What we’re thinking
Why are you doing what you are doing?
One of our kids’ favourite authors is Michael Morpurgo. Former Children’s Laurete, writer of War Horse and various other great books with deep meaning. So when I saw an interview with him in the Big Issue this week it caught my eye, and one paragraph in particular: “If I went back to speak to my younger self I’d say what my wife said to me when I was 19. I was in the army and she asked me ‘Why are you doing what you are doing?’ I hadn’t ever asked myself that question, I had just done it.” And I don’t think Michael is alone…
The idea of doing things ‘on purpose’, living life ‘on purpose’ is a topic we often explore in coaching. What’s important for me? Where am I bringing this alive to my full potential? Where am I playing ‘small’. Or does life just happen? It may be big things or the small day-to-day stuff. And for me, I find that setting myself a clear intention for the day or for parts of the day, a clear sense of why I’m doing what I’m doing and what I want to result, often helps. It can challenge me, sometimes comforts me, sometimes is discomforting, stretches me, causes different decisions, reinforces or changes perspectives. And it feels closer to living life on purpose, rather than letting days drift by and just happen.
Great question Mrs Morpugo!
Andrew Bidnell is a professional certified coach and an experienced consultant who founded InsideOut Consulting in 2006. The focus is on leadership and communication and, in particular, the challenge of engagement – of self and of others – to achieve maximum impact and fulfillment. He has worked internationally with 1,000+ leaders in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, always seeking to facilitate, challenge, support and unlock potential that lies inside an individual, a community, an organisation, and bring that strength, passion and knowledge out for maximum impact.