Finding Your Life's Purpose and Unlocking Potential with a Growth Mindset

Ever feel like you're searching for that missing piece in life's puzzle, the one that makes everything fit together perfectly? Well, you're in luck, because today on Colin Bolton's podcast, we're unlocking the secrets to discovering your life's purpose. Amidst the chaos of a post-pandemic world, he delves into the personal quest for meaning that not only offers inner peace but also serves as a compass guiding you towards resilience, direction, and joy. You'll learn why your ikigai might be as simple as a homemade soup for your family or as grand as societal change, with real strategies to help you find that sweet spot where passion, mission, vocation, and profession converge for a healthier, longer, and more decisive you.

And if you've ever doubted your ability to achieve greatness, prepare to have those doubts shattered. We're talking about the game-changing growth mindset that redefines potential and intelligence, showing that with persistence and effort, you can grow your skills beyond what you imagined. By fostering a passion for learning and building resilience, this mindset will not only catapult you towards success but also guide you in fulfilling your life's purpose. Remember, this is not just about reaching for the stars—it's about becoming the best version of yourself. So, tune in and get ready to transform your perspective on growth and purpose, with additional resources waiting on my website to support your continuous journey of self-improvement.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hi everyone, thank you for joining me today on my
casual conversation channel,where we talk about your career,
business, personal growth andhow to live a fulfilled and
happy life.
My name is Colin Bolton and I'ma Certified Life and Executive
Coach and the founder of GoalAchievement Coaching.

(00:29):
In our time together today, Iwant to focus on a topic that is
deeply personal but isextremely important, because it
gives your life meaning,direction and fulfillment,
ultimately leading to a happierand more meaningful existence,
and that topic is how to findyour purpose in life.

(00:52):
So why does purpose matter now,you may ask?
Well, purpose has alwaysimpacted people and business,
but the disruption of the Covidpandemic helped magnify its
importance.
When we weren't able to go outas much, when we were isolated

(01:13):
from our people and when ourlives were turned upside down,
we were reminded of what reallymattered to us.
Through their existence.
We were reminded of what weneeded and desired for a full
life.
Purpose has been brought to thetop of mind for people.
Let's take a closer look atwhat we mean by purpose.

(01:36):
When we talk about purpose, werefer to the reason why we exist
and why we wake up every dayand do what we do, the driving
force behind our actions is themotivation that propels us
forward.
The purpose is not a fixeddestination, but rather a

(01:58):
journey that evolves.
It is a personal and subjectiveconcept that is unique to each
individual.
Generally, purpose is a beliefthat your life matters and that
you make a difference.
It is the sense of being guidedby meaningful values and goals.
Purpose can be related tofamilies or parenting, career,

(02:23):
religion, activism, artisticpursuits or other contributions
to community.
In Japanese, the word ikigaidescribes a reason for being or
a reason to wake up in themorning.
Purpose doesn't have to beworld-changing either.
It can simply be the expressionof your talents to help your

(02:48):
family or your friends.
One woman expressed her ikigai,her reason to wake up in the
morning, as the need and desireto make soup for her family, and
dreaming small is helpful.
Purpose doesn't have to includepressure to find the cures for

(03:08):
diseases or inspire world peace.
It can just be doing the nextthing that makes sense and
performing work which allows youto express your unique
capabilities to help others orcontribute to the broader
community.
Finding your life's purpose isimportant for several reasons.

(03:29):
Having a clear sense of purposeprovides direction and focus in
life.
It gives you a reason to wakeup each day with enthusiasm and
motivation, knowing what youwant to achieve and why.
Knowing your purpose addsmeaning and fulfillment to your

(03:50):
life.
When you are aligned with yourpurpose, you feel a deep sense
of satisfaction and contentment,even during challenging times.
Having a strong sense ofpurpose can make you more
resilient in the face ofadversity.
It provides you with a sense ofresilience and determination to

(04:13):
overcome obstacles and setbacks.
Knowing your purpose also helpsyou make better decisions that
are aligned with your values andlong-term goals.
It allows you to filter outdistractions and focus on what
truly matters to you.
Having a sense of purpose alsoimpacts your health and

(04:38):
well-being.
Research suggests that peoplewho have a sense of purpose tend
to live longer, healthier lives.
They experience lower levels ofstress, depression and anxiety
and have better overall levelsof well-being.

(04:59):
The most prominent andwell-referenced study that I
stumbled upon is veryinteresting.
This study was conducted byRandy Cohen, sherrod Bavisi and
Alan Rosanski and was publishedat the end of 2015.
As part of the study, over136,000 people were evaluated

(05:22):
and followed for about sevenyears.
The average age at the start ofthe study was 67 years old and,
as the people in the studypassed away or faced health
issues.
The researchers found aninteresting piece of data.
The analysis showed thatmortality was about one-fifth

(05:43):
lower for participants reportinga strong sense of purpose.
Now I know what you're thinking.
How did the researchers decidewhich person lived with purpose
and which person didn't?
This is covered in more detailin the fully published report
from October 2017 titledAssociation Between Purpose and

(06:08):
Life and Objective Measures ofPhysical Function in Older
Adults on jamanetworkcom that'sJ-A-M-A-networkcom.
Check it out.
It makes for interestingreading.
Lastly, finding your life'spurpose is important because

(06:28):
your contribution in life isalso impacted by having a sense
of purpose.
Knowing your purpose enablesyou to make a positive impact on
others and the world around you.
When you are aligned with yourpurpose, you can use your unique
strengths and talents tocontribute to something greater

(06:48):
than yourself.
So, now that I've talked aboutwhy purpose is important, how do
you find your purpose in life?
Well, people generally don'twake up one day and have a
eureka moment and suddenly knowwhat their purpose in life is.
No, we usually have to discoverour purpose by trial and error.

(07:12):
Finding your life's purpose isa deeply personal journey, but
here are 10 ways that may helpyou find your purpose in life.
Number one actively try newthings.
You definitely won't find yourpurpose in life by simply
waiting for it to fall into yourlap.

(07:33):
You find it by actively tryingnew things and taking action.
If you haven't yet discoveredyour purpose in life, then you
will not find it by trying thesame things repeatedly.
It helps to always keep an openmind here.
If you're looking forinspiration, here are a few

(07:55):
things I've thought of for youto consider trying.
Treat yourself to a massage, goskydiving, sign up for a
running race or clean out yourcloset.
Compliment a stranger out ofthe blue, join an oil painting
workshop or go on a long walk orsign up for a gym class.

(08:21):
Number two know that your job isnot necessarily your purpose.
It's important to know thatyour purpose in life and your
job are not the same thing.
Too many people look for a jobthat pays the bills and that
simultaneously makes their liveshave a purpose.

(08:42):
A very small percentage ofpeople find actual purpose in
the work they do.
In fact, according to a 2013study by Golub, only 30% of all
American employees feel engagedat work.
The takeaway here is that yourcareer doesn't necessarily have

(09:05):
to be your purpose in life.
Number three self-reflection.
Take time to introspect andreflect on what truly matters to
you, what brings you joy andwhat you're passionate about.
Number four explore yourinterests.

(09:26):
Try out different activities,hobbies and experiences to
discover what resonates with youthe most.
Number five set goals.
Establish short-term andlong-term goals that align with
your values and interests.
This can provide direction andmotivation.

(09:47):
Number six seek inspiration.
Read books, listen to podcastsmine, of course or engage with
people who inspire you and sharesimilar values or interests.
Number seven embrace challenges.

(10:07):
Embrace challenges and setbacksas opportunities for growth and
learning.
They can often provide valuableinsights about yourself and
your path.
Number eight contribute toothers.
Consider how you can use yourstrengths and passions to make a

(10:30):
positive impact on others orthe world around you.
Number nine stay open-minded.
Be open to new experiences andpossibilities.
Your life's purpose may evolveover time, so remain flexible
and adaptable.
And lastly, number 10, developa growth mindset.

(10:57):
When we stop growing, we plateau, and we all know plateau is not
a great place to be.
Fireworks and magics don'thappen on a plateau.
The thing is, many people don'trealize they have the internal
power to expand their knowledge,develop their emotional
intelligence and become betterversions of themselves.

(11:18):
That's why you need to developa growth mindset.
People with a growth mindsetbelieve that their most basic
abilities can be developedthrough dedication and hard work
.
Brains and talent are just thestarting point.
This view creates a love oflearning and the resilience that

(11:41):
is essential for greataccomplishment.
This helps you realize that whoyou are now isn't who you have
to be for the rest of your life.
So if you find yourself lackinga sense of purpose, then a
growth mindset will help you todevelop yourself until you find
one.

(12:02):
Well, folks, that wraps up ourpodcast for today.
I hope you have found thispodcast useful as you consider
your life's purpose and thepositive and exciting changes
having one purpose may bring.
If you liked our discussiontoday, I invite you to visit my
website,goalachievementcoachingcom,

(12:25):
where you'll find a number ofuseful resources on a host of
topics related to life, businessand personal growth.
Thank you so much for listening.