Finding Your True North: A Heart-to-Heart About Purpose

“I must be free. I must unapologetically reveal my broken life as a thing of beauty.” – Cornel West

📌 Estimated Reading Time: 6-8 minutes

Glad you’re here.

These words from Cornel West capture what I’ve come to believe after decades of life’s twists and turns. You know those moments when life throws a curveball, and you’re left scrambling to figure things out? Let me share one of mine.

It was during the height of the pandemic, and our hospital was facing a critical shortage of hand sanitizer. Then came the call—local distilleries were stepping up to help, but there was a catch. They’d be delivering massive 55-gallon drums to our loading dock, and we had to figure out how to get that sanitizer into usable containers for our medical teams.

Not exactly something they teach you in management school.

But here’s the thing—we had no playbook for this, yet we knew exactly what needed to be done. Why? Because we had something better than a step-by-step manual. We had a clear purpose: support our healthcare heroes, no matter what it takes.

That’s what I want to talk about today—how a clear sense of purpose can guide you through life’s most challenging moments, just like a compass guiding you through unfamiliar terrain.

🧭 My Journey to Finding Purpose

I’ll be honest—my understanding of purpose has evolved a lot over the years.

When I first joined the U.S. Air Force, purpose seemed pretty straightforward. I had a mission, a role, and clear objectives. I worked in healthcare supply chain operations, ensuring that medical teams had the resources they needed—often in high-stakes situations.

I was stationed in England and happened to be visiting Germany at the time of the historic fall of the Berlin Wall—a moment that reinforced my belief in the power of purpose, resilience, and transformation.

Take a moment to think about it—when was the last time you felt that way? Part of something larger than yourself? Hold onto that feeling—we’ll come back to it.

🧭 When Purpose Gets Personal

Later, life led me to healthcare, where my role shifted from military service to supporting civilian medical teams—different context, same core purpose—being there for people who make a difference.

But you know where I truly learned about purpose? Through being a dad to three amazing daughters.

Let me tell you—nothing clarifies your sense of purpose quite like holding your child for the first time or watching them tackle life’s challenges with determination in their eyes.

Purpose isn’t just about big, defining moments. It’s about showing up, every single day—for your family, your work, your community, and yourself.

🧭 Finding Your Own True North

Here’s something I’ve learned that might surprise you—purpose isn’t something you find like buried treasure. It’s something you cultivate, like a garden.

When I left the military, I faced a question many of us encounter during major life transitions:

“What now?“

That’s when I sat down and created what I now call my “True North” document. Think of it as a heart-to-heart conversation with yourself about what truly matters.

What is a True North document?

It’s a personal declaration that captures:

Your core vision for your life
The mission that drives your daily actions
The values you refuse to compromise on
The principles that guide your decisions

Here’s a glimpse of what it looks like:

📥 Download Your “True North” Template Here → True North Fillable Template

🧭 A Little Exercise We Can Do Together

Take a deep breath. Grab a notebook or open a blank document, and take a few minutes to reflect on these questions:

🔹 What moments in your life have felt the most meaningful?

🔹 Who are the people you most want to make proud?

🔹 What would you do, even if no one paid you for it?

There are no wrong answers—only honest ones.

🧭 Looking Ahead: The Eight Compass Points

Purpose is just the first of eight compass points I’ve found crucial for navigating life. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the rest—each one representing a key pillar of a well-lived life:

Gratitude – The wind that keeps you moving forward.
Growth – Becoming better than you were yesterday.
Presence – Living fully in the moment, free from distractions.
Connection – Building meaningful relationships that enrich your life.
Vitality – Strengthening your mind, body, and spirit.
Resilience – Learning to thrive through life’s challenges.
Wonder – Staying curious and open to new experiences.

Each compass point has its own lessons, challenges, and real-world applications. Next up, we’ll explore Gratitude—the mindset shift that changes everything.

🧭 A Bridge of Vulnerability

Before we continue, I want to share something personal.

In the “About Me” section below, I briefly mention navigating the loss of a child. That experience fundamentally altered my compass in ways I’m still discovering. The map I thought I had for life was suddenly rendered useless, and I had to find new bearings.

What I discovered was that purpose becomes most powerful not when everything is going according to plan, but when we’re forced to rebuild our understanding of what matters.

In a future post, I’ll share more about how grief became an unexpected teacher on my journey. For now, I’ll simply say this: our greatest challenges often reveal our deepest purpose.

What life experiences have recalibrated your compass? I’d love to hear your story.

🧭 Join Our Compass Community

I believe we navigate life better together. When you join our community, you’ll receive:

Weekly Compass Points: Brief reflections to help you stay oriented
Early Access: Be the first to receive new tools and resources
Connection: Join conversations with others on similar journeys

Simply enter your email below to join us on this journey.

📩 Join the Compass Community Here

Your story matters, and I’m genuinely interested in hearing it. Drop me a note anytime at eric@livingbythecompass.com.

🧭 A Bit About Me

I’m Eric “Jazz” Rinehart—a veteran, tech entrepreneur, business strategist, and educator with a background spanning technology, healthcare, consulting, and business development. After leaving the U.S. Air Force, I co-founded a Silicon Valley startup and later stepped into senior leadership roles in healthcare support operations. Over the years, I’ve worked as a consultant, helping launch and scale new ventures across multiple industries.

Beyond my professional journey, my insights are shaped by deeply personal experiences, including navigating the loss of a child, evolving from traditional religiosity to a spiritually grounded perspective that blends philosophy, science, and social thought, and continuously reinventing myself after job losses and major life transitions.

Through Living By The Compass, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about navigating life’s challenges with clarity, purpose, and resilience—not because I have all the answers (I definitely don’t!), but because I believe we all have wisdom worth sharing.

“True freedom comes not from having no broken pieces, but from transforming those pieces into a mosaic of wisdom and compassion.”