In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Dr. Gitima Sharma to explore the intersection of purpose, well-being, and meaningful work through both Eastern and Western perspectives.
From her early years in India grappling with family mental health challenges to her current role as leading purpose researcher and coach, Sharma shares how Buddhist philosophy and academic research have shaped her understanding of purpose as something that rises above the pursuit of happiness towards creating positive change both within ourselves and society.
Through personal stories and research insights, she introduces her five-part model for cultivating purpose - explore, engage, reflect, articulate, and actualize - offering a flexible framework for aligning daily work with values and fulfillment. The conversation tackles important themes around cultural context, gender, work-life harmony, and how to maintain purpose while navigating challenging organizational systems.
Key Takeaways:
- Purpose involves both individual growth and contribution to collective well-being - it's not just about personal satisfaction
- Having a sense of purpose is more protective against depression than life satisfaction
- The five phases of purpose development: explore, engage, reflect, articulate, and actualize
- Purpose can be found both within and outside of work - sometimes work enables purpose in other life domains
- The importance of community support and mentorship in developing and maintaining purpose, especially for underrepresented groups
About Our Guest:
Dr. Gitima Sharma is an Associate Professor of Counseling at California State University, Fresno and Founder of CoachInspire. With a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Penn State, she has published over 30 research articles on purpose and well-being, while mentoring more than 100 students and clients. Her work integrates academic research, evidence-based practices, and humanistic principles to foster cultures of empathy, care, and positive impact.
Resources Mentioned:
- Free eBook: Thriving Beyond Stress
- Personal Coaching Resources
- Dr. Sharma's Research
- Buddhist Philosophy Resource
- Connect with Dr. Sharma on LinkedIn
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