Years ago I had the opportunity to hear a guest speaker share stories of people who lived unusually lengthy lives. Each of these individuals shared a common quality; a strong sense of purpose in their lives.  Having purpose (or not having purpose) has a powerful impact on performance and attitude.  My teenage son is currently struggling with purpose as he transitions from a busy life playing sports to waiting eagerly to find a part time job.  I find myself feeling the same way sometimes as my children begin to develop their independence.  In contrast,  I thrive when I set goals, when my help is needed and when I am surrounded with things that need to be done.

Although a day of rest is sometimes a gift (and well needed), generally I do not feel inspired after a day of doing nothing. Nor do my children seem particularly motivated after playing video games at length. I’m not suggesting that there is no value in passive activities, but these types of activities do not leave me feeling inspired or fulfilled.

For children purpose is equally important. Think about children’s sense of engagement when playing with purpose , learning with purpose , writing with purpose, or creating with purpose. Purpose brings fulfillment. It inspires us to be more creative and to do our best work.

I regularly reflect on the ways that I can continually thrive by being purposeful in my own life and my role in helping others with feeling driven and I challenge others to do the same.