An Authentic Future

with Soul
LAURA LYN
January 28, 2024
OGL482
Dr. Janice Lawhorn
Introduction
An Authentic Future With Soul came about through an extensive
qualitative process. The intention was to discern life themes out
of data collected through various personal assessments and
formats. The process would allow for deep reflection, insights into
values, skills, and interests, as well as aspirations for the future. At
times, these were challenging and uncomfortable processes.
Nonetheless, with persistence and perseverance, the outcomes
were worth the effort and struggle. The following is the results of
each stage in the analysis and the outcomes of my purpose and
personal mission statement.
.
 The qualitative process used was Thematic
Analysis. It began with collecting the results
from various personal assessments that I

Process have taken over the years. Then, a coding

approach was taken to review each for
keywords and phrases. After collecting

& dozens of notes, a thorough analysis was

done to find common threads among the
various results and create life themes. This

Method process of analysis was found to be

personally challenging at times, and
extremely satisfying in that it concluded with
great personal insights, a defined purpose,
and a mission statement.
Research
and
Coding
Reviewing and Sorting
keywords and phrases to
establish core ideology.
 My Data Sources

My sources are a collection of various personal assessments taken over the

last 15 years including several in this class and during my Organizational
Leadership program. They range from the 16 Personalities, based on the
Myers-Briggs Type Inventory, to skills and interests assessments, to personal
values worksheets, and training exercises. They have all proven to be
enlightening and informative. The following table will also serve as the
legend for the source codes referenced in the following themes.
 Data Sources
Code Source
3Q 3 Questions – Results of 3 reflective questions to support
you in discerning purpose and value.
AC Accomplishment Coaching Training Program – Various
exercises in discerning personal essence and purpose.
CAA Career Anchors Assessment – Questionnaire to define
highest desires and needs that are priority.
CIA Kuder Career Interests Assessment – Assessment
resulting in Holland’s score for highest areas of interests.
MB 16 Personalities Assessment – Questionnaire to discern
your 4 top personality types.
SCA Kuder Skills Confidence Assessment – Assessment
resulting in Holland’s score for highest areas of
confidence related to skills.
SF StrengthsFinder 2.0 – Assessment to establish your top
5 strengths with premise to strengthen your innate skills.
WMM What Matters Most – Harvard Business Review –
worksheet establishes alignment of actions with values.
WV Super’s Work Values Inventory – worksheet to
determine your top work values.
My 10 Themes
After reviewing and sorting, and reviewing and reflecting
more, I was able to discern ten core ideologies from the
results and data provided in the various assessments.
The following slides demonstrate each theme including
the supporting data and sources.
 Supporting Data:
Theme 1 •
•
Reliable – sees promises and responsibilities to completion. MB
Conscientiousness, impeccable ethics, dependability, integrity. SF
• Psychological ownership for commitments. SF
• Achieves personal and organizational goals. SCA

Theme • Skilled at responsibility and achievement. 3Q

Statement: Theme Impact:
I have discovered this theme has been a driving force in being responsible
and goal oriented.
Commit to Contradictory Evidence:
Excellence and As noted in StrengthsFinder 2.0, this person would loathe dropping the
ball on one of their commitments, (2007). One of the struggles I have seen
Accountability is taking on too much, knowing what is mine and not mine.
Reflection:
This theme has been very influential in my life. One of the things I ask
myself in situations is, “What can I be responsible for?” This has been a
guiding premise for me in what actions I need to take. I see how I associate
this with integrity and success. I am committed to balance in my life
therefore, I am practicing mindfully choosing my responsibilities. I know
this is an area for growth for me.
 Supporting Data:
Theme 2 • Enterprising – works to achieve economic gain. SC
• Confident in mechanical, technical, and athletic skills. CIA
• Reliable – sees promises and responsibilities to completion. MB
• Leadership roles – Captain of Team. MB
Theme
Statement: • Awareness of responsibilities creates your value system. SF
• Motivated towards producing highly effective work. CAA

Theme Impact:
Embodies This life theme has provided the ability to see the big picture and the end goal.
Thus, I am willing to take on big roles in the process of achieving big goals.
Leadership and
Value-Driven Contradictory Evidence:
No contradictory evidence was provided. However, we should recognize that
Achievement there are risks in going for your dreams, and we need to calculate those risks,
so they don’t come as a surprise a long the way.
. Reflection:
When I was younger, I took on more leadership roles with ease. As an adult, I
found it more difficult to put myself out there for many reasons, mostly I think
it was lack of confidence and shame based. I believe it may be time to embrace
this life theme with a new sense of wisdom and grace, as this process has
shown me how I come by it naturally. I am grateful to have seen this life theme
and look forward to building this muscle in my career as well as within my
community.
 Supporting Data:
• Values – Meaningful work. WMM
• Altruistic – force for positive change, personal and professional. MB
Theme 3: • Charismatic, determined, and inspiring. MB
• All, everything, is possible. AC

Theme • Conviction–good to be alive, work can be fun,

keeps a sense of humor. SF
Statement: Theme Impact:
This life theme has shown up several times over the course of my life, specifically
the Optimistic Resilience. I have relied on this innate perception to overcome
Empowering setbacks, and heartaches. It has also been useful in planning
for the future.
Purpose and Contradictory Evidence:
That one could be unrealistic in their pursuits was shared in the 16
Optimistic Personality Assessment. I can see where it would be easy to fall to idealism.
Resilience Reflection:
Upon reflection, I find this life theme to be inspiring and confidence boosting. It
feels good to see and know that I have the innate ability to face and overcome
challenges, and that I have positively as well. It also feels good to recognize that I
have remained optimistically resilient despite life’s challenges. I believe the
latter to be of the utmost importance. I wouldn’t want the remainder of my life to
be spent bitter and callous.
 Supporting Data:
• Lighten others spirit – adds energy to projects, celebrates
achievements. SF
Theme 4 • Achiever - keeps moving you, power supply. SF
• Receptive – strong opinions and open minded. MB
• Positivity is one of your top 5 strengths. SF

Theme • Artistic - uses intuition, expressiveness, and originality. CIA

Statement: • Enterprising - uses social influence, skill, and traditional beliefs. CIA

Theme Impact:
I can relate to this theme as it has propelled me to bring joy and energy to all
that I do. All the while, being receptive and flexible.
Vibrant
Contradictory Evidence:
Achievement Guidance was given to protect myself from whiners and complainers, as it’s just
through Positivity as important to protect as to nurture your optimism.
and Flexibility Reflection:
I believe this life theme is the one that relates directly to my purpose, and I am
so very grateful for it and to have recognized it in this analytical process. It is a
buoy for me. It is a grounding force to be present to my innate gifts. I also feel
that it reinvigorates and rejuvenates me. That wonderful reminder that we get
to choose our perspective, as that of being tired or vibrant. At times it can be
difficult to make the choice, however it is wonderful to feel it as a life theme.
 Supporting Data:
Theme 5 •
•
Internal fire burning inside you. SF
Energy to work without burning out. SF
• Passionate – brimming with interests. MB
• Discerned part of essence as Vibrance. AC
• Values – Achievement. WV
Theme
• Leads – sets pace to accomplish goal. SF
Statement:
• Drive – a constant need for achievement. SF
Theme Impact:
I have always had an abundance of innate joyful energy. This hasn’t always been
Passionate and well received. I am very glad to reconnect mindfully with this life theme through
Purposeful this analysis. It is very empowering.
Achievement Contradictory Evidence:
As stated above, my intensity can be too much for some people. This was
. cautioned in the 16 Personality results.
Reflection:
I think this may be the one life theme I am most proud to connect with
intentionally. Recently, I experienced that people will intentionally bring you
down, if you let them. And I chose not to allow that to happen. I would say it was
this life theme that ignited the perseverance to keep going toward the life I desired
and deserved. Thus, I am very grateful for this energy force.
 Supporting Data:
• Good at establishing harmony and seeking balance. 3Q
• Values - Family and Friends. WMM
Theme 6: • Looks for consensus and support. SF
• Harmony is one of your top 5 strengths. SF
• Values – maintaining Lifestyle. WV
Theme
Statement: • Life balanced among various interests, such as family, friends, learning,
and leisure. CAA
Theme Impact:
It is wonderful to recognize cultivating balance as a life theme. I come from
Cultivating a very large family, and it seems this theme gave me rise to navigate
through the chaos.
Balance and Contradictory Evidence:
Collaboration The only provided was the possibility of forgoing one’s own values to keep
the peace. This was through StrengthsFinder 2.0.
Reflection:
This life theme has supported me in building relationships and seeking a
balanced life. I am grateful to have this theme support and guide me in
mindfully creating a life of beauty and love. I can see how this theme even
supports me in writing here and finding balance in my sentence structure.
Balance truly feels vital to me in my life. However, it can be a challenge to
maintain at times.
 Supporting Data:
• People want to be around you. SF
• Good at connecting and making connections. 3Q
Theme 7 • Confident in persuasiveness, leadership, sales, and entrepreneurial
skills. CIA
• Confident in language, art, music, drama skills, and writing skills. SCA
• Engaging conversation and captivating people’s attention. MB
Theme Statement: • Charismatic, determined, and inspiring. MB

Theme Impact:
This theme has had a huge impact on my life. I love meeting new people and
Nurturing supporting others through making connections. I am one of those people who
doesn’t mind networking events, I positively thrive at them.
Connections
Contradictory Evidence:
and No contradictory evidence was noted. The only problem that has arisen, is
Communication when others are out with me, and they don’t care to connect with others.
Reflection:
I feel so fortunate to have met so many wonderful people in my life. In
addition, I am grateful for the friendships I have cultivated by being willing to
talk to random people. The nurturing of communication is essential for me in
all my relationships and in all my transactions. This is an area I continue to
seek growth in, I have learned to be a better listener in the process. I also
recognize I have a lot to learn in this everchanging world.
 Supporting Data:
Theme 8 • Finds common ground. SF
• Bridge builder; gives comfort there is a purpose. SF
• Confident in persuasive, leadership, sales, and entrepreneurial skills. CIA
• Recognize and respect other’s voice and them being seen and heard. MB
• Has and understands compassion. SF
Theme
• Generous with praise, understands importance of acknowledgement. SF
Statement:
Theme Impact:
The greatest impact has been the strength of compassion and thoughtfulness.
Emotional As a life theme, it was developed through navigating life in a large family with
a special needs sibling.
Intelligence Contradictory Evidence:
The results of the 16 Personality Assessment cautioned being overly
. empathetic, as this can leave you drained both physically and emotionally.
Reflection:
This life theme is a difficult one to own as in my perspective there will always
be so much to learn in this area, how can you ever claim it as a strength or
skill. Nonetheless, it has served me well in understanding and connecting
with others. In addition, being willing to self-reflect and develop self-
awareness has also increased my emotional intelligence. I believe this theme
provides a foundational support in my leadership and working with others.
As well, I find it a fascinating field of study.
 Supporting Data:
• Values - Community Engagement. WMM
• Connectedness is one of your top 5 strengths. SF
Theme 9: • Connecting with people and being of service. 3Q
• Altruistic – force for positive change, both personal and
professional. MB
Theme • Joy in seeing others thrive – heartfelt and sincere. MB
Statement: • Engaging, captivating people’s attention, and rallying people
together. MB

Theme Impact:
Cultivating Fortunately, I learned very early the importance of community. This theme has been a
cornerstone for me in creating a life of meaning. My community is my world, and the mindful
Engagement intention of connection creates family.

Contradictory Evidence:
and Being careful to not spread myself too thin was cautioned in the 16 Personality
Assessment.
Connection Reflection:
I am so very grateful for this life theme. It has proven so very powerful at times.
One being when my Father passed away, and the comfort and support given at that
time. Then when a Scout Leader passed unexpectedly, and the community came
together to honor his life. These were times that would have been very different if I
had not been engaged and connected to the people me and my family were the
closest to on a daily basis. It showed me the power of connection.
 Supporting Data:
• Faith is strong. SF
• Spirit or life force – connected. SF
Theme 10 • Discern part of essence as Source. AC
• Purpose as Angel, loving, affirming, supportive, inspiring, caring. AC
• Altruistic – force for positive change, personal and professional. MB
• Values - Spiritual Growth. WMM
Theme
• Connecting with people and being of service. 3Q
Statement:
• In your soul you know that we are all connected, part of something larger. SF

Theme Impact:
Divine The impact this theme has on me is a deep physical sense of belonging and
peace. It guides me through the daily routines at work and the committed
Connection and meditation practice each morning.

Altruistic Contradictory Evidence:

The danger of being Altruistic is losing sight of your own values and goals.
Service This is highly cautioned against in the 16 Personality Assessment.
Reflection:
Being faithful has been a struggle, I haven’t felt as though my faith was strong
enough. However, I have recently realized that was mostly because I didn’t feel
I was following “the rules” correctly. I have come to learn that “the ways” are
not what is important. It is the being in it, that is faith. And I have had a very
strong faith my whole life. I know this life theme is one of the cornerstones of
all the themes. It feels very supportive, and it empowers me to be the leader
that I innately and intuitively am.
 My Personal Vision Statement

JOY IS MY ESSENCE
AND MY BIRTHRIGHT.
REFLECTION - My personal vision statement gives me
feelings of strength, empowerment, love, safety, purpose, and
joy. In the process of discerning, I kept coming back to a deep
sense of joyfulness. This felt like a reconnecting to deep
qualities, ones that I had not associated with in a very long time.
This statement truly supports me in being my best self,
including being a leader like I never have before.
 My Personal Mission Statement
Through optimistic resilience, kindness, love and acceptance, I am
committed to living my life daringly spreading joy and possibility.

Reflection:
I used the Covey website to assist with generating my personal mission statement. It provided
the organization I needed to pull the information together, so that I could formulate my
statement. I felt like their process was too sterile though, so I then took the information and
formulated what felt right and worked for me using a bubble map. I am learning that my
intuition and perspective is as valuable as any “model” way, and to trust it as much. This process
of discernment and analysis has provided many new self awarenesses and has connected many of
the varying aspects of myself for greater clarity and perception.
 In conclusion, I have gained a refined, and what I feel is
accurate perception, of myself as a person and a leader. Though

Conclusion
I resisted the process on some deep levels of not wanting to
look at my past again, I am very glad I gave this qualitative
process my all. I have learned so much about the qualitative
process and thematic analysis that will be very useful for me in
my future as a learner and a leader. In addition, I have a better
sense of identity and greater confidence in my abilities and skill
sets. This process has been invaluable overall. I know some
professionals pay consultants to assist them with these types of
assessments and analysis. I am glad I had sense enough to
know the benefits of persevering through the assignment
would be most rewarding. As it truly was and is. I am grateful
for the sense of accomplishment the assignment has provided
as well as the clarity of purpose and mission. Now to embrace
and integrate this new clarity and self-awareness fully in my life
and career. I love that Harrington and Hall’s (2007) aim was to
support us in developing our own notions of success and work-
life balance, (p. x, para. 6). They gave us a wonderful tool to do
just that!
“Success, like beauty, is in the
eye of the beholder.” H&H
 References
16 Personality Assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.16personalities.com/personality-types
Accomplishment Coaching – Training Program Assessments (2008).
Career Anchors Assessment. (n.d.) provided by Lawhorn, J.
Harrington, B. and Hall, D. (2007) Career Management & Work-Life Integration. Sage
Publications, Inc.

Himes, M. (n.d.). Video: 3 Questions Assessment. Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RJTDCNF5VUspd_J9&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fasu.instructure.com%2
F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjQsMTY0NTA2&feature=emb_share&v=hs3UCUqy8cg

Kuder (n.d.) Career Interests Assessment, Skills Confidence Assessment, and Work Values. Retrieved from:
https://journey.kuder.com
Rath, T. (2007). StrengthsFinder 2.0. Gallup Press.
Sull, D., & Houlder, D., (2004). Do Your Commitments Match Your Convictions? Harvard Business Review , Reprint R0501H.