5 Ways to Reignite Your Sense of Purpose This Week

Because even the most mission-driven leaders need a reset sometimes.

Mar 24, 2025

Five small ways to feel more like yourself again—and remember what you’re here for. -

You don’t have to be burned out or lost to feel like your sense of purpose has gotten a little fuzzy. Life moves fast. Transitions pile up. And even the most driven changemakers can hit a point where they ask, What am I really doing this for again?

If that’s where you are right now—good. That means you’re paying attention.

Here are five small but powerful ways to reconnect with your deeper mission this week. You don’t need a full-blown life plan. Just a little clarity and a few intentional steps.

1. Reconnect With What You Stand For

When your purpose feels distant, start with your values. They’re your internal compass—the steady ground beneath the chaos.

When you name your values clearly, decisions get easier. You stop chasing everything, and start choosing what matters.

What this makes possible: Clarity, focus, and a deep sense of self-trust.

Real example: Mark, a veteran I know who left a high-pressure job, was spinning his wheels. Once he identified his core values—service, growth, and integrity—everything shifted. He stopped trying to force-fit roles that didn’t align, and started creating opportunities that did.

Your 5-minute action step: Write down your top three values. Don’t overanalyze. Just ask: When I’m at my best, what do I stand for?

2. Say It Out Loud

Sometimes we get so used to holding our purpose inside that we forget to speak it.

Telling someone what matters to you—out loud—can be a powerful reset. It’s not just self-expression. It’s self-reminding.

What this makes possible: New conversations, unexpected opportunities, renewed motivation.

Real example: One of my coaching clients casually shared her dream project over lunch with a friend. That one conversation led to a connection that opened a door she hadn’t even considered.

Your 5-minute action step: Call or text a trusted friend and say, “I’m trying to reconnect to my sense of purpose this week. Can I tell you what matters to me—even if I’m still figuring it out?”

3. Do One Thing That Feels Aligned (Not Just Productive)

Purpose isn’t always found in giant leaps—it lives in small, aligned actions.

We’re trained to be efficient. But efficiency without alignment just leads to burnout.

What this makes possible: A sense of progress without pressure.

Real example: I once knew a former Navy officer who felt uninspired in his civilian job, but lit up when mentoring others. He started volunteering with a local youth program. Just one hour a week helped him feel more like himself again.

Your 5-minute action step: Ask yourself: What’s one small thing I can do this week that reflects who I want to be—even if no one else sees it? Write it down. Put it on your calendar.

4. Remember a Time You Felt Fully Alive

Sometimes the best way forward is to look backward.

Your most alive moments carry clues. Think of them as breadcrumb trails back to your purpose.

What this makes possible: Reconnection to joy, energy, and identity.

Real example: A changemaker I know re-read an old journal and found a line that hit her in the gut: “Helping people feel seen is what I was born to do.” That single sentence became the anchor for her next career move.

Your 5-minute action step: Set a timer. Think of a time you felt fully engaged, proud, or fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? What values were present? Write down whatever comes.

5. Make Peace With the Fact That Purpose Evolves

You’re not who you were five years ago—and that’s a good thing.

Letting go of old definitions of success or identity isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

What this makes possible: Freedom. Growth. Space for your next chapter.

Real example: A Marine veteran in my network who once chased promotions realized she felt more alive coaching women leaders. It took courage to admit her mission had shifted—but once she did, everything aligned.

Your 5-minute action step: Write this on a sticky note: “My purpose is allowed to evolve.” Post it where you’ll see it often. Let it give you permission to expand.

That’s it for today. Five small ways to feel more like yourself again—and remember what you’re here for.

If you try one of these, I’d love to hear what shifts for you. Leave a comment and let me know what you discover.

Keep going.

– Jill