S1:E25 How to Find Purpose and Live a Fulfilling Life

Finding Purpose After Adversity: Your Second Mountain Awaits

In this episode of the Flourishing After Adversity podcast, hosted by Laura Mangum Broome, the focus is on discovering purpose after life-changing setbacks such as loss, illness, or unexpected changes. Laura introduces listeners to the concept of David Brooks' 'Two Mountains of Life,' emphasizing the shift from achievement to meaningful connection. She shares practical tools, including a free guide on coping strategies, to help rebuild a life full of purpose. 

The episode outlines Laura's iCope2Hope 3-Step Resilience Framework: developing a growth mindset, discovering your superpowers, and serving others. Through personal anecdotes and actionable steps, Laura encourages listeners to find alignment with their values and embrace their journey toward a fulfilling life. She emphasizes that purpose is an evolving relationship and offers support for those starting their second climb.

00:00 Introduction to Flourishing After Adversity
00:29 Understanding Purpose After Adversity
03:31 Introducing the iCope2Hope 3-Step Resilience Framework
03:46 Step 1: Developing a Growth Mindset
04:52 Step 2: Discovering Your Superpowers
06:03 Step 3: Thinking Outside the Box
06:48 Aligning Actions with Values
08:41 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Free Resource: Reframe the Spiral: 5 Quick Coping Strategies to Shift Negative Thoughts and Reclaim Your Day https://www.icope2hope.com/reframe

iCope2Hope 3-Step Resilience Framework: https://bit.ly/FrameworkRoadmap

Website: iCope2Hope: From Hardship to Hope https://www.icope2hope.com

Move Beyond Adversity Blog:  https://www.icope2hope.com/blog

Free Newsletter: Wednesday’s Resilient Recharge https://www.icope2hope.com/newsletter

Schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Call with Laura: https://bit.ly/15mincallLMB 

David Brooks Book: The Second Mountain

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
After a loss or change, findingpurpose can feel impossible.
I'll show you where to start.
Welcome to the Flourishing AfterAdversity podcast.
I'm your host, Laura MangumBroome.
If you've ever wondered what'snext after loss, illness, or
unexpected change, this showsfor you.

(00:21):
Here you'll find stories,encouragement, and practical
tools to help you rise from thevalley and rebuild a life that
feels meaningful.
Again, today's episode is foranyone who's ever felt like they
were just going through themotions.
You'll learn what purpose reallymeans, why it often gets lost
after adversity, and how to findyour second mountain, a life

(00:44):
that feels fulfilling, not justfunctional.
By the end of this episode,you'll know how to reflect on
what still matters after lifechanges, rediscover your
strengths, your superpowers, andrebuild purpose through small
acts of service and alignmentwith your values.
But first, a quick resource tohelp you right now.

(01:07):
Are you overwhelmed withnegative thoughts after a
setback?
If so, I've created a free guidecalled Reframe the Spiral, five
Quick Coping Strategies to ShiftNegative Thoughts and Reclaim
Your Day.
these are the same tools I usewhen I feel stuck in a loop of
negative thinking.
You can grab your free copythrough the link in the show

(01:28):
notes.
All right.
Let's talk about how to findpurpose and live a life that
feels whole again.
You can feel it when purpose ismissing.
That quiet ache of driftingthrough your days checking
boxes, meeting responsibilities,doing what's expected.
But not feeling alive.

(01:49):
Inside purpose is the differencebetween waking up and simply
getting up.
It gives your choices weight,your relationship's, warmth, and
your day's direction.
author David Brooks calls hissearch for meaning.
The two mountains of life, thefirst mountain achievement, it's

(02:10):
about career success andindependence.
Many of us climb it for decades,chasing titles, comfort, and
approval, only to reach the topand realize something still
missing.
Then life interrupts a loss.
An illness, a divorce, somethingthat shakes the foundation we've

(02:32):
built and suddenly we're in thevalley questioning everything.
That valley can feel likefailure, but it's not.
It's where transformationbegins.
The second mountain isn't aboutsuccess, it's about meaning.
It's about connection,community, and contribution.

(02:54):
We climbed this mountain not toprove ourselves, but to give
ourselves, it's where moral joylives.
That deep satisfaction thatcomes from using your pain as
fuel for something meaningful.
after my own world fell apart, Ithought my purpose had ended.
What actually ended was aversion of me who believed

(03:16):
purpose came from roles andtitles.
What emerged later through faithreflection and small acts of
service was a deeper steadierkind of purpose.
Helping others rebuild afterlife breaks their script.
If you're in that samein-between space right now,
wondering what comes next,consider this your invitation to

(03:38):
start your second climb, andI'll show you how through my
iCope2Hope 3-Step ResilienceFramework.
Step one, develop a growthmindset to embrace change before
you rush into what's next.
Pause, take a breath.
Ask yourself what still feelsmeaningful even after everything

(04:01):
changed.
What drains me now that onceenergized me?
What do I miss That has nothingto do with success?
Reflection clears the noise soyou can hear the whispers of
what truly matters.
This is where a growth mindsetbegins.
It's not about pretendingeverything's fine.

(04:21):
It's about seeing challenges notas dead ends, but as data.
The value and punishment, it'spreparation, Each setback, holds
clues about what needs to changeand what's worth keeping.
You can't start your secondclimb until you understand why
the first one no longer fits.

(04:42):
So instead of asking, why me tryasking, what is this trying to
teach me?
That simple shift changeseverything.
Step two, discover yoursuperpowers to overcome
challenges.
People who rediscover purposeoften describe a moment when
they felt called, not always ina loud or dramatic way.

(05:05):
Sometimes it's just a quiet tug.
Maybe you feel peaceful whenyou're helping others.
Maybe you lose track of timewhen you're creating.
Maybe you feel useful whenyou're mentoring or
volunteering.
Those moments are clues.
They point to your superpowers,your natural strengths and gifts
that make you feel alive.

(05:27):
After loss, your confidence mayshrink, but your strengths
haven't disappeared.
They've just been buried undersurvival mode.
Dust them off.
Use them in small everyday ways.
Volunteer, create somethingWrite.
Cook for a friend, mentorsomeone going through what
you've survived.

(05:48):
Each small act reconnects you tothe energy that was always
yours, and that's how momentumbuilds one aligned action at a
time.
You don't have to see the wholepath.
You just take the next step infront of you.
Step three, think outside thebox to uncover opportunities.

(06:09):
Meaning doesn't live inisolation, it grows in service.
Serving others isn't aboutself-sacrifice.
It's about connection.
It might look like mentoringsomeone who's just started their
recovery journey, using yourcreative gifts to brighten
someone's day.
Sharing your story so someoneelse knows they're not alone.

(06:31):
When you give you heal servicetransforms pain into purpose,
and when you align your servicewith your values, your life
begins to make sense again.
That's the moment you stopstriving and start belonging.
In my book, Flourishing AfterAdversity, I wrote that

(06:51):
fulfillment isn't about constanthappiness.
It's about living true to yourvalues.
David Brooks echoes that truthin his book.
The Second Mountain.
When your actions match yourbeliefs, life feels steady.
So try this.
Write down your top threevalues.
Then look at your week.

(07:11):
Do your calendar and your valuesmatch?
If not, that's your startingpoint.
Each small choice that reflectsyour values, whether it's rest,
generosity, or honesty, builds asense of integrity and peace.
Purpose grows in that alignment.
Here's something most peopledon't realize.

(07:33):
Purpose isn't a singlediscovery.
It's a relationship that deepensover time.
The second mountain doesn't endat the summit.
It keeps expanding with everyact of courage, love, and
forgiveness.
Maybe your purpose today is toheal tomorrow.
It might be to help.
Later to lead.

(07:53):
You're not behind.
You're in the valley, and thevalley is where the next climb
begins.
So be patient with yourself.
Your story isn't over.
It's unfolding.
A fulfilling life isn't aboutavoiding pain, it's about
finding meaning within it.
it's about letting your story,no matter how broken, become a

(08:15):
bridge for someone else'shealing.
David Brooks writes, joy is notthe absence of suffering, but
the presence of love and thatlove lived out daily is your
purpose.
You may not have all the answersyet, but you have a heart that
still beating and a story thatstill matters.

(08:37):
That's more than enough to startyour climb.
Before we close, let's recaptoday's key takeaways.
Pause before rebuilding.
Reflect on what still feelsmeaningful and what no longer
fits.
Reconnect with your superpowersNotice what brings peace,
energy, and purpose.

(08:58):
Those moments reveal yournatural strengths.
Serve something larger thanyourself.
Align your values with smallacts of kindness and service
that gives your day's newmeaning.
Let purpose evolve.
It's not fixed.
It grows with you through eachact of courage and compassion.

(09:19):
If this episode spoke to you,maybe it's because you're
standing at the base of your ownsecond mountain ready to begin,
but not sure where to start.
You don't have to climb alone.
Through my iCope2Hope 3-StepResilience Framework, I help
women rebuild confidence, findmeaning, and rediscover joy

(09:39):
after life-changing adversity.
When you're ready, schedule afree 15 minute clarity call.
Let's talk about how to turnyour valley into the beginning
of something new because themountain ahead isn't punishment.
It's your path back to purpose.
And remember, adversity can makeyou bitter or better, choose

(10:02):
better.
You've got this!