Reflecting On and Refining Your Purpose

by Crystal Abitz, MA

We all have an innate ability to inspire and influence others around us. Our purpose changes over the course of our lives as we learn, grow, and experience life. When we focus on finding our purpose, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or distracted. Sometimes we struggle to identify it and we begin feeling hopeless or insecure. Other times, we think we know it, but our life circumstances prevent us from accomplishing it.

For example, I feel a great sense of pride in leading other coaches and professionals. However, my life circumstances prevent me from fully engaging in the activities that allow me to fulfill this sense of purpose. My husband is activeduty in the United States Marine Corps and works absurd hours, including a lot of travel time. We have decided that it’s best for our family for me to stay home full-time with our two toddlers. I’m also nearly finished with a PhD program and spend any moment of available time working on my dissertation. Due to my current situation, I don’t have the time, energy, or other resources to fully participate in a life aligned with my purpose of influencing and inspiring other leaders.

I could put up a strong-willed fight to make use of every minute of my day and find ways to feel satisfied in my desired purpose. Or, better yet, I could reflect on and refine it. In this phase of life, I have come to realize that my purpose lies in nurturing and caring for our family, especially our little children. Right now, I need to be the best mommy, mentor, and teacher possible. Instead of forcing myself to find ways to excel as a great leader of leaders, I choose to modify my personal and professional expectations to meet our family’s situation. So often, we narrowly focus on finding and fulfilling our purpose. Maybe we need to shift our attention and energy to our core values. We gain a better understanding of what we’re meant to do in this phase of our dynamic lives when we reflect on what we cherish most. After identifying that, we can then align our priorities and daily habits with our values. Allowing a natural integration of values, priorities, and habits facilitates a life of synergy and meaning. Directing our energy this way allows us to live more freely without feeling as burned out or exhausted. When we focus on our core values, we are more likely to prioritize behaviors, interactions, and thoughts that fuel our fire and take us closer to accomplishing our greater purpose.

What’s your purpose? Maybe you already know it, or maybe you’re on the path to discovering it. Have you allowed your purpose to change as your life’s circumstances have changed over time? Or are you forcing yourself to fulfill the requirements of society for a purpose that no longer serves you? I challenge you to ask yourself these questions and reflect on your current situation. Does your perceived purpose add to your quality of your life or deplete it? Are you living a life aligned with your core values?

After adjusting to your circumstances and evaluating your desires, I then invite you to live with purpose, on purpose, and for a purpose. Gain control of your life and your legacy, and live in synergy with what matters to you and what you bring to the world.

Crystal is a devoted wife and mommy to a couple of fun, nature-loving kiddos. She has a master’s degree in kinesiology and sport and exercise psychology and a bachelor’s in elementary education, as well as a massage therapy license and strength and conditioning certification through the NSCA. She veered away from the strenuous competitive sport scene and now focuses her attention on experiences, interactions, and more natural movements that bring alignment and joy to her body and her life. Crystal’s main services include massage therapy, mindfulness training, and movement. Instagram: @legacywellnessmi Instagram: @abitz_crystal Facebook: @legacywellnessmi www.legacywellnessmi.com