INsight/ Big Purpose Articulated

Photo by AI Grok.

Manila, 3 April 2025 — How different is your Big Purpose from your Narrative Self? 

Story

It happened the past two weeks. In the communities we serve, leaders are busy working on their Big Purpose, some for the first time, while others are reviewing and tweaking what they settled on before. 

Why do we say Big Purpose rather than just purpose? It’s because we coach leaders to think out of their comfort zone, beyond the limits of the story they have created for themselves over the years: their Narrative Self. 

The truth is that we are Made For Something Bigger (MFSB). When I reflected on that MFSB challenge, I experienced something new and very powerful, which I’ll tell you about below. For now, back to Big Purpose.

Challenge

Our Narrative Self is the story we construct to make sense of our life. As coaches, we are trained to see that these are almost always limited and limiting stories that don’t reflect who we really are (our true nature). 

Discovering our true nature is a process that’s not so straightforward. Philosophers and developmental researchers often describe it as a Waking Up process that is complementary to Growing Up, which is about advancing continuously through life’s growth stages. 

Our coaching work with leaders is focused on helping them break through limiting beliefs. They become aware of the limiting nature of their Narrative Story and are coached to go further. Hence the term Big Purpose: how to play a Bigger Game as leaders.

Question

Discovering your Big Purpose is not an end in itself. In our coaching work, we see it lead our clients to get clear on the service they want to provide to others. In several cases, we have seen leaders make significant changes in their careers after getting clear on their Big Purpose.

My question for you this week is: How different is your Big Purpose from your Narrative Self? This is a question worth reflecting on, preferably with a coach you trust. Reach out if you want to grow your leadership beyond the limits of your Narrative Self.

This story is also personal for me. After a period of deliberate reflection, I articulated my Big Purpose in 2007. And when I reflected further on MFSB in 2023, I unexpectedly experienced an awakening: an embodied glimpse into my true nature that lasted for several days. This is the first time I have mentioned that experience in writing. I wish you a similar joy.