Restore Your Connection

Restore Your Connection

Not long ago, the power went out at the home of my daughter and son-in-law for two full days. They described it as being in the “dark ages” – they  couldn’t run the dishwasher, make dinner, do the laundry, or even charge their phones. It was a vivid example of being disconnected.  

In my work as a coach, I’ve seen hundreds of people who feel this same way in their jobs – they’re just moving through the hours, days, and weeks, never feeling like they’re doing work that matters.  They’re just waiting (and wishing) for the “power” to come back on.  Eventually, they stop expecting anything to change. 

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way.

Over the past decade, I’ve seen people of all ages and career stages reconnect to their true purpose and systematically integrate it into their lives, without having to take radical risks. 

And they’ve done it by starting with three pivotal questions:

What impact do I want to make?  Instead of thinking about what you want to do, focus on the impact you want to have.  Think about who you would be excited to help and how you see yourself making this impact. This shift – from activity to outcome – asks you to consider how you will create value in the lives of others rather than just making money.  It also gives you the clearest understanding of your “why” – the driving force behind all your effort.

What are the smallest actionable steps that would move me from point A to point B?  The real key is to avoid the temptation to be “heroic” and instead, focus on small actions that move you forward.  Rather than setting unrealistic goals and failing (again), try making a list of all the small actions that would get you started.  When you have at least ten ideas, choose one and do it.  Next week you can choose another and another, and soon, when you look back, you’ll see that you’ve made real progress.

What should I do when life gets in the way?  We all need help at some point, but the most successful people plan for that help in advance.  There’s an ancient proverb that says “Dig your well before you’re thirsty” and in the same way, you can plan for the resources you’ll need before you need them.  Tell a friend or family member what you plan to do – saying it out loud increases your likelihood of success greatly. Pick a friend that will ask about your progress and is genuinely interested in seeing you succeed. Track your progress in a clear, visual way. Whether it’s crossing off days on a calendar, making a weekly checklist on your phone, or using an app that displays your results like the one from Streaking Mastery, tracking your progress will make you more motivated to keep going, even when life gets busy.

When you’ve found your answers to these questions, you’re ready to begin reconnecting to the life and work you were meant to have.  Step by step, you will rediscover the satisfaction and joy that comes with real connection to your gifts and to your purpose. It’s a journey you will never regret.