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When we talked about Direction, we explored how it bridges the gap between knowing and doing; the step that gets you moving when burnout, uncertainty, or a life crossroads threatens to hold you still.
But there’s another force at play once you’re moving. One that transforms a step forward into a lifelong journey, and keeps you going even when the terrain gets rough.
That force is Purpose.
If you’ve ever been told to “find your why” while you were still struggling to get out of bed or put one foot in front of the other, you’ll know it can feel frustrating; even paralysing.
When you’re fogged by exhaustion or overwhelmed by change, purpose can seem like a luxury you don’t have the energy for. That’s why I feel strongly that in a Personal Reset journey, Direction comes first. You choose a path, however small, and start moving.
Once you’ve built momentum, Purpose steps in as the magnetic pull. It turns forward motion into intentional movement. And here’s the loop: the more you live into your purpose, the more it sharpens; sometimes even changing the direction you’re headed in.
Purpose isn’t just about your current role, your job title, or your list of responsibilities. It’s the thread that connects your actions to something bigger.
It’s the difference between:
Purpose is as much felt as it is defined. It sits in your chest, not just on your CV.
One of my favourite ways to test the strength of a purpose is the Rocking Chair Test. Imagine yourself decades from now, looking back on your life from a comfortable chair. What would make you proud? What would you regret not doing?
This is where purpose overlaps with legacy; the imprint you want to leave behind.
Legacy isn’t only about what you build or own; it’s about the impact you have on people, ideas, and the world around you.
For me, one of the deepest streams of my purpose is my role as a mother to five children, two of whom came into my life through marriage, and who are just as much my own. From my mid twenties, I knew the kind of mother I wanted to be: the kind who creates an environment where her children feel supported, seen, and encouraged to live their own values.
At 26, I started living that commitment when I married my husband and became a mother to his children too. My purpose strengthened further when I gave birth to my first born just 16 months later.
Today, with children ranging in age from 14 to 38, I see this role as part of my legacy. How they remember me, what values they carry forward, and the decisions I’ve modelled for them – all of it is purpose lived in real time.
Marshall Goldsmith, in The Earned Life, describes this beautifully. He urges us to pursue our chosen purpose with everything we’ve got, not clinging to specific outcomes, but finding deep fulfilment in the fact that we showed up fully, aligned with what matters most.
Purpose is more than a philosophical idea; it’s a biological driver. When we connect to a deep sense of meaning, our brain releases dopamine, which fuels motivation and focus.
Purpose also engages the brain’s default mode network, helping us see long-term connections and patterns. It can even regulate cortisol, lowering stress by reframing challenges as meaningful rather than purely threatening.
In burnout recovery, this is critical: your brain shifts from survival mode to growth and creation mode. Suddenly, the energy you’ve been conserving out of exhaustion is redirected into action that feels worth taking.
Like direction, purpose needs more than good intentions. It needs to be woven into the way you live and work. I think of these as macro practices (long-term anchors) and micro practices (daily aligners).
Macro Practices:
Micro Practices:
Direction gives you momentum. Purpose sustains it. And the more you live your purpose, the more it can refine or even redirect your path.
As we move forward in the Reset journey, purpose becomes the foundation for crucial transformation stages ahead; Courage, State of Mind, Action, and Leadership; where your purpose is tested, stretched, and given form in the world.
So if Direction is your map, Purpose is your compass. One without the other is incomplete. Together, they make your path unstoppable.
#PurposeReset #LifeInAlignment #DirectionAndPurpose #NorthStar #LegacyLiving #IntentionalLife #BurnoutRecovery #LifeCompass #CoachingJourney #TheEvolvingWay
