Purpose: Making Beautiful Things Happen In others

​I was sitting in a conference yesterday listening to national leaders talk about the work I do. There was a lot of talk about numbers and statistics and programs and systems.

And all I wanted to do was leave.

A few hours later, I sat in a session where the leaders talked about hurting and healing and compassion and hope. They said, "the language of mental health is compassion."

And suddenly, someone was speaking my language. And I couldn't wait to get up and go make a difference.

When the things we do in life - and things we long to do - get reduced to a number or an outcome or a dollar figure - I don't know, for me it's hard to generate much personal fire within - much drive and ambition.

I like to think the results of what I do can't be neatly packaged on a PowerPoint slide.

I get it. I get time crunches with presentations. I get there has to be some end game. Some place where you can point to and claim victory. But sometimes I think we underestimate the value in a touched heart. A healed soul. A quiet mind.

We were made to be each other's safety. Each other's listeners. Each other's greatest protection from all things life. How do you put a number on that.

What number, really, looks like love?

What number looks like a lost smile found?

What number looks like tears that drop upon a welcoming shoulder?

What number looks like a thank you or a hug or 'I don't know what I would have done without you?'

No number can capture any of that. No counting. And no number will ever ignite the kind of fire within that love ignites.

We were created to make a difference in each other's lives. We were quite literally assigned no other purpose in our wiring and biology. None.

So how would one expect to find fire and drive in a purpose that doesn't point to that assignment?

We all like to go into the day longing to feel purpose. Longing to answer the daily question, why am I here?

You are here to make beautiful things happen in others as a result of what you will do today. And that doesn't have to be something world changing. It can be something as simple as smile making.

You never know when you will smile at someone who hasn't seen a smile in days. Or months.

Your purpose doesn't have to be giant - it doesn't have to look jaw dropping in a presentation - it just needs to feel loving in someone else's heart.

Go forth with purpose today.

Make something beautiful happen for others.