“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it.” ~Howard Thurman
How often have you felt that you’ve proven yourself. You’ve built, led, achieved. Many times. Nonetheless, beneath the surface, you know something isn’t sitting right. It’s not that you hated what you’ve been doing, only that something is missing, or not quite right. It’s a quiet sense that this life you’ve created is missing something, yet you have everything you imagined.
This is the moment many leaders face, realizing that making a living is no longer enough. You want to feel your life again. Not just run it. You want joy, meaning, aliveness—not just more goals. We all need goals, but we need so much more as well. Peace, contentment, and yet simultaneously excitement and something we are looking forward to.
But here’s the truth: it takes courage to choose enjoyment. Especially after years of chasing excellence through sacrifice. It doesn’t readily make sense yet it’s real. Conditioning is powerful. When you discover that the piece that was missing was purpose and the joy that comes with it, the sense of movement toward something so much bigger than your goals and your advancement is exciting, freeing. You realize part of what was missing was you.
It’s about the big picture. Whatever your big picture dreams are. A legacy perhaps, a movement, something that says “There is more to you than you are realizing. Something greater to be shared and/or have impact and/or influence through.” Your next decision is if you are going to follow that knowing. Not doing so is self-betrayal – doing so frequently means seeing yourself and your life in a whole new light. Are you ready? Are you ready to jump into living with a far bigger game plan? A far bigger vision? That’s when the real personal joy comes in.
Living a life you enjoy means redefining success from the inside out. It means honoring your energy. Saying yes to soul-satisfying choices. Reclaiming time, freedom, and purpose—not just checking off achievements. It means showing up fully, not sufficiently. It means being conscious and aware of your environment, including the people in it. Showing up in such a way that you truly hear, you truly sense, and your intuition becomes a partner Are you ready?
Reflection Prompt:
What would shift if “more joy” became your next metric of success?
Takeaway:
Making a living proves you can survive. Living a life you love is how you thrive—and that’s where your deepest leadership begins.
