and live. This could be achieving a beautiful fitting body or realizing our very own personal ambition, helping turn this mundane journey towards something fulfilling in the long run. Even the simplest things become meaningful and do ultimately have an impact and the right purpose, and ultimately you achieve the greater good.
