How can you use your sense of purpose to overcome stress?

For me, the IKIGAI framework is the best definition if purpose - What you love to do - What the world needs - What you're good at - What they pay you for The intersection of all four is the best definition of purpose! Sometimes we are taken in by one of the other but putting all four in focus allows for the definition of purpose that is anchored and sustainable!

Stress is an inevitable part of life. Consider it like our heart, or our lungs ...we need it for survival. Yes, it's that important! It's an early warning signal from our central nervous system that something might be wrong, inside us or externally in the environment. But we have a culture where its painted as the villain? I consider stress as a best friend. Because when 'listened' to it can become an internal compass. Moving us away from the many unimportant distractions & stressors in life, that only 'feel' dangerous. And back towards the things that matter to us the most ...our goals and life purpose. Use the emotions and that inner sense of 'knowingness' to guide us too. Because the brain is 'smart' and follows our instructions.

While having a sense of personal purpose is key to wellbeing, self-esteem and long-term life satisfaction, the pressure to come up with a powerful and eloquently crafted purpose statement is often overwhelming and disorientating. For this reason, I think it is helpful to differentiate between “little p purpose” and “Big P purpose”. Your purpose doesn’t have to be newsworthy or designed to change the world (the Big P stuff). It can be about a quiet sense of being needed by others, or knowing that you make a positive difference in other people’s life. Maybe it’s about doing the best you can, every day, to role-model key values and ideals that are deeply meaningful to you. Little p purpose matters and is likely to be as unique as you are.

If you have a deep false belief about yourself, stuck in your subconscious, defining your purpose will not give result. Why? Because you’ll self-sabotage. You may have a clear purpose combined with clear values, ideas and a strong drive but it will not manifest if the ingrained deep fear, which created the false belief in the first place, doesn’t get release! It’s my little grain of salt after helping people for the past 30 years move from a stressful way of living to a soulful state of being!😉

It is always important when you feel lost and confused to go back to your why. Whether that relates to your work or your personal life. Our daily purpose is like an anchor that keeps us moving forward. Be clear on what your purpose is, and make sure it's personal and that it means something to you. A purpose is usually something that the world values and that you see personal value in.

As a mindfulness coach working with creatives what I see is that if one doesn’t feel they are living from their soul purpose it creates a blockage of energy in our entire mind/body system. This lack of flow diminishes our life force, our vitality becomes truncated and diminished. On a health level this has many ramifications and contributes to illness. Mentally it creates a filter that skews how we view others, contributing to our prevalent negative bias about everything. If you are not living from your purpose you don’t have access to the full force of your vital energy, your spirit, and your heart. I believe finding and most importantly sustaining living your purpose is a foundation to both physical and mental health.

Simply having a sense of purpose can help with overcoming stress. Many people today feel lost and disconnected, rudderless. The good new is that by having a sense of purpose, one already has found some meaning in life. Even so, anyone can feel stressed at times. By being honest and self-aware, and asking yourself if what you are spending most of your time doing aligns with your values and beliefs, you are half-way there. Stepping back, evaluating, assessing, and implementing positive changes to regain "flow" can all contribute to a greater sense of control and wellbeing.

Stress is inevitable, and often accompanies change and transitions, and when there is a mind-body disconnect and/or disconnect from oneself and others. From a mindfulness perspective, it helps to build a relationship with stress by noticing where in the body do we feel it the most. Stress can be a reminder to slow the breath down, connect with the moment, and then asking oneself, what am I missing, and what do I need right now? A slowing of the breathing cycle, connection, groundedness? Sometimes, pausing and breathing and naming what role or environment you are currently in can be a door to reconnecting in the present and bringing awareness to the stressful state.

Life-purpose is always there in you ... just that it gets shrouded by the fast-pace living that you do. Most of the time it is not that you do not have a purpose... Your fears and anxieties control that to express and reveal. Take that big leap! Jump into that space where your imagination and happiness best fit. And if you cant do this ... take a long walk ... and in that private space ... discover that silent you in your heart craving for the passion already there waiting to be turned into a full time life-purpose. For all this - you need to be with you, watch you, observe you, love you, be kind to you, and most importantly believe that there is a door wide open there a mile away to greet you!

Don't allow your knowledge be your own enemy which is most cause of any anxiety at ground level. Don't worry if your identification of purpose was wrong previously, you can reshape it at your own at any time. Always command your inner shelf to be happy what you have and not to worry what you don't have.

It is so important to make a priority list each day of where you are going to put your energy and focus in. We only have a certain amount of energy to give at any one time, and aligning your actions with your daily purpose can ensure that you're clear about your direction for the day. This helps to limit unnecessary distractions that don't require your attention and that allow you to remain focused on your priorities.

How a person feels and thinks affects the choices a person makes. To align your actions with your purpose to overcome feeling stressed try to change your perspective (what I call "flip the switch" thinking) of a situation. Instead of thinking along the lines of "Ugh, Why do I have to go to this meeting/event?!" try changing thought to something like "What can I get from going to this meeting/event?" -- then the feeling changes from annoyance to curiosity.

In the dynamic world of IT solutions, where change is constant & challenges are manifold, aligning our actions with our sense of purpose can be the compass that guides us through turbulent waters. As the Head of Sales at Nexxt.ai, I have come to realize that this alignment is not just a philosophical concept but a practical approach to reduce stress, enhance well-being, and drive professional success. Helping Others Expressing Creativity Innovation and Excellence In essence, aligning actions with purpose is not a one-time endeavor but an ongoing practice. It requires self-awareness, introspection, and the courage to make choices that may not always be the easiest but are true to your purpose.

Becoming more mindful of everyday life supports a sense of purpose and living in alignment with it. Ask yourself before getting to bed: Did you make decisions aligned with your purpose? Did you live your truth? Ask yourself in the morning: How can I be the best version of myself today? How can I serve my purpose today?

Once you have found 3 things that you have been called to do, eliminate anything that is outside of these. We have so many distractions in our world, just stay focused.

Recognizing what is within your control and what isn't, allows you to channel your energy. To add, it's important to foster a mindset that embraces adaptability and resilience. This means sometimes tweaking your approach or strategy according to the circumstances while remaining true to your core beliefs. It's is setting your compass towards your ultimate goal and being flexible about the path you take to get there, which helps to mitigate stress and maintain a sense of fulfillment. Setting aside time to revisit and redefine your purpose is a worthwhile exercise. Life evolves and so do we; what resonates with you at one point might need some adjustments as you progress. It's okay to refine your purpose, and keeping your objectives clear.

It can be an important practice to reflect and see ways that you are already aligning with your purpose or to think back on the ways this purpose has always been present in your life. It may have taken various manifestations. One of my clients who is an immigration lawyer told me his main value is that anyone should be able to do what they want with their lives as long as they are causing no harm to anyone. As an adult he aligned with this as a lawyer who was working to bring people to Canada where they might have more safety and greater opportunities. As a teenager he was a punk who believed in the very same thing. But only when he reflected and saw that he had always held this value did it give him a new sense of confidence and purpose.

I'm curious about this point. I wonder if its more important to align actions with our VALUES. If clear on values, then purpose becomes clear. If action is always aligned with values, then you remain in integrity and naturally progress with your purpose. Sometimes, taking aligned action with your values and purpose could go against 'the norm' which could feel stressful and frightening. What's important is to come back to your inner compass, your values to move through the stress and fear. Always stay true to you!

Alignment cannot be over emphasized. Misalignment of body-mind-spirit produces stress much like a misaligned clutch and accelerator produces the noisy stress in your car

One of the key things to being effective in achieving our greatest desires is consistently evaluating both our goals and our actions. As we grow, our priorities change, and the actions and habits that will bring us the best results will change as well. In other words, what your high priorities are today may not be your highest priorities next week, month or year. A daily practice I use is to first review the most important pursuits/goals in my life (to ensure I stay completely aligned with what I really want), and then to simply ask and write down "what are the highest priority actions I can take today to achieve these outcomes?" This helps to ensure I live a high priority big picture life, not a low priority day to day one.

It is so easy to get easily distracted and to continue doing things for other people, rather than focusing on your own needs. Spend at least 15 minutes a day writing down what your purpose is, and refine it if it no longer serves you or brings you joy. Evaluate at the end of each day how aligned your actions were to your purpose to see how focused you were able to be and what distractions you let in to your day.

In the ever-evolving world of IT solutions, where change is the only constant and challenges are a daily occurrence, reminding ourselves of our purpose is not just a luxury but a necessity. As the Head of Sales at Nexxt.ai, I've learned that regularly reconnecting with our purpose is a source of resilience, motivation, and a powerful antidote to stress. The third step in this journey is to make purpose a constant presence in our lives, and there are several effective ways to do just that: Personal Mission Statement Vision Board Mantra Daily Reflection Stress Response By reminding ourselves of our purpose regularly, we not only maintain a positive outlook but also deepen our connection to our work and our goals.

On your to-do list include a to-don't list. Keep the main things the main things. Is it writing? Then write. Is it learning a new habit? Then practice.

Purpose is your guiding star. If you don't stop to look at the sky your boat may move away and you will be stressed to bring it back. Hence - keep relooking/reminding

Having a clear sense of purpose can be a game-changer when it comes to managing stress. Knowing our ‘why’ can act as an anchor and help us weather difficult times. Our ‘why’ can keep us focused on our goals and motivate us to push through challenges. Purpose can prevent us from becoming overwhelmed by stress, help us to create meaning and a sense of accomplishment and boost our resilience. The Japanese concept of Ikigai is a great model to consider your 'reason for being'. It includes looking at 4 key areas: What you love (passion) What you're good at (vocation) What the world needs (mission) What can be paid for (profession)

A great addition as a daily purpose-driven activity is to stop and breathe while bringing your thoughts to your purpose. Deep breathing is known to contribute to lower stress levels. When you let go off the highest stress levels you are able to connect to your purpose on a deeper level.

I love the seven levels of why exercise to help you stay connected with your purpose. Keep asking yourself "and why is that important?" And in response to the answer "and why is that important?" Repeat seven times. I can't remember where this tool originates, but it'll deepen your understanding of your purpose, connect you with it. This is a great place from which to build your vision board.

THIS is a simple but powerful way to transform STRESS & PRESSURE for healthy DRIVE. Here’s how: When we perceive and approach our career / the things on our to-do list / our responsibilities etc as something we HAVE TO do, we easily feel stressed and under pressure. Things we used to ENJOY (work, family, exercise…) seem like CHORES. We’re just trying to get through it. When we REMIND ourselves that we actually have a CHOICE (even when it doesn’t SEEM like it) and that we have OPTIONS (even if we don’t LIKE them) the whole dynamic changes: Instead of the pressure of ‘have to’, we CHOOSE to. And every day we choose again, same or different actions. Even if you change nothing in your external reality, this changes everything internally.

To live an inspired and fulfilled life, moments of clarity and inspiration are super important; in a world that demands and often scatters our attention, they are momentary windows that reveal the deeper/truer parts of ourselves to us. These moments of inspiration can be searched for (as in meditation etc), or can sometimes just happen at any time. My practice and suggestion is to write them down when they occur, and read them on a daily basis. Taken together, they will lead us on the path of what the author Joseph Campbell calls "following our bliss". A fulfilling life is about living our most inspired truth. Recording our moments of insight and connecting with them regularly can change the game and keep us on track for an amazing life.

I add reminders on my phone, too! Messages that ping occasionally. Reminders of who I am. Reminders of what I want. Reminders of coherent actions to that honor who I am and what I am here to be and do.

Being articulate about they Why, How and What and sharing stories about how this purpose manifests itself creates community awareness. Sharing failures that finally led to the discovery of one's purpose is a very key element in building trust with the community

Sharing one's sense of purpose with others is not only a powerful way to overcome stress but also a transformative act that can enrich our lives in countless ways. Here's a perspective on the importance and benefits of sharing your purpose with others: Fostering Authentic Connections Building a Support Network Inspiring Others Creating a Sense of Belonging Fostering Accountability Impact and Legacy Sharing my purpose also fosters a sense of belonging. When I connect with individuals who share my purpose or appreciate it, I find myself in a community of like-minded individuals. This sense of belonging combats feelings of isolation and loneliness, providing me with a strong support system that eases my stress.

Remember that your purpose is there primarily to fulfil you. Too often, people (including me for a long time) feel desperate about finding a purpose and base it on what others think they should be doing - however this just reinforces the false notion that you aren't already on purpose now. You have had a purpose of some kind since you were born. You are not finding your purpose so that you can be worthwhile, you are already worthwhile, and are really just making yourself consciously aware of the purpose you have always had. Rather than moving from a purposeless life to a purposeful one, you are simply making yourself aware of your unique purpose. You know when you have got it, because it truly fulfils you.

Sharing purpose is a great conversation starter. It can serve your purpose on higher levels as you may connect with others who share the same purpose. Eventually, you may end up creating a community of people driving by the very same purpose. Speaking about your purpose on platforms like LinkedIn may help other people and support others who are dealing with stress.

Once you have decided what your purpose is sharing it with others will help you to stay accountable to them. Not sharing it with anybody but sharing with those who have your back.

Sharing purpose makes you accountable but you must share it wisely. There will be detractors who inundate you with negative energy. Don't share with them

Sharing my sense of purpose has been a profound experience in my life. A few years ago, I decided to embark on a mission to raise awareness about environmental conservation & sustainable living. This had always been my passion, but I had kept it mostly to myself. It wasn't until I started openly sharing my purpose with others, I began to see the incredible impact it could have. I started by talking about my commitment to environmental conservation with friends and family. I explained how it was not just about recycling and reducing waste but about fundamentally changing the way we interact with the planet. To my surprise, some of my friends shared similar values, and we decided to create a small community dedicated to environmental action.

It is important to note that not all stress is bad. We, on occasion, experience stress or even anxiety that pushes us to accomplish tasks and work towards our purpose. If you ever wondered about the reason it feels good to tick off an item on that to do list, it is because you alleviate some of this stress. However, stress can also pile up as we acquire more responsibilities or as we procrastinate. Add the challenge of adjusting to major life events, stress can intensify and impact you physically and mentally. Get back on track by remembering the mission and completing small tasks one at a time. Purpose is that one thing that keeps gnawing at you and won’t let go. That thing that you have wanted to do for as long as you can remember.

Stress is not all bad. It can be a great motivator. When you feel the pressure just use that energy to motivate you rather than drain you. As you start to eliminate the stressors you become grateful that one more thing is done or out of the way. I try to always just use the stress I feel as a lesson learned not to procrastinate and to appreciate my resilience and ability to move forward when I think there is no way foreword.

I find there is truth to the statement, "we are our own worst enemy ." It's important to practice self -compassion. In the practice of yoga, we call this, ahimsa - non-harming. We can set our intention each day to support and act on our purpose, however , we are imperfect and may veer off our path. We can acknowledge it, allow it, and gently return to pur purpose. Self-criticism can sabotage our efforts, especially if it is very harsh. This can lead to discouragement and worse, abandoning our purpose altogether.

On a personal level, I have shared on this platform my passion and purpose for speaking about dyslexia in a positive sense. As a dyslexic, I don't believe beating myself up is helpful just because many people have the idea dyslexia means being stupid. I believe dyslexia is a feature, not a limitation. Many dyslexics have been successful and invented things we take for granted these days. Sharing my positive take has made me feel better about myself and without doubt helped other fellow dyslexics to feel better about themselves.

My 3 are the books I am writing, finishing my MBA, and stepping out when opportunities arise. I no longer think I can't do it, I am determined to write the future I want to have for my life.

Living true to your purpose and values - having this as your compass - can be a great springboard to overcome people pleasing and perfectionism. And, at the same time, it can be difficult to connect with your purpose and values if people pleasing and perfectionism are at the helm! These two things are a significant source of stress and a blocker for connecting with your purpose and values. I found this to be true for me - getting underneath all of this has helped me understand myself and step into my TRUE purpose. Not the one I thought I SHOULD live. A great question to ask yourself is: Is this a SHOULD? Or do I truly WANT this?