Why a strong sense of purpose is imperative in this exponentially changing world
Life is changing at an exponential rate around us. From technological advancements to changes in our ecosystem, our world is changing even more quickly than our minds are wired to keep up with. Today, as you read this article, we are in the slowest rate of change we’ll ever be in again.
So how do we use this unprecedented opportunity to our advantage, not just for ourselves and our companies, but for the world?
To understand exponential growth, think about this. If you double a penny every day, it goes from two cents on day two to over $5M in only one month.
Another way to think about this is that the amount of change we’ll experience in the next four years will be the equivalent to the amount of change we have experienced in the last one hundred years. That is how fast our world is moving.
Why change can feel stressful
The founder of Intel, Gordon Moore, observed a doubling of the number of transistors on a microchip every year in 1965. And, in Ray Kurzweil’s book, Law Of Accelerating Returns, he explains why sometimes we feel at odds with our rapidly changing and expanding world. It’s because our minds seek to think in a linear fashion. Our minds are set up to expect steady growth and we feel volatility and unexpected change when big innovations happen that alter our world at a speed we could never have imagined. This causes stress and a sense of being out of control.
Here’s the good news – we can leverage exponential change to our favor!
The sky is the beginning
We live in a world where literally anything is possible, and it’s possible at record-breaking speeds. This makes it more important than ever to reflect and align what role and purpose you want to play toward creating the future.
Take a look at everything around you. Your computer, your desk, the notifications buzzing on your phone, the bridge outside your office window, the cars passing on the street. All of these items started with one thought. A single thought turned into innovation and invention and became reality. Literally everything began with a thought. This is empowering in that it shows you can do anything you put your mind to.
The sky is not the limit. The sky is the beginning.
How to find your purpose
In order to thrive in a world with exponential change, you must have a strong sense of purpose. Your thoughts dictate your life direction, and those thoughts are derived from your inner core. You must find your purpose before your life can arrive there.
At Be Courageous, we’ve worked with thousands of leaders and companies toward finding their “North Star,” or, what inner vision for the future is most important to them. Not just important but integral. Essential. Necessary.
To find out what your purpose and meaning is, try asking yourself this series of questions.
- What in your life matters to you most?
- What in your work matters to you most?
- What future do you want to create for yourself and the world around you?
- What role do you want to play in the future?
- Where do you want to focus your energy? For what purpose, and for whom?
- Who do you want to be in the world?
- What brings you a sense of meaning and joy?
- Where can you bring the greatest value to others?
As you define your purpose statements, revisit them daily at first. Use them as a filter for what projects to work on, what decisions to make, and where to invest your energy. The more you align your purpose with your energy and actions, the more success you’ll see. Calibrate your daily habits and rituals to align with your purpose.
Your purpose is your beacon for the direction you want to go. Imagine yourself really being there. Standing as your future self, looking back on the present self. What does it feel like to be there? What steps did you take to get yourself there? Work backwards from the future to solve for your present challenges.
Activating your purpose
You have four futures ahead of you.
- One you Chase (when competitors lead the way)
- One you Defend (when your legacy is more important than progress)
- One you Improve (when fixing others problems is your focus)
- And, the courageous one, the one you Create (when you decide on the future you want to live into and set out to make it a reality.
The journey is vastly different depending on the one you choose.
We’re not kept from reaching our goals because of obstacles we face, we’re kept from reaching our goals because we can usually see a quicker, clearer path toward lesser goals.
Why settle for a quick win that may or may not even align with your purpose, when you can shoot for something BIG?
Are you thinking big enough?
What is your purpose in a world where anything is possible?
Courage your purpose. We can help.
