Purposeful discovery is all about goal-oriented exploration which opens learning possibilities and connects you with your purpose.
John Stepper, the creator of the Working Out Loud (WOL) Process, emphasizes the importance of having a learning goal to guide your activities. His process encourages building relationships with coworkers or community members as a key component in achieving goals, developing skills, or exploring new topics.
The Journey to Purposeful Discovery
Step 1: Goal Setting
Get curious about your interests and do not be afraid to follow your own path to achieve a goal. At this exploratory stage stating your goal in broader terms can be helpful, discovering your interests will help you narrow down the goal along the way.
E.g. “I would like to learn more about X” or “I want to develop and improve my skills in Y”
Step 2: Goal Practice
For your selected goal create actionable steps to reach your goal and do not be afraid to amend as you go. Prepare to reach out to others to “test” and get support to reach those steps. Be open to getting inspired by others and by the environment.
E.g. “I would like to learn more about practical ethics, therefore I will buy textbooks related to the topic and enroll in an online course. To master the skill I will practice such ethical practices at work.”
Step 3: Commit to Reaching Your Goal
Commit to bringing your brain muscle to the gym! The only way to broaden your horizons is to consistently explore new possibilities with intention.
Bring it on!
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