The Power of Story: Purpose

Jim Loehr is one of my favorite authors. I have often returned for encouragement to his book, The Power of Full Engagement (co-authored with Tony Schwartz). Loehr advocates for the premise that energy, not time, is the limiting factor in reaching optimal levels of health, happiness, and productivity.

Loehr’s newer work, The Power of Story, provides both a metaphor and a means for making changes in our lives. He envisions our lives as stories: the stories we believe, the stories we tell others, and the stories we tell ourselves. He then challenges us to confirm that our stories are effective; that they lead in the direction we intend. He sets forth three key ingredients for any effective story: Purpose, truth, and action. Let’s begin with purpose.

According to Loehr, all effective stories have a clear purpose: They are intended to inform, to entertain, to frighten, to enlighten. Every chapter, every sentence, every word drives the reader toward that purpose. Effective lives also have a clear purpose: They are intended to succeed, to achieve, to learn, to serve. Every thought, every plan, every action drives the individual toward that purpose.

Do we know where we want to go? Do our lives have a clear purpose? Most of us have some general answers to the question. Do those answers reach into the depths, where we discover what is most important? Why indeed do we get up in the morning and engage the day? What do we do out of passion and joy? How would we spend our time if earning a living were not an issue? Is there a value that we would die for? Are we living as if it mattered?

Our most compelling sense of purpose typically reaches beyond ourselves. We find meaning in contributing, in helping, in making a difference. While pursuing the value of caring for others and for causes, we may tell a contrasting story about caring for ourselves. It is unworthy. It detracts from our mission. It is an indulgence.

Loehr challenges us to recognize that self-care, far from detracting from our purpose, provides the essential fuel for achieving it. Self-care ensures that we have the physical energy to nurture, the mental strength to help, the emotional resilience to persevere, and the inner peace to confront challenges with competence and calm.

What is your central reason to live? How is it going? Are you tempted to work longer and harder, to jam more into your life? Step back. Challenge that story; try out a different one. Can you reconcile self-care with caring for others? Can you equate personal well-being with meaningful contribution? If you find that connection a challenge, there are plenty of examples in The Power of Story. Check it out.

Until the next time, go well.

Pam