Purpose
“What do you feel could be your purpose just for the next three months? Set an intention in three areas: with one relationship, one aspect of work, and one aspect of how you spend your time.” @darlingmedia
This was obviously posed pre-COVID19, but my three-month purpose: To survive the quarantine.
And my intention in these three areas:
1. Relationship- To appreciate the extra time that I am so lucky to spend with my husband.
2. Work- To not fall behind while working from home.
3. Time- To spend more of it on creative activities, and not let myself turn to mush.
What would your three be?
I read an interview with Joanna Gaines in Darling Magazine (@darlingmedia) last night and this short exercise above was included in their conversation about finding your “purpose.” Finally(!) my juices started flowing again, and I was able to push through some major quarantine writers-block. Here’s what I learned:
Too often, we might put too much weight on this concept of “purpose.” We might think we need to find the reason first before we ever start. I know I’ve fallen victim to this illusion, and I wasted far too much time waiting for some epiphany moment that would tell me why I should write. Instead, while brainstorming 2020 resolutions, I decided this would be the year that I finally just jump. And that’s what SincerelyJFK is. I know I need to write, and I’ll figure out why or what about as I keep writing.
Did Joanna Gaines ever imagine herself with a tv show, restaurants, and a network? No. She only wanted to open a small home décor shop. Her purpose beyond that evolved as they struggled to pay the bills with their dreams. Your purposes (yes, plural!) change with you, and they also come in all shapes and sizes.
Another misconception? Focusing too hard on the end goal, and losing sight of the smaller, everyday purposes we can achieve. What you believe to be your looming, “big-picture” purpose can be so overwhelming that it not only stops you in place and could keep you from ever trying, but it can also deprive you of appreciating the beauty (and the grind) of the day to day.
This rings true of another resolution I made before I realized this year might be a complete wash- to be present, to stop and look around more, and to appreciate these moments as I live them. It’s much more fun to be here than to look back at it later. Looking for and setting these smaller, or even “seasonal” purposes, will not only keep you more present, but the confidence in accomplishing a handful of small victories can really give such a strong momentum towards working for those larger goals.
And most importantly- be okay without some overarching purpose to your wildest dreams. Learn it as you go.
This topic can be so relatable to the current times, too.
It’s hard right now. Many people are unexpectedly out of work and seeing their bills’ due dates still pass by. There’s those of us that are business as usual but trying to adjust to this new norm while needing to meet all of the same expectations. Uncertainty and change are so unsettling, it’s tough to think of anything else while you’re desperately just trying to plant your feet beneath you. Just know there isn’t one way to feel about this; there’s no rules. If you are out of the house and working, then you are essential and I commend you, but if you are quarantined, don’t think of this “free time” as your typical. There isn’t some “purpose” or intention you need to feel guilty for not finding. You don’t need to pick up a new craft, you don’t need to sign up for a class, you just need to do whatever keeps you mentally sound enough to get to the next day.
We’re all just surviving right now, and that’s my three month purpose.
