My high school track coach used to always tell us to “walk with a purpose.” He repeated it nearly every practice, and every once in a while, when I’m out walking, the phrase still rings in my ear. Instinctively, I pull my shoulders back, swing my arms a little harder, straighten my spine, and tilt my head and nose slightly higher.
At the time, I thought our coach was simply calling us out for being slow. My friends and I would laugh about getting “in trouble” after being sternly reminded of this principle when we tried to sneak into a slower walk or got distracted telling stories during practice.
As I move further into adulthood—now in my third year of college—I have begun to place a different meaning upon this phrase.
I believe our coach was trying to tell us that everything we do should be done with our purposes in mind. Moving intentionally. And that concept goes far beyond the track.
Moving with intention means learning to recognize which choices will serve us and which ones feel easier in the moment. In an age where shortcuts are everywhere, it is up to us whether we make decisions that keep us where we are or push us outside of our comfort zones. Repeatedly choosing what feels familiar can teach your brain that when things become difficult, you will choose comfort over growth.
That being said, I think it was intentional that my coach would say “walk with a purpose” during the resting part of practice, and not “sprint with a purpose,” which is seemingly the more difficult part. More often than not, it is not at the finish line where we are tested. It is in the small decisions we make every day: having a difficult conversation, sticking to our routines, and owning up to our mistakes. In short, not avoiding the things that make us uncomfortable.
My coach was a smart and wise man, and he knew we could not keep sprinting forever. Although it might be more physically engaging to sprint the entire practice, doing so would ultimately work against the goal of becoming a better runner if we can’t show up the next day. Sometimes our purpose requires us to push ourselves, and other times it requires recognizing when to honor our needs and allow ourselves to rest without feeling as though we are giving up.
Learning to recognize the difference is key to building trust in your own judgement.
These decisions eventually shape the love and care we give to ourselves, to other people, to our work, and define who we become. I think this is part of the reason I walk with my head slightly higher when I remember this mantra.
Rather than focusing on “grind culture” or performative positivity, intention is something only you can truly know you are doing.
As we move into October, surrounded by midterms, work, managing our social lives, and everything else competing for our attention, it is important to remember that our sense of purpose does not have to depend entirely on the outcome or how our choices appear to others.
We can’t control whether everything goes to plan. But we can control the intention we bring with us. No matter what we are doing, there is great security in knowing we can always choose to walk with a purpose.
