Several years ago, I relied exclusively on rational thinking when trying to identify my purpose. This is what came natural to me because I used this form of reasoning almost exclusively throughout my career. I made a long list of impactful work experiences and picked each experience apart, identifying variables that led to fulfilling and unfulfilling experiences. I ranked each factor and re-ranked them again and again. Once I was satisfied that I had identified the most important elements, I started to insert them into purpose statements. Then I went through an exhaustive exercise where I ranked and re-ranked each purpose statement until finally, after a long and arduous process, I thought I had finally identified my vocational purpose. And, as luck would have it, my purpose fit within the scope of my current management consulting role, so I was able to test it out. The universe seemed to be in sync with my wishes because one of my favorite clients reached out to me and asked me to lead a project that was a bullseye on my purpose target. The project went off without a hitch, but when it was over I asked myself if I would be to do this kind of work again, and the answer was a resolute "no." It was at this point that I almost threw in the towel on my search for meaning, chalking it up to "purpose anxiety."
What I didn't realize at the time was that I was not engaging with one of the most powerful guides to finding purpose: my emotions. According to Bryn Lowrie Yahn, an Arctos360 psychologist with more than 25 years of experience on this topic, emotions are our strongest indicator of how well we are aligned with our purpose. Our emotions provide a built-in guidance system that is often overlooked. By learning to tune into our emotions through connecting with our bodies, we can discover whether we are aligned with our purpose, or not. Using our emotions this way not only helps us with purpose, but it also provides guidance for the many decisions that we make every day.
While there are many ways that we can tap into our emotions, journaling, meditation, and mindfulness are very effective tools, which is why we have woven these practices into our programs at Arctos360. From a personal standpoint, I can say without a doubt that tapping into my own emotions was the missing piece of the puzzle that allowed me to identify with my purpose. Whether you are searching for your purpose or not, tapping into your emotions is an essential element of personal development. Do yourself a favor and give it a try today.
