when being productive doesn't work (finding your purpose)

You know how it is.  You’re sick and tired.  Sick and tired of trying to get ahead.  Sick and tired of feeling like you’re constantly running from here to there and back again.  Sick and tired of the job you hate.  You’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.  

So you do what many of us do.  You decide you’ve just got to ‘buck up’.  Get more organized.  Get a better time management system.  Find out what effective people DO.

And you try to implement the latest tools.  

And you follow the rules and things get better - for a while.  

And then they don’t.  

And before you know it, you’re sick and tired.  

Again.

Then you beat yourself up for failing to keep up with the new tools and systems.  But you’re not a failure.  If anything, give yourself some credit simply for not giving up and continuing to try to make your life better!

The problem?  

You Skipped a Step

The truth is that being more productive won’t help if you don't know what your purpose is.  You’ll just start cramming more things into your day and end up exhausted all over again.  

Before you can decide what to do, you need to know why you’re doing it.

Two Doctors

Think of it this way.  There are two doctors.  One went into medicine because he had a passion and a purpose for helping people.  The other?  She went into medicine because  everyone told her that she would make a lot of money.  

Which doctor goes home at the end of the day exhausted?  Which doctor complains about patients and their stupid questions?  

And which one goes home with energy left to spare because he was able to take the time to carefully explain to a patient and her family what they might experience as they deal with the illness?  

Which doctor would you want to see?

We Start In Reverse

Someone wants to know how to get everything done in a day.  

So we recommend all those tools that help us stay organized.  

But the first questions are deeper.  

Why are you doing what you’re doing to begin with?  

What is it that you’re passionate about?  

What’s your purpose?  

What is it that you really want? (Note:  It generally has nothing to do with money or time or whatever external thing you’re currently chasing.)

Goal-setting Changes

People who know what their purpose is don’t set goals the same way every once else does.  In fact, they find less of a need to set stringent daily, weekly, or monthly goals.

They know where to spend their time. 

They know what things to say ‘no’ to and what to say ‘yes’ to.  

They can set priorities and define boundaries with clarity and peace. 

What If I Don’t Know What My Purpose Is?

You do know what your purpose is.  You’ve might have forgotten.  Or maybe you haven’t taken the time to ask yourself the right questions.  

But when you find it?  (And you will if you try.)  It won’t be a big shock.  It’s never a big surprise.  You’ve really known all along.  

Reflection

Take a little quiet downtime over the weekend and think about it.

What is your purpose?

Do you know?  If you do know, have you thought about it lately & reminded yourself?

What actions are you taking that are in alignment with your purpose?  

Have a great weekend!

All the best!

deb

Comments

[Positively Present]

Knowing your purpose is SO important and this post is a great reminder of that. If you don't know what your purpose is, how can you really be productive? I love this post!

[darrah]

Deb, are you reading my mind? I'm amazed that all of the creative blogs that I'm reading seem to be in sync. Whenever I'm grappling with something, I check out my favorite blogs and BOOM, there's something that speaks to me in that exact moment.

Thank you for speaking to me in this exact moment. Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

[Jack]

hi,

I like your blog very much. from now on I will like to visit your blog more often.

[Stephen - Rat Race Trap]

Deb, you are so right. I posted several articles on my blog about discovering your core purpose. That IS the step we most often miss. You can be productive as hell, but if you don't know what you're trying to accomplish and have some values to guide your priorities, you are just going in a fast circle instead of a slow circle.

[Deb Owen]

Thank you all for your comments! I'm glad it struck a chord.

And Stephen, I like the 'fast circle' versus a 'slow circle' analogy.

Thanks everyone!
All the best!
deb

[alex - unleash reality]

hey deb!!

really love your writing style. was fully gripped the whole way - really emotive grip for step way of writing. powerstuff.

...and interesting insight about purpose. i'm very big on finding and living your purpose, but hadn't thought about how much a plight for productivity is just a distraction to living that purpose.

i think the reason we "start in reverse", as you put it, is because it's easier. it's easier to spend time writing out goals about your purpose than to actually make them happen. one step - do it.

inspiring stuff
gave it a stumble

keep in touch
alex - unleash reality