Here's What Wealth Without Purpose Looks Like
It isn't pretty, but the art of life gets a lot better when you find clarity of purpose
- Dragonfly, 2022
What happens when a person gets to the end of their career without knowing their higher purpose? Or how to reinvent themselves? And use their time for the second half of life?
Stuck. Lost. Kind of like falling into a black hole.
For example, all based on a true story...
A partner at a law firm loses his season tickets and parking space. (I know, first-world problem.)
An influential, 7-figure CEO no longer has his board.
A world-famous author loses his fame and his private jet.
A retired, divorced banker gets sick of playing golf with his buddies and starts day drinking and calling his broker every other hour.
I call it “wealth without purpose.” Emotional bankruptcy. Lots of money. Too much time.
Limited self-awareness. No purpose. Bad combo.
The business of life is bigger than money and material. If you have time, money, and no purpose, it’s tough to know what to do.
It’s a heck of a lot easier to reinvent yourself when you know who you are and what you want. That takes lots of time and experience for most of us.
Ultimately, it’s about purpose. Follow it, and you’ll be good.
True self. There’s only one of you, really.
Clarity follows purpose.
Here’s how it works ...
You start wondering why something feels off. But you’re not sure what. You start thinking, “Hmmm, what’s this all about?”
Boom. Ask, and you shall ... start listening to yourself. That higher part of you deep inside and all around us.
A voice that whispers in the middle of the night, “Wake up, it’s time to shift.”
Finally, you’re ready to answer the call.
Your job is to be curious, ask questions, recognize the gap in meaning, the void in purpose, and the toll it takes on your energy.
Keep asking ...
“Where do I feel the most alive? How can I make a difference in my community? How do I get my health back, or stay healthy, even better?”
“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”
Acceptance is the gateway to serenity. It’s a great place!
Reinventing yourself is much easier when you know yourself, what you want, and how to invest your free time.
And you don’t have to wait to reinvent yourself. If you’re having a tough go of it right now, know this ...
All the tough stuff you go through will be worth it when you look back from your 50s or 60s and beyond. (If you do the inner work.)
Just answer the call! After that...
You won’t sweat the silly stuff as much.
You will let go of any regrets from the past.
You will start forgiving yourself. That’s the springboard to forgiving others.
That’s how we stay young. Virtue, not vice.
“Purpose is the fountain of youth.” (Did I just make that up?)
During the process of reinventing ourselves, we notice the overactive ego melts away.
Remaining fears lose their grip. Acceptance, compassion, and patience take over. If you’re stuck, ask for help. Do your best. Finish strong.
Be the real you. That’s the art of life.
I’m an author, strategic coach, and mentor. Discover the power of the Clarity S.H.I.F.T. Method® for improving your career, small business, and life at www.CliffordJones.com.