Real Purpose vs Ideal Purpose

I learned about the differences between these two ideas a few years ago, and it made me change the way I approached my business.

Purpose is the reason why you do something, your intent, your determination to do or be something.

Having a clear purpose is important because it motivates you to get things done and adds meaning to your life. It keeps you going when things get tough.

You can find lots of advice online to help you define your purpose, align your behaviours with it, and have the life you want. Purpose defines your values, values shape your behaviours, and behaviours lead to outcomes. Your purpose becomes your outcome or result.

By staying true to your purpose, you can create your ideal future life. I call this your 'Ideal Purpose.' It's the way to achieve your dreams.

But how does Real Purpose fit in? I heard someone say, 'Your purpose is your result,' and it took me a while to understand. I realised I'd always had a purpose, even if I hadn't defined it consciously. My business was successful, but there was a gap between my aspirations and my daily reality. My Mission Statement sounded exciting but wasn't realistic, and I didn't truly believe it.

The statement 'purpose = result' made me realise that my business was the outcome of my hidden, unspoken purpose, shaped by my insecurities, fears, and anxieties.

Many people are held back by fears and insecurities that unconsciously affect their performance. Recognising my hidden Real Purpose allowed me to commit to something real, believable, and exciting. You can identify this Real Purpose by looking at where you are today and working backward. Your life today reflects this unconscious Real Purpose you've been living for years, and it may have stayed consistent or changed based on your experiences.

Understanding our present life can help us comprehend our motivations, fears, desires, and areas of shame. This understanding can affect our behaviour and lead us to find authenticity in our lives and relationships.

Change management begins with understanding your Current State (the 'As Is'). Defining your As Is helps map a pathway from your Real Purpose to your Ideal Purpose (the 'To Be').

Pragmatico offers the Life Key Results Area assessment tool to help clients through this process. If you don't know where you are on the map, it's challenging to get where you want to go.

You can request our preliminary Life KRA tool on our website, which serves as the starting point for conversations and work on consciously creating a better life.

If you want to collaborate with Pragmatico Pty Ltd to enhance your effectiveness in both business and your personal life, please contact Mark at 0416 111 454 or via email at mark@pragmatico.com.au.