E16 How to Define and Live Out Your Purpose: Key Steps to Finding Meaning in Life and Work

Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

Guest: Carlos Coto, MA., CMPC., Head of Mental Performance | San Diego Football Club

Right now, we are all living our lives, striving for progress, and generally trying to improve ourselves, others, and the world around us. But how many of us have stopped to think about WHY we do this? What is the purpose behind our actions? What drives us to want to be better? Even if you have stopped to think about your purpose, do you know it so well that you could clearly articulate it to someone if they stopped you on the street and asked you “What is your purpose?” Probably not. But defining our purpose is absolutely critical to making progress and living a fulfilling life. Our expert guest for this session is Carlos Coto, Certified Mental Performance Consultant and Head of Mental Performance for the San Diego Football Club.

 

The three big questions we have for Carlos are:

1. What is “purpose,” and why does having a sense of purpose matter in our personal and professional lives?
2. Why do so many people struggle to identify or redefine their purpose, and what common obstacles stand in the way?
3. What practical steps and strategies can someone use to discover, refine, and consistently live out their purpose?

 

How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”:
Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better
Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random)
Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes
Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions in the PDF for each episode, and feel free to add your own!
Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action!

 

Discussion Questions for this Episode:

1. Carlos Coto describes his purpose as "what I am set to do," distinguishing it from goals, values, and passion. What daily actions do you feel "set to do" in your day-to-day life? How about in the longer term? 
2. Purpose is not static but evolves with life transitions (marriage, kids, new jobs). How has your sense of purpose changed throughout different stages of your life?  

3. Coto suggests that by not defining your own purpose, you let "somebody else determine what success looks like for you." In what areas of your life might you be inadvertently living by someone else's definition of success? How would you redefine success for yourself? 
4. Purpose can exist on multiple levels (personal, professional, within a system). How do you balance your personal purpose with the expectations and goals of your family, workplace, or community? Is there alignment or conflict across these areas? 
5. Coto offers a three-step approach to discovering purpose: 1) reflecting on past impactful experiences, 2) identifying sources of pure joy, and 3) considering present priorities. Which of these steps feels most accessible to you right now? With your pod club, discuss some examples or approaches you might take. 
6. As discussed in this episode, defining purpose doesn't eliminate life's challenges; it equips you with tools to face them. Think aloud with your pod club: Work to articulate a clear purpose that can provide you with more resilience or clarity during difficult times. 
7. There is great value in involving trusted loved ones in the process of defining purpose, as they can offer different perspectives on what makes you "light up." Identify someone you want to approach for a different perspective. How might you invite them to share insights? 
8. The challenge asks you to write down three past experiences that brought you joy or had a huge impact. What connections do you see between these experiences? What core theme or direction can you infer from them? 

 

Connect with us! Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize 

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Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj 
YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube 

Email: optimize@mayo.edu