Meaningful work happens when a job resonates with your own personal story. If your sibling got cancer from nitrates in drinking water, you might devote your life’s work to reducing agricultural runoff, or water sanitation. Powerful memories shape us as human beings.
The activities and resources in this section are all about figuring out why you do what you do so you can make better decisions about your career.
Find out what you care about and why you do what you do
Build a growth mindset to take on new challenges
Identify what you want to change to make your life better
Set Goals & Take Action!
Why Do You Do What You Do?
If you have ever felt like you were floating through life aimlessly, it may be because you didn’t understand yourself well enough to make informed decisions. Use these books, articles and activities to find what makes you tick. Explore the good and bad parts of your past to build a better future.
What Are My Values? Worksheet
To choose organizations that align with your core values, you have to know your values. Experiment and find what matters to you.
Discover Your Why Workbook
This workbook is based on Simon Sinek's Start With Why. Understand yourself to find work that will change the world.
How Will You Measure Your Life?
Decide what is most important in your life overall, and how you will measure what a good life looks like at home and at work.
Tell Your Story to Find Purpose in Life
Your past shapes your future, but only the most powerful moments. Learn how to tell your story to find purpose.
Key Takeaways from "Finding Your Element"
This summary of Finding Your Element by Sir Ken Robinson has some helpful exercises and concepts to help you find your way.
5 Steps to Designing the Life You Want (Ted Talk)
Stanford professor Bill Burnett talks about the process of Designing Your Life and finding one of many paths in life.
Read these books to dig deeper into why you do what you do, and explore in-depth exercises you can use to find meaningful work.
Building a Growth Mindset
If you have ever thought: “I could never do that… that’s way too hard… I’m too old to learn”, you need a growth mindset. Learn to believe in neuroplasticity. The ability for the brain to adapt and change over time with new experiences. Learn how to unlearn old habits and beliefs that are holding you back and start to think: “It is possible to learn, I just have to find what works for me.”
8 Steps to Develop a Growth Mindset
Learn more about what a growth mindset is and some simple steps to begin developing a growth mindset.
17 Growth Mindset Activities for Adults
SkillPacks offers a range of challenge activities, small habit changes, and techniques to build a growth mindset.
5 Steps to Designing the Life You Want (Ted Talk)
Stanford professor Bill Burnett talks about the process of Designing Your Life and finding one of many paths in life.
