Personal Reflections on Purpose
Linda J. Wolf opens with a question about identifying one’s personal “why,” or core motivation in life.
Shares her personal experience, stating that appreciating life shouldn’t require experiencing death or loss.
Discusses her past: years spent cultivating both plants (roses, rare orchids) and, more recently, other people’s ambitions through her work as a high-powered accountant.
Describes how her existence was previously defined by work, success metrics, and constant activity, often tied to external validation and monetary bonuses.
Recounts a pivotal shift: no longer working from her office, but instead sitting beneath an old walnut tree in a city park, where she experiences profound introspection and silence.
Contrasts the external achievements (”fruit of life”) with the more fundamental internal motivations (”root”), leading to a realization that purpose is not about external accomplishments.
Reflects on experiencing both literal death and the “death of life” through public failure, which forced her to confront what truly remains when achievements are stripped away.
Concludes that her “why” is not a grand mission or external goal, but an ongoing state of being—present, alive, and honoring intrinsic worth apart from performance.
Encourages listeners to reflect on their own motivations and what drives their day-to-day actions, concluding with a thoughtful benediction.
The Light is You with Linda
