I’ve struggled with finding purpose. Pushed for the right way of phrasing it. Think I have it. Then it’s no longer valid. Or all of a sudden it doesn’t feel right anymore.
At the time I discovered Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle a few years ago – starting with the why in the center then how and what at the very end – I experienced an AHA moment that forever changed my way of approaching projects or businesses. I was inspired to work on the definition of why to be able to understand what we were doing and how we could communicate it.
Start with why. Start with purpose. Ok.
But what if you don’t know your own purpose. Now that’s a tricky one. If we’re dealing with a company without a clear why, we can usually assess the ins and outs of it and compose a viable purpose.
For ourselves as individuals, not so easy eh. Am I my business? What if I have several businesses or initiatives? Won’t people get confused?
Oh yes. Cuz if I’m confused, you’re confused.
Who am I? What am I put on this planet to do? What is my PURPOSE?
I tell you I look like Albert Einstein in this moment of writing.
Then one sunny Friday morning Helena Roth is giving a workshop on Purpose, hosted by Creative Mornings Malmö.
She starts by describing her own purpose. “To leave a positive imprint”. I like it. That could fit me well too. She shares that she’s doing and done multiple things in life and yet she keeps her purpose as the guide.
I used to have something similar. A sort of title that could work across my various roles and organizations. Someone who makes things happen. Enabler. I even had it in my Linked In name. (How did that feel for you when you tried to tag me and got “Mina Legnered – Enabler”?)
Last summer when I started to feel both my physical – at 40 the body apparently starts giving signals – and mental state breaking down I had to start re-evaluating my life and my being. I’ve always had high energy. Positive outlook. Solutionsprovider. Now I had to tone down and learn to BE rather than DO. Easier said than done.
Ok. Yoga. Yoga. Yoga. Tango.
I removed the Enabler from my LinkedIn name. This is it. I’m doing it. After years and years. I am no more identifying myself with Enabler. Simply Mina Legnered. Now, I shall be. Not do.
Well. I gotta make a living. I gotta keep my business floating.
How the heck do you take a break in life while keeping the wheels turning?
Universe.
About 7 months later the universe kicks in full monty. Corona. Here you go Mina. The breakdown is now completed. You stay sick now for a long time. No don’t try to do stuff. Just be. Practice because you’ll need it.
Back to Helena and the purpose.
She emphasizes that you should be gentle and kind. Find your purpose. Don’t seek it. It will come to you. Don’t struggle to find it.
We had a few creative sessions in breakout rooms where we got to think a bit about our relationship with our purpose. That’s a very good question. How do I feel about my purpose? I said something like “I’m married to it but I keep looking for others.” For me I guess it means that I know deep inside but I keep searching in other places.
We also got to ponder about our own purpose. Some of my group mates knew quite well. I tell you. I was stuck. I said pass and kept drawing the others’ statements.
Helena finished this enlightening workshop – happening online via zoom btw – by this quote:
There’s nothing to do. Plenty to be.
Obviously I love it. It resonate with me and comes very timely.
Ok let’s give it a try. I will start exploring from the business perspective as it’s “easier” and a big part of me.
Simply (Simply Draw it Big):
Make the world more visual.
Help people see.
Create memorable meetings.
Make work more fun.
Make life memorable. (Sounds like a funeral establishment? Or?)
Ok.
Now, I will continue my search for my own personal purpose that could encompass me, my business and my life. I’ll go about it with the mindset that it’s moldable and does not need to be written in stone. I will gently find my way to it. I just have a feeling once I’ve found it and anchored it, life will flow more.
Me:
Make life memorable
Oh wow.. that actually resonates with me. I care about wellbeing. About people. Creativity. Experiences. And I have hardly no memories from my childhood. (Yes, I shall examine that ahead.)
And I can embed my three main life tracks:
Visualize stuff – help people connect, communicate and collaborate through live visuals/ illustrations. In the end, people remember more.
Dance – engage myself in my most pure form of creative expression where soul and body flow and connect to something bigger than myself. Might inspire others along the way? Dance and music = health.
Share failure – engage people. Build community. Facilitate the platform for spreading stories about failure to break stigma, share learnings and encourage people to start or continue their business journeys. Not feel bad about mistakes made. Learn. Adapt. Move on.
Values: honesty. Kindness. Lead with heart.
Way of working: Smile. Listen. Gentle. Humble. Focused. Goal in mind. And yes of course: Structure. Discipline. Routines.
Alright. Now we’re talking. I think I’m starting to get there. Or at least as Helena puts it: I’m letting purpose find me. I’ll leave it for now and come back to it. Gently. Coming back to hug it and check in when it’s time.
Thanks to Creative Mornings Malmö for hosting this inspiring online workshop. Thank you Helena Roth for golden insights. And thanks to my group members and all participants.
My dear colleague Ingrid Skåre in the middle up there, was also Live Scribing during the workshop and had this beautiful result:
If you want to have your own personal Live Scriber at your next meeting or workshop, don’t hesitate to get in touch mina@simplydrawitbig.com or check out some of our work on http://www.instagram.com/simplydrawitbig
If you want to hear how I sounded in 2018 on the topic of purpose here’s my blog post: https://minalegnered.com/2018/10/02/im-a-rebel-with-a-purpose-here-to-serve/
“Here to serve” and having multiple purposes was my conclusion then. Well… reflecting upon that now. Here to serve is the overall purpose of humanity I’d say. I feel my purpose should be a bit more specific than that. And “making life memorable” feels good. For now. Like I said, I’m gonna let it find me later.
I once met a guy who said:
I’ve always know my purpose and I always do something purposefully.
( I forgot what the actual statement was now. He’s German. And he wants to change the world. So it’s a pretty big purpose I’d say. )
What is your purpose?
Mina The Legend 