How do you find your purpose?
I have taken the depth of this question for grated for a long time, but I realize that I am deeply curious about this inquiry and exploring it deeply is a pursuit I think the world needs. My work with teenagers is motivated by my desire to make the world a better place. I am seriously worried that my kids aren’t going to have the same opportunities that I’ve enjoyed. I fear that the ethical, economic, and ecological challenges that we are facing today will have a significant impact on their future. They might have to face the hard, hard question of whether to bring kids of their own into a world that is full of difficulty. My solution to these issues is working with you – teenagers and parents. I believe that your courage, creativity, and passion can make a huge, huge difference. You want to make a difference and you care deeply, but you can’t do it alone. Young people need adults to stand up and help you find your way. It’s not your job to do it all on your own. Parents need support to remember what you really want for your kid – for me it’s for them to be joyful and have a meaningful, healthy life – in addition, you need help figuring out how to get your kids the skills they’re going to need to get to that joyful, healthy life.
Building a Bridge to the Real You
The question that I have avoided for so long is, “How do you find your purpose?” or maybe you ask it like this “who am I?” or maybe “What am I passionate about?” Lots of people are talking about it these days, and know it would be helpful to have an answer. But, wanting an answer isn’t enough. If it was easy to do, then more people would be doing it. I’m tired of saying “just do it” and expecting you to have the skills, ability and know how to execute that. That isn’t mentoring. Mentors build a bridge from the desire of finding the Real You to actually supporting the steps necessary to making it happen. That is what I want to explore, and is my commitment to you. I’ve already got lots of ideas and theories (and even a workshop), and you are invited to explore with me. I‘m curious about your ideas, questions, and perspectives. I’m going to keep writing about it every 2 weeks for all of 2014 (or as long as it takes). I hope that you’ll join me and invite others to come along for the adventure.
How do you find your purpose?
In the spirit of getting to that place where you are ready for the journey of discovery, lets get you ready and then celebrate as you head off on the journey to uncover the Real You.
Some conversations you might enjoy
- With the question of how do we find our purpose, this is an interesting TED video on Grit. I like the idea of the video, but still leave with the feeling of “I get it, really, it’s important but we need more than the idea. We need to know steps of HOW you get there!”
- Wendy Mogel wrote The Blessings of a B-, which I find to be a great resource and in line with our quest to develop the skills needs for when you head into the world. Here is a reflection and summary of the book that provides lots of good ideas.
- Dan Pink is interviewing interesting people about interesting topics. He interviewed Malcolm Gladwell, who talked about lots of things. A couple of them share about why you might be better off at Hartwick than at Harvard (minutes 25-34-ish). And then a discussion about why fighting through hardship might well help young people be successful, with a particular focus on a dyslexic lawyer (minutes 35 & beyond). They even reference Wendy Mogel’s work in talking about the importance of dealing with difficulty.
Contact Morgan with questions
