This month, I noticed that several men at my company were growing facial hair. At first I didn’t think anything about it, and then I finally asked one of them. He told me that he is participating in “Movember.”
Movember is a global movement to bring awareness to men’s health issues like depression and prostate cancer. Men grow facial hair–both beards and mos (moustaches)–during the month of November, asking friends and family to sponsor their facial fur decorations with donations. And most importantly, they use the moment when someone like me says, “I like your new moustache” to start a conversation about Movember and men’s health.
Movember is not just for men. Mo Bros and Mo Sistas register online to participate in the month-long event, and they have all kinds of cool things on their site. Their motto is “Changing the Face of Men’s Health.” Last year, they raised 147 million dollars!
It’s not too late to join in. I have registered to be a Mo Sista–please join me!
This got me thinking about the power we all have to make change. In fact, I believe we all have a deep, inner need to make a difference in the world–that we are biologically wired to seek out meaning and purpose.
This is especially true for the Millennial generation–more than any generation prior, they are eager to make a difference in the world and are hungry for meaningful purpose in their lives.
Some Millennials are finding meaning at work, by becoming entrepreneurs and starting companies and non-profit organizations that make a difference.
And Millennials are using their many talents to change the face of philanthropy. According to the recent Millennial Impact Report, 75% of Millennials donated to causes last year and 63 percent said they gave their time to volunteer.
I recently spoke to a Millennial friend who said, “My generation is facing a kind of spiritual death. We were raised to believe we change the world and then we enter the traditional workplace and start to lose our way. I find my purpose through my volunteer work.”
I think we can all benefit from this strategy. To recognize that it’s OUR responsibility to create lives of meaning and purpose. And that there are many pathways to make a difference–through our jobs, through our giving, through our relationships, and even through our moustaches! In fact, I think this is why Movember is becoming so popular. It has created a community, Gen Mo, that unites people in their common need to make a difference.
What can you today to make a difference? Take a moment to identify 3 ways you express your own sense of purpose. I think you will find that doing so brings you a wonderful feeling of inner peace and happiness.