A Confession

I was having a chat with a leader last week and they were talking about an idea that really sparked some deep thinking for me.  As I've continued to ponder this, I struggled with the appropriate way to talk about it, but then it dawned on me - A Confession!

Here's the idea - There's a big difference between being Rooted in Purpose vs being Rooted in Comfort.  First, a few thoughts, and then the confession.

Rooted in Purpose

In talking with this leader, they were remarking how decisions, connections, relationships, even practical business realities all flow so much better when they are Rooted in their Purpose.  They are able to be really clear about their fundamental Why* behind them - what makes them tick and get up in the morning. When they stay Rooted in their Purpose, it helps them stay on track and motivated to keep pressing forward when things feel hard.  They stay tapped into their primary fuel and know how to use it to create movement and sustain momentum.  

Rooted in Comfort

In contrast, being Rooted in Comfort has more to do with just trying to avoid what's too difficult. It's about taking the pathway of least resistance, which is sometimes a great idea if it's also Rooted in Purpose, but is often about just trying to get by. Sometimes, being Rooted in Comfort is even held up as the ideal, thinking that eventually the goal is to just be able to coast and relax. In fact, sometimes I think our ideas about retirement are Rooted in Comfort not Purpose, which you may or may not think is bad or good!

A Confession

The truth for me is, most of the time I waver and bounce back and forth between these two realities.  Sometimes I feel very Rooted in Purpose - I know myself, I know my work, I lean in with depth and am not afraid to tackle the hard decisions because I know it will create better results down the road.  But sometimes, the hard things just feel too hard.  It's much easier to slip into a position of being Rooted in Comfort and look for the easy way out. 

It's because of this tendency to slide from Purpose to Comfort that I know I need to embrace two things.  First, some grace for myself. If I beat myself up too badly for slipping into Comfort, it can actually become harder to get back to my Purpose.  But when I give myself some grace when it happens, it's easier to remember my Purpose and then jump back onto that track.  Second, I've created some visual reminders for myself that I can see on a fairly regular basis that help to remind me of my Purpose. I've got a note on my tablet with a message I see whenever I open it. I've got a painted rock on my desk with a symbol and a phrase that helps keep me focused. These small aids remind me of who I am at my core, and that helps me stay Rooted in Purpose.

How about you?  Think of a time when you were clearly Rooted in Purpose.  What did it feel like? How did it impact the decisions you made? When you find yourself slipping into being Rooted in Comfort, what helps you recognize it and how do you jump back onto the Purpose track?  How could you extend some grace to yourself so you weren't punishing yourself, but you were just making the adjustments you need to get back to your core?

Here's to leaning into being Rooted in Purpose this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

*For some great info on understanding your Why, check out this Ted talk by Simon Sinek or read his book, Start With Why.

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