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Why Defining Your Why and Strengths Is No Longer the Answer
Why Defining Your Why and Strengths Is No Longer the AnswerHello Have you ever felt that despite knowing your 'why' and understanding your strengths, something still seems missing in your quest for purpose and fulfillment? You're not alone. In my 15-year inner leader journey, I've come to a startling realization. The conventional wisdom of defining our 'why' and identifying our strengths may be holding us back from our true potential. Experts have told us for years that finding our why is foundational to living a more purposeful life. Strength assessments promised to unlock our hidden talents. While these approaches have their merits, they only scratch the surface of who we truly are and what we're capable of becoming. What if our greatest source of wisdom and purpose lies beyond the realm of our analytical mind? What if, instead of searching for our purpose, we could allow it to find us? On the inner leader journey, we begin to explore dimensions of intelligence and wisdom that extend far beyond our usual mental constructs. This is the next frontier of human potential – a space where purpose isn't something we define, but something we embody. As I wrote in my recent article "The Inner Leader's Journey to Scaffolding Purpose & Authentic Leadership," published in Amplify: "True purpose isn't found externally but emerges naturally as we align with our authentic selves." This insight forms the basis for a revolutionary approach to discovering our true purpose. It isn't hidden in a strength test or a carefully crafted 'why' statement. Rather, it resides in the stillness beyond the constant chatter of our minds. We don't find our purpose. We allow it to find us. When we pause our constant doing and seeking, something remarkable happens. We tap into a wellspring of awareness that's been there all along, waiting for us to notice. It's the next frontier of human potential. Your strengths? They're your true self when you are fully present. They're natural expressions of it. Your purpose isn't a concept or a statement, but a deep alignment with the present moment. It is your natural state of being. The old way directed us look at our conditioned mind: define it, then do. The new way invites you to be: rest in inner awareness, allowing life to unfold through you. The journey from the mind to inner awareness is a journey beyond the limits society has conditioned you to accept. It may be the most important journey of your life. You don't just find your purpose. You become it and allow it to unfold through you. And in becoming your purpose, you transcend the very notion of finding your why. You move beyond crafting purpose statements to embodying purpose itself. The search for your purpose ends with a deep truth. You are your purpose. — Bill Bill Fox, Founder, LeaderONE |
Bill Fox
Get my periodic newsletter to discover new pathways, make better decisions, and be a forward-thinking leader and workplace of the future — today!
Your Mind Is Undermining Your Leadership and You May Not Know It Hello Reader, Most people think they see the world as it is. I know I sure did. Really, we see it through a filter of beliefs, fears, and what we’ve been told. I've heard this many times before, but it really didn't register until it happened. My good friend and colleague, Wolfgang Fiebig, says it best: ... beyond what have dreamed of, is one of my answers. We react to shadows and call it the truth. But there’s a better way....
California Dreamin’ A new world beyond leadership as we know it today. Hello Reader, I remember growing up and spending summer vacation mornings at my best friend Pete’s house. We’d crank up his stereo and listen to The Beach Boys at full blast. Their music seemed to tap into something deeper that we didn’t fully understand back then, but we all felt it. They weren’t just singing about California. They were creating a world where we could be our true selves—a place where living and playing...
The Profound Implications of the Medium of Leadership Hello Reader, I’ve been fascinated by the work of Marshall McLuhan, who famously said “the medium is the message,” ever since a colleague introduced me to his ideas several years ago. His exploration of media and technology was ahead of its time. Paradoxally, McLuhan helped us see how the tools we create ultimately shape us in return. Contrary to what most of us believe, McLuhan pointed out that the medium itself has a greater impact than...