Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment.
We all have thoughts about what we want to do, who we want to become, and what we want our lives to look like. We think about getting healthier, making more money, starting a business, going back to school, losing weight, or finally accomplishing something we have been putting off. Thinking about these things is important, but thought by itself does not guarantee progress. At some point, our thoughts have to become connected to a purpose.
Purpose gives our thoughts direction. Imagine getting into your car, filling the tank, and driving without choosing a destination. You could drive for hours. You could travel hundreds of miles. You could use an entire tank of gas. Technically, you accomplished something—you traveled a long distance—but did you actually get where you needed to go? Without a destination, it is impossible to know. The same can happen in our lives. We can work extremely hard and still find ourselves wondering why we are not getting where we want to be.
This is especially important when it comes to our health. “I want to get healthy” is a thought. Now we need to connect that thought to a purpose. Why do you want to become healthier? Maybe you want more energy to play with your children. Maybe you want to feel better when you wake up. Maybe you want to become stronger, reduce your health risks, or simply prove to yourself that you can make a change.
Once you understand your purpose, your decisions become easier to evaluate. You can begin asking yourself whether your current habits are helping you move toward your goal or pulling you away from it.
You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Your purpose may even change as you grow. What matters is giving your thoughts somewhere to go.
Thinking about change is where it starts. Giving that thought a purpose is how we begin turning it into progress.