Let me let you in on a little secret. Some days are better than others. That has been really true for me during this pandemic. Some days I feel like things are going well. I am going to be fine. As a matter of fact, I am going to come out of this stronger than ever! And then some days, I want to curl up in a ball and cry. On these days, I can’t see anything but the frustration. That is natural, to a degree. But I don’t like the idea of my emotions being all over the place.
Then I stumbled across a secret formula to help my emotional state. Purpose = Contentment.
It turns out the days that I feel good, I have a purpose. I have a project. This does not mean that I have figured out my purpose in life. Sure, understanding that is powerful. But sometimes, it’s just about having something to get me out of bed in the morning. That one thing creates my purpose for the day. It gives me something to look forward to…and gives me something to accomplish. As I write this, I have a video shoot today. That’s all I need.
While this is not prescriptive, there are a few areas that have provided me purpose…so maybe they will help you.
Education
During this pandemic, many organizations are making it easier to access online education. There are classes and webinars and more to up your skills. PPAI has made classes free so that people in the Promo industry can improve their skills. It’s there is you want it. I actually broke down and signed up for Masterclass…and I love it! If you want a purpose, improving your mental skills is a great place to start!
Exercise
For me, exercise is a part of my morning routine. I think routines are even more important now. But if you are not in the habit of doing some exercise in the morning, creating an exercise goal might be a new purpose for each day.
Kindness To Others
It’s not always easy, but when I feel rough, sometimes the best thing to do is to consider the needs of someone else. When I do this it takes the “woe is me” out of me a bit. This can be as simple as sending a card, or a text, or surprising someone with a gift on their front porch. Whatever you consider, a simple act of kindness can often snap me out of my funk…and give me a new purpose for the day.
If you are in a funk (and we all have been at some point during this), these are just a few ideas that have helped me. I hope finding a purpose, even for the day, can help you find some happiness and contentment.
Kirby Hasseman is the CEO of Hasseman Marketing, a full service marketing agency located in Ohio. Learn more about Hasseman Marketing here.
