Finding Purpose

It's important that in whatever work we do, we find purpose. If your work is running a business, your purpose is to grow the business - but you have the choice of steady growth or fast growth, and of course how to grow. If your work is running a school, your purpose is to manage your faculty, staff, and students - but you have the choice to manage top-down or bottom-up. If your work is teaching or tutoring, your purpose is to instill knowledge and cultivate relationships - but you have the choice to deliver facts and content, or teach life skills and habits of mind.

If your work is being a student, your purpose is to do well in school and class - and you, too, have a choice as to what that means: Get good grades? Turn in all your homework? Learn effective study habits and critical thinking skills? Be a creative problem-solver?

In our daily work, we have purpose, and we also have choice. It's usually not so black-and-white, but rather a blend of our various options. It is important to find and recognize both, as one gives us direction, the other holds our values in check.