Four Truths About Your Purpose from Martin Luther King Jr’s Life & Legacy
I recently had a session with a client where she described a vision for her life that centered around her purpose. She envisioned a future in her mind for her business, so far removed from her current circumstances, that her initial response was to laugh it off. But as we explored the vision more deeply it became clear that it was about a future state, yet to be realized, one that gave her hope, inspiration, and renewed vigor to continue to move forward in her purpose as a coach and guide for Mothers. The vision spoke to her past experience and capabilities but was re-purposed. Just seeing the future possibilities for my client gave me goosebumps. I reminded her of a verse that carries profound meaning for me in Habbukuk 2:3 to encourage her that her vision will be realized, she just has to be patient, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Mic. Drop.
It also got me thinking about the role vision plays in our purpose. Today is January 18th, my cousin David’s birthday (happy birthday cousin!) and Martin Luther King Jr Day here in the US. To honor his legacy, and to learn from his life, this post explores fundamental truths about vision and how it helps define our Purpose, through the lens of MLK’s life.
1. Your vision is always greater than your current capacity and circumstances and takes time to realize.
A vision would not be, well, visionary, if it were not bigger, bolder, and brighter than what we can presently see or imagine. Your vision will always seem out of reach, almost impossible to attain. It will stretch you beyond your capability. It will require allies to help you attain it. Martin Luther King Jr’s hope of a nation which would “rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed … that all men are created equal,” is still in fruition, as recent events at the US Capitol make evident—almost 60 years after he made his “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington in August 1963. His dream that his four kids will not be judged by their skin color but by their character seemed unattainable when he gave it but it was a vision that kept his hope for a new America alive, one that mobilized forces around the country so that inconceivable changes happened with the passing of Civil Rights legislation years later. This is the power, magnitude, and beyond imaginings of vision.
2. Vision gives direction and meaning to your activities.
A life without a vision is directionless, aimless, lost, one that is tossed about like a ship in a storm, unanchored. Such a life has no purpose or meaning. Your vision points to the future. It, therefore, serves as a fulcrum and a compass, guiding your decisions, actions, and intentions. With a clear vision, your goals make sense. In a recent post on visioning for goal setting, I talked about how Martin Luther King Jr’s vision led him to civil rights legislative victory.
In the civil rights icon’s “I Have a Dream” speech, he envisioned a brighter future for African Americans, a future that at the time seemed impossible. Despite all the obstacles that stood in his way, he galvanized a movement so powerful that the most sweeping civil rights legislation was passed, paving the way for legally ending the segregation that had been institutionalized by Jim Crow laws. King’s speech, undoubtedly divinely inspired, gave listeners and lawmakers a vision for what was possible, painting a future that ignited them too to believe in it.
Dr. King’s vision guided his every step, dictated the activities he signed up for and those he declined, and set the tone for his messages. Without clarity of vision, he would not have had the focus to take the actions that made the sweeping legislative impact that he accomplished. It is the same for you. Let your vision guide your course so that you achieve things far greater than you could have ever imagined.
3. Your vision is not just for your benefit. It is to improve the lives of others and further God’s kingdom agenda.
This point gets to the heart of my vision for The Unveiled Way. My Why is helping purpose-driven women realize their vision and impact the lives of those in their sphere. That vision can be anything—from a Software Engineer in a Fortune 500 Company wanting to use her influence and expertise to improve efficiencies in social services in marginalized communities, an Architect wanting to design beautiful spaces to be used for educational services from abandoned buildings in downtown Anywhere, a songwriter wanting to create music that uplifts and inspires, or a manager turned Stay-At-Home Mom desiring to write a book to help other Mothers learn how to prioritize their self-care. Whatever the vision you hold in your heart, it is yours to bring to fruition, yes, but know that it’s bigger than you and it’s probably not even about you. You are the vessel, the one God uses to bless others in the specific way that only you can. Be that humble vessel, honor the vision you are given, and watch what God does in others’ lives. Look at what he did for African-Americans with MLK’s vision!
4. Your vision is your purpose fulfilled
Last year I heard a talk by Sackeena Gordon-Jones, an executive and leadership coach, speaker, trainer, and organization development consultant, on vision, which truly connected vision and purpose for me. She talked about how our purpose fuels our vision, that it is the act of fulfilling the vision, that our purpose is the action we take from our vision. This was a fresh perspective for me. The notion that our vision points us to where we are headed and that our purpose gets us there made so much sense. It underscores why our actions need to honor our vision and why without a vision, our purpose lacks inspiration. Ding, Ding, Ding!
Your vision is the grandest, highest, greatest thing you can imagine for yourself. It inspires you to something greater “out there”. And as Ms. Gordon-Jones puts it, “when you are inspired, you aspire to something greater.” Your vision is your Why. I encountered this quote from John Schaar in the book Soar with Your Strengths by Clifton and Nelson that encapsulates these points: “The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created—created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths to it are not found but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination.”
Your purpose is the manifestation of the vision you have been holding. What does that look like for you? What have you envisioned for as long as you can remember that you’ve told yourself you were ill-equipped to accomplish? How can you use the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. to inspire and mobilize you to take action on your vision? After all, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” MLK
If you need a guide to help you realize your vision, I can help you. Do reach out to me to explore the ways.
As "The Brilliance Unveiler," Natalie Jobity leverages more than a decade of experience empowering hundreds of women as an image consultant and now as a leadership coach & personal brand strategist of The Unveiled Way. She works with trailblazing women to empower them to unveil their brilliance and maximize their impact so they lead unapologetically in their arena.
Natalie’s second book titled, It’s Your Time to Shine, Girl: Own Your Brilliance, Step into Your Influence, and Lead Like a Trailblazer, is a leadership and empowerment book that will not only inspire women the world over to step into their purpose, but also give them the tips, tools, and techniques needed to succeed and thrive as a woman of influence.
Discover your leadership brand by taking Natalie’s five-minute assessment, What Is Your Leadership Brand.