Finding Purpose in Your Work: Beyond the Paycheck

Have you ever found yourself sitting at your desk on a Monday morning, staring at your computer screen and wondering, "Is this really what I'm meant to do?" Perhaps you've built a successful career in technology or another field, but despite the steady paycheck and professional accomplishments, something feels missing.

This feeling is remarkably common, especially after years of establishing expertise in one area. Many professionals reach a point where technical skills and experience no longer provide the satisfaction they once did. Instead, questions about meaning, impact, and personal fulfillment move to the forefront.

The Purpose Gap in Professional Life

Recent studies show that more than 60% of professionals report wanting more purpose in their work, with this number rising significantly among those in mid-career. This "purpose gap" often emerges after mastering the technical aspects of a profession, when deeper questions about contribution and meaning naturally arise.

For many established professionals, especially those considering a significant career change, the challenge isn't about finding just any new job—it's about finding work that aligns with personal values and creates meaningful impact.

Signs You're Ready for More Purposeful Work

How do you know if you're experiencing this purpose gap? Here are some common indicators:

1. You're competent but not fulfilled – You perform well in your role, but the work itself no longer energizes you.

2. Success feels hollow – Achievements and recognition don't bring the satisfaction they once did.

3. You're drawn to different industries – You find yourself interested in fields that align more closely with your personal values.

4. You think about impact – Questions about how your work contributes to something meaningful have become more important.

5. You crave alignment – The disconnect between your work and personal values has become increasingly uncomfortable.

Moving Beyond the Purpose Gap

If these signs resonate with you, you're not alone. Many successful professionals have navigated this transition from achievement-focused to purpose-driven work. Here are some insights from those who have made this journey:

Redefine Success on Your Terms

For decades, professional success has been defined primarily by advancement, compensation, and recognition. Redefining success means looking inward to determine what truly matters to you at this stage of your career.

Ask yourself: "If external recognition and compensation were removed from the equation, what kind of work would still feel worthwhile?"

Connect With Your Core Values

Your values are the foundation for purposeful work. Take time to identify what principles matter most to you: Is it innovation? Helping others? Environmental sustainability? Creative expression? Problem-solving?

Understanding these core values provides a compass for evaluating potential career directions.

Look for Purpose in Unexpected Places

Purpose doesn't always require a dramatic career change. Sometimes it can be found by:

• Reshaping your current role to incorporate more meaningful projects

• Mentoring others in your field

• Applying your skills to different problems within your organization

• Connecting your expertise to causes you care about

Embrace the Journey of Transition

Finding more purposeful work rarely happens overnight. It's a process of exploration, experimentation, and gradual alignment.

One technology executive who transitioned to sustainable business consulting shared: "I didn't leave my tech career immediately. I started by volunteering my IT skills with environmental organizations, which helped me build a bridge between my established expertise and my emerging purpose."

Finding Support for Your Purpose Journey

While these insights offer a starting point, navigating a purpose-driven career transition benefits from structured support and tools specifically designed for this journey.

This is where the LifeResults CORE workshop can provide significant value. Over one transformative weekend, you'll join others who are also seeking greater meaning and purpose in their professional lives. Through experiential learning, you'll:

• Gain clarity about your authentic values and how they can guide your career choices

• Develop tools for navigating the uncertainty of transition

• Learn to recognize and move beyond limiting patterns that keep you in unfulfilling work

• Build confidence in making choices aligned with your deeper purpose

• Create a practical roadmap for your purpose-driven career transition

As one CORE graduate shared: "After 20 years in my field, I knew I needed change but felt trapped by my expertise and responsibilities. The CORE workshop helped me see that my experience wasn't a limitation—it was a foundation for creating meaningful impact in a new direction. For the first time, I felt confident about moving toward work that truly matters to me."

If you're ready to bridge the gap between professional success and personal fulfillment, the LifeResults CORE workshop provides the supportive environment, practical tools, and clarity you need to take your next step.

Join us for an upcoming CORE workshop and discover how to transform your professional journey from merely successful to deeply meaningful.

LifeResults is a certified non-profit organization that has helped over 250,000 people discover practical tools for creating meaningful change in their personal and professional lives. Our experiential workshops focus on mindfulness, intentional choices, and authentic growth.

Moving from 'Good' to 'Great': When Your Life Looks Fine But Feels Incomplete

Life after divorce has its own timeline. Perhaps you've reached that point where the initial storm has passed. Your routine has stabilized. Friends and family have stopped checking in quite so often, assuming you're "back to normal." On the surface, things appear fine.

Yet something feels missing.

This experience is incredibly common. You've rebuilt the external structures of your life – perhaps a new home, a functional co-parenting arrangement, maybe even a refreshed social circle. But internally, there's a lingering sense of incompleteness that's hard to articulate to others.

The Unseen Journey of Rebuilding

Sarah, a marketing professional in her late thirties, described this feeling perfectly: "I had done all the 'right' things after my divorce. I established a new home, maintained stability for the kids, kept up with work. Everyone told me how well I was doing. But when I was alone, I felt like I was just going through the motions. My life looked good on paper, but it didn't feel like mine anymore."

This disconnect between external stability and internal fulfillment is rarely discussed, yet it's a crucial phase of the post-divorce journey. It signals an important truth: surviving is not the same as thriving.

The "Good Enough" Trap

After navigating the intense emotions and practical challenges of divorce, it's natural to reach a point where you think, "This is good enough." The relief of finding stability can make it feel ungrateful or even risky to ask for more.

You might find yourself thinking:

• "I should be happy with what I have now."

• "Others have it worse – I shouldn't complain."

• "Rocking the boat might lead to more pain."

This mindset, while understandable, can keep you trapped in a life that's merely adequate when you deserve one that's fulfilling.

Recognizing the Signs

How do you know if you're caught in the gap between "good" and "great"? Consider these subtle indicators:

• You feel a sense of restlessness that's difficult to pinpoint

• Your life looks organized on the outside but feels hollow on the inside

• You've mastered the mechanics of your new life but not the meaning

• You find yourself wondering, "Is this all there is?"

• You function well day-to-day but rarely feel truly excited or engaged

If these resonate, you're not being ungrateful – you're recognizing that healing after divorce isn't just about rebuilding structures, but rediscovering joy.

Moving Beyond Functional to Fulfilling

The journey from a "good enough" life to one that feels genuinely fulfilling doesn't happen by accident. It requires intention, self-awareness, and often, guidance.

For Sarah, this realization was both liberating and intimidating: "I had put so much energy into just keeping things together that I hadn't allowed myself to think about what I actually wanted. When I finally asked myself that question, I realized I didn't know the answer anymore."

This uncertainty is precisely where growth begins. Recognizing that stability is just the foundation – not the finished building – opens the door to creating a life that's authentically yours.

Finding Your Way Forward

Moving from "good" to "great" after divorce isn't about making dramatic external changes. Rather, it's about reconnecting with yourself at a deeper level and aligning your life with what truly matters to you now.

This phase of the journey often involves:

• Rediscovering your core values and authentic self

• Reconnecting with dormant passions or exploring new ones

• Reimagining your future based on who you are now, not who you were

• Building confidence in your choices and direction

• Developing deeper relationships that reflect your authentic self

While this work is profoundly important, it can be challenging to navigate alone. Having structured support and practical tools can make all the difference in transforming this restlessness into meaningful growth.

The LifeResults Approach: Building Your Bridge to "Great"

This is where the LifeResults CORE workshop offers unique value. Over one transformative weekend, you'll join others who understand this exact transition point – people who have rebuilt the external aspects of their lives but are ready for something deeper.

The CORE workshop provides a supportive environment where you can:

• Clarify what "great" actually means for your unique life

• Identify patterns that may be keeping you in the "good enough" zone

• Develop practical tools for making authentic choices

• Build confidence in creating a future based on your true values

• Connect with others who understand this important phase of healing

As one recent participant shared: "I came to CORE feeling like I had checked all the boxes of rebuilding my life after divorce, but something was still missing. I left with clarity about what I truly wanted and practical tools to start creating it. For the first time in years, I felt excited about my future."

Ready to bridge the gap between a life that looks fine and one that feels fulfilling? The next LifeResults CORE workshop could be your turning point. Join us for a weekend that transforms "good enough" into the authentic "great" you deserve.

LifeResults is a certified non-profit organization that has helped over 250,000 people navigate life transitions with practical tools for personal growth and transformation. Our experiential workshops create an environment where you can discover how to live with greater intention, authenticity, and joy.

How to Break Patterns That Keep You Stuck in the Same Story

Life has these interesting pivot points – moments when we can feel the possibility of change yet somehow find ourselves cycling through familiar patterns. Perhaps you've noticed it: the same types of relationship challenges appearing with different people, similar work situations arising across different jobs, or recurring feelings of being overwhelmed despite changing circumstances.

If you've ever thought, "Why does this keep happening?" you're not alone. These patterns aren't coincidences – they're often invisible frameworks we've unconsciously built that shape our experiences.

Recognizing the Patterns

The first step in breaking free from limiting patterns is simply noticing them. This awareness itself can be powerful.

Consider these common patterns that many of us experience:

• The Perfectionist Loop: Postponing action until conditions are "perfect," leading to missed opportunities and continued dissatisfaction

• The People-Pleaser Pattern: Consistently putting others' needs before your own, creating resentment and exhaustion

• The Problem Focus: Habitually seeing what's wrong rather than what's possible, limiting your vision for change

• The Protection Response: Withdrawing or creating conflict when feeling vulnerable, preventing deeper connection

• The Proving Pattern: Constantly working to demonstrate your worth, yet never feeling "enough"

These patterns often begin as protective mechanisms – ways we've learned to navigate challenging situations. The challenge is that they can continue long after they've stopped serving us.

Why Breaking Patterns Is Challenging

Understanding why patterns persist can help us approach change with greater compassion for ourselves.

Patterns become comfortable through repetition. Even when they create results we don't want, there's familiarity in the known. Our brains are wired to prefer predictability, even if that predictability includes discomfort.

Additionally, many patterns operate below conscious awareness. We may notice their effects but struggle to identify their triggers or the beliefs that sustain them.

Practical Tools for Pattern-Breaking

While identifying patterns is important, awareness alone rarely creates lasting change. Here are practical approaches that can help you break free:

1. The Pause and Notice Practice

When you find yourself in a familiar, unwanted situation, pause. Take three deep breaths and ask yourself:

• What feels familiar here?

• What am I believing about myself or the situation?

• What am I afraid might happen if I respond differently?

This simple practice creates space between trigger and response, allowing new choices to emerge.

2. The Pattern Interruption Tool

Once you've identified a pattern, create a specific plan to interrupt it. For example, if you notice you habitually say "yes" when you want to say "no," practice saying, "Let me think about that and get back to you" instead of giving an immediate response.

These small interruptions create space for new choices and gradually weaken established patterns.

3. The Reframe Practice

Our patterns are often sustained by the stories we tell ourselves. The Reframe Practice invites you to consciously shift your perspective.

For example, if you find yourself thinking, "I always mess up important relationships," try reframing to: "I'm learning how to create healthier connections."

This isn't about denying challenges but about seeing more possibilities within them.

4. The Compassionate Witness

Many patterns are rooted in self-criticism. The Compassionate Witness approach invites you to observe yourself with kindness rather than judgment.

When you notice a pattern emerging, imagine watching yourself as a compassionate friend would. What would they notice about what you need in this moment? What support would they offer?

5. The Support System

Pattern-breaking is rarely a solo journey. Identify trusted friends, family members, or professionals who can help you see your blind spots and support your growth.

Be specific about the support you need: "When you notice me taking on too much responsibility, could you gently point it out?" This clarity helps others support you effectively.

Creating Lasting Change

While these tools offer practical support, many people find that breaking long-standing patterns benefits from a more immersive environment where deeper shifts can occur.

This is where the LifeResults CORE workshop can make a significant difference. Over one transformative weekend, you'll join others who are also ready to break free from limiting patterns. The workshop provides a supportive space to explore your patterns more deeply, without judgment, while learning practical tools for creating lasting change.

Through experiential learning, you'll discover how to:

• Identify the root beliefs that sustain your patterns

• Develop practical tools for making different choices

• Create new ways of responding to familiar triggers

• Build supportive practices that reinforce your growth

As one recent participant shared: "I came to CORE feeling like I knew what my patterns were but couldn't seem to change them. What I discovered was that I'd been focusing on the symptoms rather than the cause. The workshop helped me see the deeper beliefs behind my patterns and gave me practical tools to create real change."

Ready to break free from patterns that no longer serve you? The next LifeResults CORE workshop could be your turning point.

LifeResults is a certified non-profit organization that has helped over 250,000 people create meaningful change through experiential learning workshops. The CORE workshop provides practical tools for personal growth, improved relationships, and greater fulfillment through mindfulness and intentional living.

Setting Boundaries Without Building Walls: A Guide to Healthier Relationships

After a breakup, the landscape of your relationships often shifts dramatically. The person who was once your confidant is now someone you're learning to live without. This transition can leave you questioning how to protect your heart while still remaining open to meaningful connections.

Many of us swing between extremes – either keeping everyone at a distance to avoid getting hurt again, or rushing into new connections without pausing to reflect on what we truly need. Finding that middle ground – setting healthy boundaries without completely closing yourself off – is one of the most valuable skills you can develop during this healing time.

Understanding True Boundaries

Boundaries aren't walls designed to keep people out. Rather, they're clear guidelines that help you and others understand how to engage with each other respectfully. Healthy boundaries protect your well-being while allowing genuine connection to flourish.

After a significant relationship ends, it's natural to question your boundary-setting abilities. You might wonder: "Did I give too much of myself away?" or "Should I have spoken up sooner about things that bothered me?"

These reflections aren't about blame – they're opportunities to understand yourself better as you move forward.

Signs Your Boundaries Need Attention

After a breakup, certain feelings might indicate that your boundary-setting needs some care:

• Feeling resentful or angry in relationships

• Frequently putting others' needs before your own

• Difficulty saying no without explaining or apologizing excessively

• Feeling responsible for others' emotions

• Allowing people to treat you in ways that feel uncomfortable

Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward creating healthier connections.

Practical Tools for Setting Healthy Boundaries

1. Start with Self-Awareness

Take some time to reflect on your recent relationship. Where did you feel most comfortable? Where did you feel your needs weren't being met? This isn't about finding fault, but about understanding your own values and needs more clearly.

Try this exercise: Write down three moments when you felt your boundaries were crossed. What was happening? How did it feel in your body? What would you have preferred instead?

This awareness creates the foundation for clearer boundaries moving forward.

2. Practice the Pause

When someone makes a request or behaves in a way that feels uncomfortable, give yourself permission to pause before responding. You might say, "I need to think about that," or "Let me get back to you."

This simple practice creates space for you to check in with yourself rather than automatically saying yes to please others or pushing people away to protect yourself.

3. Use Clear, Direct Language

Boundaries are most effective when communicated clearly and directly. Instead of dropping hints or expecting others to read your mind, try statements that begin with "I":

• "I need some time to myself this weekend."

• "I'm not comfortable discussing my ex right now."

• "I prefer to keep our relationship friendly but professional."

Remember that you don't need to justify your boundaries with lengthy explanations.

4. Start Small

If setting boundaries feels challenging, begin with lower-stakes situations. Practice with a friendly barista or when declining an optional social invitation. These smaller moments build your confidence for more significant boundary-setting.

5. Honor Your Own Boundaries

The most important part of boundary-setting is respecting the limits you've set for yourself. If you decide not to discuss your breakup with casual acquaintances, hold to that decision even when you feel pressure to share.

When you honor your own boundaries, you teach others how to treat you.

Finding Support for Your Journey

Setting healthy boundaries after a breakup isn't something you have to figure out alone. In fact, having support can make this process much more manageable and effective.

The LifeResults CORE workshop provides a supportive environment where you can learn practical tools for setting healthy boundaries while keeping your heart open to genuine connection. Over one transformative weekend, you'll discover how to:

• Identify patterns that may have contributed to boundary challenges in past relationships

• Communicate your needs clearly and compassionately

• Develop confidence in your boundary-setting abilities

• Create authentic connections that honor both yourself and others

As one recent CORE graduate shared: "After my breakup, I was caught between shutting everyone out and jumping into new relationships too quickly. CORE helped me find that middle ground – where I could protect my heart while still remaining open to meaningful connections."

The workshop provides a unique space to practice these skills with others who are also navigating important life transitions. You'll gain insights about yourself and develop practical tools that extend far beyond the weekend.

Ready to transform your approach to relationships? Join us for an upcoming CORE workshop and discover how to set boundaries that protect your well-being while allowing authentic connection to flourish.

LifeResults is a certified non-profit organization dedicated to personal growth and transformation. For over 35 years, our experiential workshops have helped more than 250,000 people develop practical tools for creating meaningful change in their lives.

The Science Behind Mindfulness and Its Impact on Decision-Making

In our fast-paced world, making clear decisions can sometimes feel impossible. Whether you're weighing career options, navigating relationships, or simply trying to prioritize your daily tasks, the quality of your decisions profoundly affects your life satisfaction and success.

What if there was a science-backed approach that could help you make better choices? Research increasingly shows that mindfulness—the practice of bringing focused awareness to the present moment—significantly improves decision-making across all areas of life.

How Mindfulness Changes Your Brain

Neuroscience research has revealed fascinating insights into how mindfulness practices physically change our brains. Studies using MRI scans show that regular mindfulness practice actually increases gray matter in areas responsible for:

• The prefrontal cortex: Your brain's decision-making center

• The hippocampus: Critical for learning and memory

• The amygdala: Your emotional regulation system

A landmark study published in the journal Psychiatry Research found that just eight weeks of mindfulness practice led to measurable changes in these brain regions. Participants showed enhanced ability to process information and make decisions without being overwhelmed by emotions.

Breaking Free from Autopilot Decisions

Many of our daily choices happen on autopilot. We react based on ingrained patterns rather than responding with awareness. This automatic decision-making serves us well for simple tasks but can lead us astray when facing important life choices.

Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, explains it this way: "Mindfulness gives you time. Time gives you choices. Choices, skillfully made, lead to freedom."

When we practice mindfulness, we create a crucial pause between stimulus and response. This small space allows us to:

1. Notice our automatic reactions

2. Consider our options more fully

3. Align our choices with our deeper values

4. Respond rather than react

Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence

Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology demonstrates that mindfulness enhances emotional intelligence—our ability to recognize and manage emotions in ourselves and others.

This emotional awareness proves crucial for decision-making because:

• You recognize when emotions are clouding your judgment

• You can identify the true source of your discomfort

• You develop greater empathy for how your decisions affect others

• You build resilience to handle the outcomes of difficult choices

One study participant noted: "Before practicing mindfulness, I would make decisions when I was anxious or frustrated, then regret them later. Now I can recognize when my emotional state isn't conducive to important choices."

The Clarity Connection

Perhaps most importantly, mindfulness helps clear the mental clutter that obscures good decision-making. A Harvard study found that people spend nearly 47% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they're doing.

This mind-wandering directly correlates with reported unhappiness and poor choices. When we're mentally scattered, we miss important information and struggle to connect with our authentic values.

Through regular mindfulness practice, people report:

• Greater clarity about what truly matters to them

• Improved ability to focus on relevant information

• Enhanced creativity in finding solutions

• Deeper trust in their decision-making process

Practical Mindfulness for Better Decisions

While meditation represents one form of mindfulness practice, there are many simple ways to bring mindfulness into your decision-making process:

The Breath Check: Before making an important decision, take three deep breaths while focusing entirely on the sensation of breathing. This creates a moment of clarity.

The Body Scan: Notice any physical tension or discomfort as you consider different options. Our bodies often register wisdom that our busy minds miss.

The Values Question: Ask yourself, "Does this choice align with what truly matters to me?" Mindfulness helps us connect with our authentic values.

The Future Self: Imagine yourself a year from now looking back on this decision. What perspective does that future self offer?

Transforming Decision-Making Through Experience

While understanding the science behind mindfulness is valuable, experiencing its benefits directly can be truly transformative. This is where the LifeResults CORE workshop offers a unique opportunity.

CORE provides a supportive environment where you can learn practical mindfulness tools through direct experience rather than theoretical understanding alone. Over one immersive weekend, you'll discover how to:

• Identify thought patterns that cloud your decision-making

• Develop present-moment awareness that brings clarity

• Connect with your authentic values for aligned choices

• Build practical mindfulness skills you can apply immediately

As one CORE graduate shared: "I came to the workshop feeling overwhelmed by important decisions in my life. I left with tools that help me get clear, stay centered, and make choices I truly believe in."

The research is clear—mindfulness transforms decision-making by creating space between stimulus and response, enhancing emotional intelligence, and connecting us with our deeper wisdom. In our CORE workshop, these scientific principles come alive through practical experience.

Ready to transform how you make decisions? Learn more about our upcoming CORE workshops and take the first step toward greater clarity and confidence in your choices.

References:

• Davidson, R. J., et al. (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine.

• Hölzel, B. K., et al. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.

• Killingsworth, M. A., & Gilbert, D. T. (2010). A wandering mind is an unhappy mind. Science.