I’ve been struggling with getting a new work project up and running this year. It’s all set up and ready to go. There is no obstacle except myself. And yet, whenever go to work on it, I ask, “What’s the point?”.

I can’t see its purpose.

Having purpose – and the projects I undertake having purpose – is incredibly important for me. I have little motivation for doing things if I can’t see how they contribute to the bigger picture, how they somehow make life better on this planet.

So, with this project – that I’ve been working on since 2006 so it’s obviously important if I’ve persevered so long – something’s been missing lately.

And then the other day, in an attempt to get some focus and motion and add a little more structure to my workdays, I was writing out my ‘daily process’ and this question/step just appeared:

Who are you helping?

Oh.

Suddenly the whole project opened up. It was no longer about me. It was about other people.

I saw those who could benefit from it in a completely different light. I saw people who are struggling silently; people who don’t have the financial means to buy the help I offer; and people who would just love and appreciate it so much.

I could see how to contribute.

I could see purpose.

And, with that one question, life returned to the project.