Building Purpose Through Values and Responsibilities
What truly matters to you? Have you ever noticed that the things you care most about are often shaped by your own experiences—especially the difficult ones?
The struggles we face, the challenges we overcome, and the responsibilities we take on often play a big role in shaping our values. And those values, in turn, can help guide us toward a deeper sense of purpose.
The Connection Between Struggles and Purpose
Think about a time in your life when you faced a significant challenge. Maybe you dealt with an illness, a loss, or a difficult situation that forced you to grow in ways you didn’t expect. Often, these experiences change the way we see the world.
For example:
Someone who grew up feeling lonely may come to deeply value connection and friendship.
A person who has experienced injustice may feel strongly about fairness and helping others.
Someone who struggled with their health might be passionate about wellness and self-care.
Purpose doesn’t always come from a single passion or grand goal. More often, it grows from what we care about most—our values—and the way we choose to act on them.
Your values are the foundation of your purpose. They influence your decisions, the way you treat others, and what you feel drawn to in life.
A Story of Purpose: Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai was just 15 years old when she was targeted by the Taliban for speaking out about girls’ education in Pakistan. She survived a brutal attack, and instead of retreating in fear, she became even more determined to fight for education rights.
For Malala, education wasn’t just a cause—it was something deeply personal. She had seen firsthand how girls were denied opportunities, and she knew that education could change lives. Today, she continues to advocate for girls around the world, driven by the values that were shaped by her own experiences.
While most of us won’t face challenges as extreme as Malala’s, we can still look to our own experiences for guidance. The things that have shaped us—both good and bad—can point us toward what truly matters and where we want to focus our energy.
While most of us won’t face challenges as extreme as Malala’s, we can still look to our own experiences for guidance. The things that have shaped us—both good and bad—can point us toward what truly matters and where we want to focus our energy. Photo Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe (Read more about Malala Yousafzai here: https://www.un.org/en/messengers-peace/malala-yousafzai)
How to Identify Your Core Values
Your values are the foundation of your purpose. They influence your decisions, the way you treat others, and what you feel drawn to in life.
Take a moment to reflect on these questions:
What life experiences have shaped you the most?
What challenges have helped define what’s most important to you?
If you could dedicate your time to something meaningful, what would it be?
Action Step: Clarify Your Values
Look at the following list of values and see which ones resonate with you the most:
Compassion – Helping others, showing kindness
Fairness – Fighting for justice and equality
Courage – Facing challenges, standing up for what’s right
Creativity – Expressing ideas, making something new Connection – Building relationships, creating a sense of belonging
Integrity – Living honestly and staying true to yourself
Health – Prioritizing physical and mental wellbeing
Freedom – Seeking independence and self-expression
Perseverance – Working hard through difficulties
Kindness – Treating others with empathy and care
Choose three values that feel the most meaningful to you. Then, ask yourself:
Are my daily actions aligned with these values?
If not, how can I take small steps to live more in line with what matters to me?
Spend some time reflecting on what values guide you. The more you connect with what truly matters to you, the clearer your sense of purpose will become.
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Derrick McEachern is a Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT) in Nova Scotia, and a Canadian Certified Counsellor. He specializes in providing mindfulness-based and emotionally focused therapy. He offers workshops and webinars and consults with businesses on ways to improve employee wellbeing and mental health.
Derrick McEachern, M.Ed., RCT, CCC
Counselling Therapist, Owner
Five Star Wellbeing Counselling and Mental Health
tel: 902 698 1194
derrick@fivestarwellbeing.com
https://fivestarwellbeing.com
