You need fuel to move forward.

It can be negative or positive.

Negative fuel might be proving someone wrong, fear, revenge, power or greed.

Positive fuel could be trying to improve your life, helping others, or personal challenge.

Both are powerful.

Negative fuel is arguably stronger. But it’s also not clean. In the sense that it brings more negatives with it. Pain, mistrust, poor decision making, loneliness or an anti-climax.

Positive fuel may be less fierce but it’s pure. It’s inspiring, compassionate and more stable.

Purpose as fuel

Purpose is a very specific positive fuel. It’s something we all search for and is an ingredient of happiness for most.

Purpose is deep.

It’s what you consider your main purpose to be in life. It could be:

• Giving others a foot up in life
• Serving your religion
• Environmental advocacy
• Artistic impression
• Self-mastery

Your fuel can change

If you’re not already positively charged, I think you should switch your fuel from negative and build it around a purpose. It will give a deeper level of happiness/fulfilment. For example, maybe you set out to prove your teacher wrong by achieving certain career goals, and then you become a parent. Your fuel probably changes to providing for your family.

Equally, positive fuel can be changed for a different positive fuel. It’s true that what once was meaningful may no longer be. Life changes. You achieve goals, your responsibilities change.

And that’s ok.

If you’re lost, find your new ‘why’

Spend some time evaluating your purpose and shape a new one. It might take inspiration, learning from others or just quiet time to work through it.

Be brave enough to change.

Let the past go and find a new drive in life.