Last week, we started a 3-part series on one of the most important frameworks in my book.
Purpose = Faith + Love + Meaningful Work
If you missed Part 1 on Faith — the anchor that steadies you when life feels uncertain — you can read it here.
Most people assume purpose is something you find in your career.
It’s not.
Purpose is something youbuild — and it rests on three pillars:
• Faith — what anchors you
• Love — who surrounds and strengthens you
• Meaningful Work — how you express your gifts in the world
When one of these pillars is weak, purpose starts to feel heavy.
When they’re aligned, purpose becomes clear, steady, and powerful.
Last week we talked about Faith — the foundation that gives you perspective and trust in uncertain seasons.
This week, we’re talking about Love — the relationships that shape your resilience, expand your capacity, and remind you what matters most.
The Purpose Formula Part 2: Love
There are seasons when your calendar is full…but your heart feels stretched thin.
You’re showing up everywhere you’re needed.
Running meetings. Leading your team. Supporting your family. Managing schedules.
From the outside, your life looks strong and successful.
But inside, something quieter starts asking:
“Am I still connected to the people who matter most?”
“Am I living from love — or just responsibility?”
Because there’s a difference.
High-achieving women rarely struggle with commitment.
We struggle with connection.
And without connection, even a full life can start to feel lonely.
That loneliness can be a gentle reminder to invest in deep, supportive relationships and return to the people who matter most.
Why Love Is Central to Purpose
When most people think about purpose, they often think about calling or career.
But love shapes the relationships, priorities, and decisions that make a life feel whole—not just successful.
Love shapes:
The way you show up in your marriage
The way you lead your children
The way you support your friends
The way you treat yourself
The way you use your gifts in the world
Research confirms what many of us already sense intuitively:
- A Harvard longitudinal study spanning more than 80 years found that close relationships are the strongest predictor of long-term happiness and health — more than income, achievement, or status.
- Gallup research shows people with strong relational connection are four times more likely to feel engaged at work and report higher life satisfaction overall.
- And the American Psychological Association reports that meaningful relationships significantly reduce stress levels and improve resilience during difficult seasons.
Love isn’t something that belongs at the margins of a full life.
It’s a strategic priority, and the structure that holds everything else together.
3 Ways to Build a Life Rooted in Love
1. Invest intentionally in your closest relationships
Relationships don’t stay strong by accident. We must intentionally invest in them.
Ask yourself:
“Who matters most in this season of my life — and how am I showing up for them?”
Send the text.
Schedule the dinner.
Have the conversation you’ve been postponing.
Small moments of presence compound over time.
2. Let love guide your decisions — not fear
Fear asks:
“What if this doesn’t work?”
Love asks:
“What matters most here?”
One leads to control.
The other leads to courage.
Purpose grows when your decisions are anchored in what you value — not what you’re trying to avoid.
3. Extend the same grace to yourself that you give everyone else
Many high-achieving women are generous with everyone except themselves.
But self-love isn’t indulgent.
It’s stabilizing.
Ask yourself:
“Where am I expecting perfection instead of offering compassion?”
Purpose deepens when you stop performing for approval and start living from alignment.
How Love Shapes the Bigger Picture of a Life That Matters
Love doesn’t sit on the edges of life.
It shapes the way you care for the people closest to you.
The way you remain present in busy seasons.
The way you stay connected to what matters most.
And the way your life feels from the inside.
Love also shapes the way you lead, the boundaries you set, and the risks you’re willing to take.
Ultimately, love shapes the legacy you build.
Love grows where it receives attention.
This week, consider one small way you can invest in the relationships that matter most to you.
- Reach out to someone you’ve been thinking about.
- Make space for a meaningful conversation.
- Let someone close to you know they matter.
How I Can Help
If You’ve Been Feeling Disconnected From What Matters Most…
Sometimes the issue isn’t capacity.
It’s alignment.
You can be doing all the right things on paper and still feel a quiet distance from the people, priorities, and purpose that matter most to you.
That’s usually a signal that something in your life is out of sync and it’s time to realign.
This is the work I do with women inside the Fulfilled Life Accelerator. Together, we identify what’s pulling you out of alignment and rebuild a life that supports what matters most — your faith, your relationships, and the work you’re called to do.
To book a call or to check out my other offerings, see below.
- Purchase my International Bestselling Book that goes through the framework that has helped 1,000+ coaching and executive clients. You can find more information HERE.
- Join the Powerhouse Women Network! Find more information HERE.
- Build a custom strategy to reach your goals without burning out or compromising your purpose. Find out more information on this FREE complimentary call.
Your turn to reflect a step further:
Where are you being invited to slow down and be more present with someone who matters to you?
What is one small step you could take this week to strengthen a relationship that matters to you?
-Christi Cossette
