Episode Overview
Podcast: The mindbodygreen Podcast
Host: Jason Wachob
Episode: 607: A proven method to find purpose in life & work | Suzy Welch
Date: July 20, 2025
This episode features bestselling author, CEO, and NYU professor Suzy Welch, whose new book "Becoming You" introduces a science-backed approach to discovering and aligning with your life’s true purpose. Suzy delves into the difference between values and virtues, describes her three-part framework for uncovering purpose, and shares lessons from her work helping thousands break free from “good enough” lives to pursue authenticity and fulfillment. The conversation is practical, insight-rich, and packed with actionable wisdom and memorable stories.
Main Themes
- Distinguishing Values from Virtues
- The Proven Three-Part Framework to Uncover Purpose
- The "Values Bridge" Tool and Inventory
- Reconciling Purpose with Economic Realities
- Overcoming Internal & Social Obstacles
- Real-Life Transformations and Case Studies
- The Role of Self-Awareness and Authenticity
- Why Purpose is More Sustainable than Happiness
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Suzy’s Three-Pronged Framework for Purpose
[01:43 – 07:08]
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Purpose arises at the intersection of three data sets:
- Your Values: The "deeply held beliefs that galvanize our actions and decisions." Not the same as virtues or social constructs. (B, [04:05])
- Your Innate Aptitudes: Both cognitive skills and how the world experiences your personality—not just how you describe yourself.
- Economically Viable Interests: “Work that calls you intellectually and/or emotionally but can pay you what you need…” (B, [06:23])
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Key Quote:
"I've cried a lot over the past couple of years with joy watching people discover their purpose and then start to live it."
— Suzy Welch, [06:56]
Distinguishing Values from Virtues
[08:33 – 12:59]
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Virtues = Social/cultural ideals (e.g. kindness, honesty); everyone “should” have them.
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Values = Personal, unique priorities that actually guide decision-making; no right or wrong, merely personal “choices.”
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Example:
"Beholderism is a value that measures how important is it, how things look to you... Some people really value beholderism, and some people don't."
— Suzy Welch, [09:51] -
Realization: People often mistake virtues for values, which blocks clarity in career and life decisions.
Values Mismatch in Life & Relationships
[12:59 – 14:31]
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Key Insight:
Values mismatches (between partners or with your workplace) are major sources of unhappiness. -
The "Values Bridge" allows couples or colleagues to visualize potential conflicts/mismatches.
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Memorable Moment: Some couples refuse to take the quiz together out of fear it will reveal mismatch! (B, [13:19])
How the "Values Bridge" Works
[14:31 – 17:09]
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100 behavioral questions ranking your values across 15 domains.
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Measures the gap between your prioritized values and how much you’re currently living them—your “authenticity gap.”
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Highlights areas of internal conflict for action.
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Notable Story:
The inventor's journey—"I was 60... perhaps was not on my bingo card to create a digital tool that assesses values, but I'm going to do it." (B, [15:00])
Purpose vs. Happiness: Why 'Purpose' Wins
[17:09 – 19:47]
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Suzy: Defines happiness as fleeting; purpose as sustainable.
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“Happiness should not be an end goal, but rather the byproduct of a meaningful, productive life.” (B, [17:18])
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Host Jason:
“Purpose is the number one indicator of health span, more so than…VO2 max…” ([18:39]) -
Purpose can mean small daily mindset tweaks, not just grand life changes.
"Some people go through it and all they do at the end is a tweak... The whole change is in their mind."
— Suzy Welch, [19:47]
Case Studies: Transformational Tweaks & Big Leaps
[20:52 – 25:36]
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Real-World Example #1: “Ana” (Executive MBA Student)
- CEO/mother plagued by guilt for not putting “family” first.
- Discovery: Her authentic values were “work centrism, achievement, affluence,” with “family” present but not primary.
- Resolution: Freed from self-judgment and able to own values, communicate openly with her daughter and family.
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On Workaholism:
"I'm not a workaholic because I'm not hurting anybody... I just have high work centrism."
— Suzy Welch, [24:55] -
Host Reflection:
“Am I running toward something or am I running away from something?” ([25:36]) -
Suzy’s Reframe:
"The arc of life is long and it bends towards authenticity. Eventually we will become our authentic selves because...you yearn to live your values." ([26:22])
Reckoning With Significant Change & Economic Security
[30:27 – 33:09]
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Advice for career changers: “Sometimes the change is so big that doing it in baby steps is just not the answer.”
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People may benefit from “ripping off the band-aid,” but there’s no one-size-fits-all.
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Notable story: A climate scientist who yearned to be a Broadway producer; took classes at night, tested the waters, and eventually prepared for a 180-degree shift.
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Quote:
"You only have one wild and precious life... you can wait and wait and wait, but it's only going to lead to regret."
— Suzy Welch, [32:54]
Challenges: The Four Horsemen of Values Destruction
[34:46 – 38:13]
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Expectations: Societal, familial pressures
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Expedience: Taking the path of least resistance
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Events: Life circumstances (layoffs, illness, etc.)
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Economic Security: Financial priorities shape decisions, even when money isn’t the true driver
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Notable Story:
The “MBA Roomba teacher” — knowing her authentic calling, but unable to pursue it due to “parental expectations” and perceived cultural constraints.
The Universal Prevalence of Suffering in 'Good Enough' Lives
[38:22 – 39:40]
- Even highly accomplished, outwardly successful people experience inner dissatisfaction.
- “All of us have this voice... what's popped for me is that just is truer and truer.” ([38:24])
Moving from 'Hope Deferred' to the 'Tree of Life'
[39:46 – 41:23]
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Reference to the proverb: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick; a dream fulfilled is the tree of life.”
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Suzy shares a personal moment—her experience of “hope deferred” while tending to her terminally ill husband, highlighting the reality and depth of such feelings.
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Quote:
“When hope is deferred, you actually can feel physical pain. It makes the heart ache... the idea to get people from that sort of crying over the sink to the sort of tree of life is my purpose.”
— Suzy Welch, [41:06]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Framework for Purpose: [01:43 – 07:08]
- Values vs. Virtues: [08:33 – 12:59]
- Values Mismatch & Relationships: [12:59 – 14:31]
- How the Values Bridge Works: [14:31 – 17:09]
- Purpose vs. Happiness: [17:09 – 19:47]
- Case Studies (Tweaks & Leaps): [20:52 – 25:36]
- Dealing with Career 180s: [30:27 – 33:09]
- 'Four Horsemen'—Obstacles to Authenticity: [34:46 – 38:13]
- Hope Deferred, Tree of Life: [39:46 – 41:23]
Notable Quotes
-
On Values vs. Virtues:
"Virtues are social or cultural constructs that everybody agrees everybody should have more of... Values, on the other hand, are the deeply held beliefs that galvanize our actions and decisions."
— Suzy Welch, [08:56] -
On Authentic Change:
"The arc of life is long and it bends towards authenticity. Eventually we will become our authentic selves because... you yearn to live your values."
— Suzy Welch, [26:22] -
On Economic Reality:
"To sum up all of behavioral economics in one sentence is that we tend to make decisions based on cold hard cash, even if cold hard cash doesn't matter to us."
— Suzy Welch, [37:37] -
On Suffering Behind Success:
"People who on the outside look happy and fulfilled and very productive are suffering on some level..."
— Suzy Welch, [38:24] -
On Hope Deferred and the Tree of Life:
"When hope is deferred, you actually can feel physical pain... the idea to get people from that sort of crying over the sink to the sort of tree of life is my purpose."
— Suzy Welch, [41:06]
Final Takeaways & Resources
- “Becoming You” Book: A comprehensive guide and workbook for this process.
- The Values Bridge Quiz: Free, 100-question inventory; actionable profile to drive clarity and alignment.
- Suzy’s Teaching: Open enrollment and NYU classes; available online.
- Further Connection: Suzy is active on Instagram, LinkedIn, and hosts her own podcast.
Tone & Style
Suzy Welch is pragmatic, candid, and empathetic—grounding her wisdom in research, lived experience, and storytelling. Jason Wachob’s questions reflect openness and a genuine curiosity; the episode is warm, relatable, occasionally humorous, and focused on real solutions.
This summary is designed to be a complete guide for those who haven’t listened to the episode, giving you clarity on the core framework, practical methods, and lived realities of aligning with your purpose.