Finding purpose

What is it that you want to achieve? What drives you? Where are you heading?

Recently I was asked what my 2 and 5 year goals are professionally and personally. I was stumped! I had no idea. Why do I even need to answer such questions? I'm content, I'm happy. I have nothing to complain about. At this stage in my life everything is pretty peachy.

I'm employed, I love what I do and the people closest to me are awesome. I couldn't think of anything that I desperately want to achieve. I have no plans. I have no great, life-changing ambitions.

Ok, well if I have to answer then I will need some time to think about it. So I thought about it... for weeks. And what I came up with is, well... it's not much.

Professionally, I want to encourage other people to reach their full potential. I want to help them unlock their talents. I want them to achieve the things that they set out as their goals. I want to help them fight their uphill struggles in life. I want to provide the tools or financial support they need. I want to be the person they can come to when they have no-one to talk to. I want to be there. I simply want to be there next to them. I want to say the right word at the right time. I want to make them believe in themselves when all odds are against them. I want to make them power through the wall they have their back up against.

Personally, I want to be a good friend, brother, son and someday a loving husband. I'm emotionally cold. I don't like that about myself. And to convey my feelings is a real struggle. You know, like a cold bucket of ice? That's me. You have an awesome idea? I'll most probably think it's a crappy idea (pour that bucket of ice all over you...). Not because I don't think it's an awesome idea, because I'm ice cold. But that can change. And it has to change, that's my ambition, that's my drive. "Eliminate the negatives and strengthen the positives."

These aren't even 2 or 5 year plans and goals. These are things I yearn for. These are things that will define me. These are the things that will define others that interact with me. These are things that are more important than "earning a higher salary" or being a "successful individual". What even is that? Who came up with that? Why do we measure ourselves by the material gains we make? That is pathetic! Why do we even measure each other by what school or college we went to? Are we for real?!

I want to live in a world where goals and ambitions are to help others first and then focus on ourselves. I strive to create such a future. Imagine a world where you try to help someone and that person asks you "Hey, how can I help you?". Wouldn't that be awesome? A world where we help each other, a world where we strive to bring each other forward.

So what is it you want to achieve? What drives you? Where are you heading?