Gaining Clarity to Live with Purpose and Intentionality

Hey Friend and Happy Spring!

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It's a time when things dormant and seemingly lifeless spring up. The plants and flowers were there all along, right beneath the surface. But now, in the fullness of time, their beauty is revealed.

Needs and Values are kind of like that. They're easy to ignore as we speed through life, giving little thought to what lies underneath - those core desires and motivations. Yet if ignored for too long, we lose sight of the WHY.

What’s really important, and why? What am I willing to invest in order to answer that question with confidence and clarity?

Doing the deeper work of discovering our core needs values is one of the first steps toward living with purpose and intentionality. Self-discovery and discernment take some hard work. But the investment is well worth it.

Getting clarity on core values and prioritizing our lives around those values is the work of springtime in my opinion. It's a reflective process done both alone with God and with others. It cultivates and prepares the soil of our hearts. It's just good soul care.

Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
- Hosea 10:12

Once we do the deeper work of clarifying our needs and values, we have a much better chance of leaning into God's ultimate plan for our lives and into the opportunities He's giving us.

Are you ready to take the next step toward clarity? Download my free values clarification resource here

Want to gain more personal clarity? Take the full Needs and Values assessment here

Want to take an even deeper dive? Take the full assessment and book a coaching call with me to gain further clarity

Here's to greater clarity!

-Tim

Breaking Up Unplowed Ground: Clarifying Values

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It's a time when things dormant and seemingly lifeless spring up. The plants and flowers were there all along, right beneath the surface. But now, in the fullness of time, their beauty is revealed.

Needs and Values are kind of like that. They're easy to ignore as we speed through life, giving little thought to what lies underneath - those core desires and motivations. Yet if ignored for too long, we lose sight of the WHY.

What’s really important, and why? What am I willing to invest in order to answer that question with confidence and clarity?

Doing the deeper work of discovering our core needs values is one of the first steps toward living with purpose and intentionality. Self-discovery and discernment take some hard work. But the investment is well worth it.

Getting clarity on core values and prioritizing our lives around those values is the work of springtime in my opinion. This is a reflective process done both alone with God and with others. It cultivates and prepares the soil of our hearts. It's just good soul care.
 

Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
- Hosea 10:12

 
Once we do the deeper work of clarifying our needs and values, we have a much better chance of leaning into God's ultimate plan for our lives and into the opportunities He's giving us.

Are you ready to take the next step toward clarity? Download my free values clarification resource here

Want to take a deeper dive? Take the full assessment and book a coaching call with me to gain further clarity

Here's to greater clarity!

- Tim

Discovering Your Next Thing

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “What do I really want?”

Maybe you sense the transition of your current season of life, or you feel the discomfort of dissatisfaction at work, or maybe you’ve been wanting to redirect your focus toward something new.

You are not alone. We all wonder what might be next, but so often we let the fear of change hinder us from taking any steps toward what we truly want in life. Maybe you think it’s too late to change directions or start something new. Uncertainty is normal, but we can learn to be comfortable while we’re in that space.

Whether you feel prepared or hesitant to leap into something new, but know deep-down that it’s time, here are three phases Mark Ross and I discussed that will help you discover and develop your “next thing.”

1) Get Direction - Exploration Phase

Take time to really think through these questions: 

• Where have I been?

• Who am I now?

• Who do I want to be next?

• What do I really want to do?

Give yourself permission to dream, to brainstorm, and to get in touch with your desires. Those dreams you’ve let go of over time...with a little work you can bring those back to the surface again. Really take the time to tap into longing and desire as you think through these questions.

2) Take Action - Launch Phase

Some of us are planners and some of us are leapers. Whichever you are, we all have to start with the first step. Take the answers from your exploration phase and map out what it will take to get there...then get started!

3) Adjust and Reflect - Refinement Phase

Don’t be afraid to make changes as you continue moving forward. What are the outcomes you’re working towards? Is what you’re doing still aligned with this? Reflect and make adjustments based on what’s important to you, using your answers from the exploration phase to help guide you.

Mark Ross reminds us to “live in the present, delight in today while being diligent about tomorrow.” Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the pressure to pick the “right thing.”  It might not be the next “thing,” it could be the next “things.” You may have it figured out for this next season and then things may change again! 

The reality is, you are not required to continue doing what you’re doing right now for the rest of your life. You can begin taking these simple steps today to bring clarity and focus for your tomorrow.

And don’t forget to trust in the One Who knows you inside and out, calls you His own, and created you for a purpose. He has promised to be your Guide in seasons of exploration and uncertainty.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. - Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)

“Live in the present. Delight in today, while being diligent about tomorrow.” - Mark Ross

This blog was adapted from the podcast episode “Discovering Your Next Thing” with Mark Ross Listen in on the full conversation here!