Bold in Purpose

Welcome to The Bold Brief—

You are a member of this community of top-notch expert nurses and healthcare professionals who aspire to be “bold” in career and life. We want to be bold in our life’s purpose, and bold in life and career choices to live with authenticity, balance, and meaningful challenges.

So, bold in your purpose.

Understanding Your Purpose

Purpose is defined as a self-organizing and prospective life aim. ¹

Your purpose statement is an uplifting vision, intertwined with how your personal actions and essence contribute to this vision. Your purpose statement is:

1. Connected to a Broader Existence: It anchors your purpose within the world's larger framework, preventing isolation and the demoralization that comes from feeling detached.

2. Harmony Between Being and Doing: A fulfilling life balances action and reflection. Overemphasis on either can cause burnout or feelings of worthlessness, leading to discouragement.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Identify Your Purpose

Step 1: Reflect on Your Core Values and Passions

Begin by considering what truly matters to you. What principles guide your decisions? What activities bring you joy and fulfillment? What do you love to do? What are you really good at? Reflecting on these questions can help you understand your core values and passions. Write these down and consider how they have influenced your life choices so far.

Step 2: Identify Your Unique Skills and Strengths

Consider what you are naturally good at. What knowledge and skills do you have that set you apart? How can these skills support the values and impact you wish to achieve? Sometimes, consulting with friends, family, or colleagues can provide new insights into your unique strengths.

Step 3: Visualize Your Ideal Impact

Think about the legacy you want to leave or the impact you wish to have. What does the world need that you love and are good at? How do you want to influence your family/friends, community, your workplace, or the world at large? Visualizing your impact can provide a clearer picture of the purpose you should pursue.

Step 4: Write Your Purpose Statement

Use your reflections to begin crafting your statement. Consider:

• Brainstorm. Who am I? What actions define me? Whom do I serve? What do they seek or require from me? How does my presence or action transform them?

• Allow your thoughts to flow freely without censoring them. Write your initial draft without concern for perfection or structure. Avoid overthinking, as this can stall your creative process.

• Use Empowering Language: Opt for words that embody positive action and aspiration. Focus on articulating what you wish to achieve and become, rather than what you aim to avoid.

• Use Present Tense: Your purpose statement should reflect your current identity and contributions. Write as if you are already living out your purpose, using phrases like "I am" and "I do," rather than "I will."

• Refine Your Statement: After setting aside your initial draft for a little while, revisit it with fresh eyes. Refine and tweak your statement to better capture the essence of your reflections and intentions. Aim for a statement that feels true and motivating to you.

  Use this beginners template:

Step 5: Test Your Purpose Through Experiments

Before fully committing to any new path, experiment with small projects or volunteer roles that align with your identified purpose. This approach allows you to refine your purpose based on real-world experiences and feedback.

Also, make a daily practice of aligning your actions with your purpose. Regular reflection on how your daily activities contribute to your goals can keep you accountable and motivated. Celebrate small wins along the way, and continually reassess your path to ensure it remains aligned with your ultimate purpose.

Why This Approach Works

• Research support these actions. Having a sense of purpose in life has been shown to be valuable across life domains, including personal well-being, healthy development, and aging; purpose also prospectively predicts gains on income and net-worth over a lifetime. ²

• This is a simple process for a beginner. This step-by-step method is for first-time purpose statement development to effectively identify your purpose by linking self-reflection with actionable steps. It begins by clarifying your core values and skills, ensuring your purpose aligns with your abilities. Writing a purpose statement helps articulate and solidify this vision. Experimentation and ongoing adjustments keep your purpose relevant and motivating, allowing it to evolve with you and remain impactful.

Conclusion

Living your purpose is an evolving journey. Allow for change, growth, and evolution. Review it weekly and change it! Embrace the need for continuous learning and be open to adapting your approach as circumstances change. This flexibility ensures you remain relevant and committed to your current purpose no matter what challenges arise.

As we start this journey together, remember that each step you take is part of a larger transition towards a more satisfying career and life.

We are here to support you with insights, advice, and stories of those who have successfully made this transition. Next week, we'll dive deeper into how to effectively use social media to enhance your visibility in your new field.

Remember, the bold career and life that you desire are not just a dream—they are within your reach. Let's make it a reality together!

P.S. If you want to learn from me on a daily basis, come connect with me on LinkedIn or in my free Facebook Community.

Remember that this is a dedicated space for you, the nurses at the bedside and beyond, the committed healthcare professionals ready to explore transformative career paths beyond traditional roles. Every week, we'll dig into evidence-based strategies, insights, and stories designed to empower you to take bold steps toward a fulfilling career and life outside the hospital setting.

1  Beyond Finding Purpose: Motivating a Translational Science of Purpose Acquisition. Link

2  The Value of a Purposeful Life: Sense of Purpose Predicts Greater Income and Net Worth. Link