Explaining your purpose simply means you understand it well enough
The question of the ages is simple yet complex. It is the question that we have been asking ourselves since the beginning of time.
What is my purpose?
Anyone who establishes a presence as a public figure must define purpose.
Writers, creators and influencers cannot deny the question — at least, not if they wish to find branding success. However, all humans could benefit from answering it — even if just for themselves.
Why am I here?
Yes, it sounds daunting. And due to the weaponized humility that permeates Western Culture, it feels weird for most people to talk about themselves — especially when we speak of our purpose, gifts, accomplishments and success.
When it comes to understanding your purpose, though, I assure you the juice is worth the squeeze — regardless of whether you are a best-selling author, an up-and-coming creator, a doctor or a mechanic.
Why everyone should know their own key words — finding your genius
For many, minimizing your purpose to a short paragraph can be extremely difficult — not because people don’t know their purpose. They do.
It is articulating it with confidence and not being overcome by the challenging imposter syndrome. It is about avoiding the over-explanation that we want to add — in fear that people will not understand us. It is doubt.
If you can refine your life’s work to a few sentences, those sentences open the door to clarity in purpose. But, the real magic is in the few keywords that your few sentences represent.
Perhaps Einstein provided us with the secret to finding our purpose all those years ago.
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. — Albert Einstein
It makes sense then that the simpler you can define your purpose, the better you will understand it.
When you find your keywords, not only will the world have a better understanding of your purpose, but so will you.
This is not to say you didn’t know your purpose before you could explain it simply. It just means that you can put it into words. So, although you may have known it, explaining it simply allows you to understand it.
When you understand your purpose well enough to describe it so simply, you can look at everything you have ever created and find it.
Not just your recent work or your creative work, either.
You see your purpose in every chapter of your life, and you realize that you didn’t find your purpose, after all. You realized it, you found words to explain it, and you understand it. But you always knew it.
Your purpose was there all along. It was in every tear you ever cried, every mission you ever accomplished and every goal you ever set. It was there when you flipped burgers at your first job, and it was there when you received your best opportunities.
My keywords are Hope and Human Potential. And now that I have found these words, I can see them permeating my existence all the way back to the playground. You will not find one piece of my work that does not have hope and human potential at its foundation.
When you find your few words and see them in everything you have ever touched, you have access to an unlimited supply of energy and inspiration that you never had before — you have access to complete clarity of purpose.
The word clarity isn’t good enough, though.
Clarity allows access to this all-powerful force within you, but what you are really accessing is your genius.
True genius is less about something we are and more about something we have
We hear people say, “Everyone is a genius,” but we don’t believe it.
We don’t believe it because we are saying it wrong. Everyone has a genius.
Many Western words have lost their true meaning and heritage due to the dualistic nature of our lexicon. Our lexicon is responsible for the dualistic ways in which we process thought.
A quick Google search butchers the word.
They did not create the word genius to describe a person, but something a person has or gives. An entity, presence or person that influences us. It was not about being a genius, but about finding your genius, having a genius or being available when your genius visits.
You can consult Marriam-Webster, and they will do the word justice, but that doesn’t change the way we use it.
Our Western perception of the word genius is listed as number five for a reason, although most would never notice.
Everyone has a genius, and when you have access to complete clarity of purpose, your genius is easier to find. Or better yet, you are easier for your genius to find.
Through awareness, you develop a better relationship with your genius. Not only are you aware of your genius, but you and your genius can intentionally co-create. Yes, your genius has always been around. But you notice it more, you recognize it, and you understand how it fuels your life’s purpose and the purpose of your work.
When you understand your purpose and are more aware of your genius, it shows up more often. Everyone likes to be understood, and so does your genius.
Some people even name their genius. Mine is named Francis. And the cooler I am with Francis, the more she visits. We are so close now that she even comes over just to have coffee and listen to the birds.
Francis may be the facilitator of my life’s purpose and my wildest dreams, but she has become a good friend. She likes to go everywhere with me now — to the park, to meetings and even to the grocery store.
Understanding your purpose allows you to intentionally relate with your genius and see clearly how it connects to everything you say, everything you build, every word you write and everything you do. When you can relate to your purpose in this way, the genius you always had can shine through.
If our Western minds must label people as genius or not, perhaps the determining factor is this: those we call genius’ found their genius, made friends with it, became ever-aware of it and, above all, they let it shine through. They let it shine so brightly that the whole world can see it and will never forget it.
Perhaps Einstein said it best, yet again.
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. — Albert Einstein
No matter who you are, you have a genius and therefore are a genius. Find your purpose to find your genius and a genius you become.
Written by Holly Kellums
Originally published on Medium - Holly Kellums - Mar 29·6 min read
Featured image created by author — courtesy of Victor Garcia on Unsplash and Jackie Ramirez from Pixabay
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