At the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation Women’s Seminar, titled, “Confidence Meets Purpose,” Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk talked with keynote speaker, Joni Nash about her message.
Based in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Nash is a charity event auctioneer, motivational speaker, and author. At the seminar, Nash talked about the definition of one’s “purpose” and how to go about finding it.
“A lot of times, our purpose or identity gets wrapped up in what we do, and what we do becomes our identity and who we are, but it is not,” Nash said.
While many individuals might feel like their purpose is things such as their marital status, job title, and awards won, Nash said one’s purpose is more than this.
“Those are vehicles to carry out your purpose, but those things are all temporal, those things all change, because different seasons of life change,” Nash said. “When those things change, it doesn’t mean that you are without purpose.”
While someone’s purpose may look a little different depending on the season, Nash said, it stays the same.
“What I would encourage someone in finding their purpose, is what makes them tick,” Nash said. “Purpose is not about you. You are a part of it, but it reaches beyond you.”
Nash said examples of someone’s purpose could range from a passion for helping people, creating things, or being a mother figure.
“All of those things provide motivation, they provide purpose, they provide aim,” Nash said.
Discovering one’s purpose can be helpful in many circumstances, Nash said, especially a career change or life change. When life changes, Nash added, a person is still themselves and is serving their purpose.
Keeping good company is an integral part of one’s purpose, Nash said, because company can either help growth or derail it.
“Poor company corrupts good character,” Nash said.
Nash said she tries to keep three different people in her life. The first is a mentor, the second is a peer who is supporting you while you support them, and the third is someone you are investing in.
“When you go back to realizing that your purpose exceeds you and is part of a bigger picture and someone needs you… when you can get beyond yourself, your fears, your lack of confidence, or anything else you are using as an excuse or reason, you see the bigger picture, and it becomes not about you,” Nash said.
To visit Joni Nash’s website, CLICK HERE.
