In the fast-paced world we live in, we often ask ourselves: What gives my life meaning? It’s not just a sentimental question; research shows that a strong sense of purpose is essential for success and well-being. PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE ARE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE FOCUSED. Viktor Frankl said, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances; only by a lack of meaning and purpose.”
Daniel Pink, author and behavioral expert, proposes TWO SIMPLE EXERCISES to help you find your purpose and live with greater intentionality:
EXERCISE 1: WHAT’S YOUR PHRASE?
This exercise is inspired by an anecdote about former President John F. Kennedy. A congresswoman once told him, “A great person is a sentence, not a paragraph.” The message is that the best leaders and impactful people are not scattered but rather defined by a clear and lasting impact.
Think of examples. Abraham Lincoln: He ended the Civil War and freed the slaves. Franklin Delano Roosevelt led America through the Great Depression and won World War II. The question for you: What is your phrase? What do you want to be remembered for? What impact do you want to leave? For example, Daniel Pink’s phrase is: “I write books that help people see their lives more clearly and live them more fully.”
Step to Action: Take a moment to write down your phrase. This will help you refine your focus and guide your next steps.
EXERCISE 2: MENTAL SUBTRACTION OF POSITIVE EVENTS
This exercise is a powerful tool for deepening your gratitude and clarity about what truly matters.
Here’s how it works:
1. Think of something great in your life.
2. Now, imagine what your life would be like if that event had never happened.
Pink’s Example: For Daniel Pink, it was meeting his wife. Without her, he wouldn’t have his three children, he wouldn’t live in Washington, D.C., nor would he share a family, a home, or a job with her. Just thinking about it intensifies his gratitude.
THE SYNERGY OF PURPOSE AND GRATITUDE
These two exercises, though different, work together for a powerful result:
• Your phrase helps you define who you want to be.
• Mental subtraction reminds you of what you already have.
Together, they forge a powerful sense of direction and gratitude.
So, ask yourself these two questions today:
1. What is your phrase?
2. What would your life be like if one good thing had never happened?
The answers could reveal much more than you expect about your true purpose in life. Because, as Mark Twain said,
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”