Finding a Purpose Within a Purpose

“You can find a purpose within a purpose.”— Dr. Pablo R. Diaz.

A look at how to find a “purpose within a purpose” and bring meaning to roles you didn’t fully choose.

You may not always choose the mission.

But you can choose to live with purpose inside it. While preparing for a Living in Purpose seminar, I was talking with my good friend and former colleague, Dr. Pablo R. Diaz, about how people can find meaning almost anywhere — even in roles that aren’t fully their own.

He said something that stayed with me:

“You can find a purpose within a purpose.”

That idea sparked the reflection below...

Operating with Purpose Inside Other Missions

Sometimes you’re working within a mission you didn’t define — and that’s okay.You can still bring your purpose to how you lead, serve, and show up each day.

You might be:

• In a corporate role where the goals don’t fully reflect your values

• In a nonprofit where you believe in the cause but not every decision

• In a project or contract you’re in for now, but not forever

What matters is how you show up — how you align your values, invest your strengths, and connect your “why” to the “what.”

Creating Purpose — Even When You Can’t Shift Everything

You might not be able to change the mission, the structure, or the leadership.But you can still shape your impact inside it.

Purpose-building practices can look like:

• Bringing encouragement into a results-driven team

• Mentoring someone quietly, even if it’s not part of your title

• Creating dignity in a task that feels beneath your ability

• Staying curious in a job that’s only temporary

• Volunteering outside your formal role to support others

These may seem small — but they’re deeply purposeful.

Reflection Prompts

Ask yourself:

• Where are you currently operating inside someone else’s mission?

• What would it look like to live in purpose there?

• Which strengths or values want to surface more clearly?

• What small shift could help you show up more fully?

  
  

You don’t have to quit your job or start a movement to live in purpose.It begins with how you let questions like these shape what you do next.

Sometimes the most powerful thing is to anchor deeply within —and let that purpose shape how you lead, contribute, and grow,even inside someone else’s framework.

Start there — and see what changes.