In August I had the joy of gathering with a thoughtful group of women in the LEAF (Local Ecology Agriculture Fremont) Community Garden for a Purpose Portfolio Workshop. Imagine a large picnic bench tucked among raised beds, sunflowers nodding in the breeze, the faint scent of basil and tomatoes ripening in the sun, even luscious cucumbers! It set the stage beautifully for exploring one of my favorite topics — purpose.

I opened the workshop by sharing that purpose isn’t a fixed statement you frame and hang on the wall. It is not outside yourself waiting to be found. Purpose is a living, breathing part of us that can grow, shed, and renew over time emanating from our deepest truth — much like the plants around us. Together, we used the Tree of Life framework to explore the environment in which our purposeful lives thrive or not, the seeds we’ve planted (unexamined beliefs, values, meaning, even reframed regrets), the strong trunks of our purpose priorities, the branches of purposeful action, and the fruits we hope to see flourish.

These workshops are always held in a psychologically safe zone where participants can share openly, without fear of judgment. We don’t share images of attendees — only of the setting — so the focus remains on the experience and the insights that bloom within it.

“Glenna Wiseman is a thoughtful, engaging coach and workshop facilitator. Her ‘Cultivating Legacy: A Purpose Portfolio Workshop for Women’ at LEAF was a resounding success, bringing together women from diverse backgrounds to reflect on purpose, contribution, and legacy in a safe and welcoming space. Glenna’s expert guidance helped participants explore purpose through a fresh lens, easing ‘purpose anxiety’ and offering tangible tools for shaping a more intentional path forward. In just a short time, the workshop sparked deep insights and meaningful conversations while fostering a strong sense of connection and community.”
— Bettina Grab, Director of Development, Partnerships & Marketing, LEAF

The reflections and conversations that morning revealed three key reminders — insights we can all carry forward, whether we’re charting a new chapter, leading a team, or simply pausing to reconnect with ourselves:

1. Purpose is a verb.
Purpose is not only what you have, it’s how you live. It’s expressed through conscious choices and deliberate actions. One participant shared that she felt purposeful “when contributing to the community in which she lives.” That’s not a mission statement on paper — that’s a way of being.

2. Purpose evolves.
Like a tree adapting to the seasons, our purpose shifts as life changes. I shared a regret I don’t want to have twenty years from now: not taking care of myself physically or letting fear of others’ opinions keep me from doing what I know is important. Thinking about what I don’t want to regret when I “reach the proverbial pearly gates” motivates me to take consistent action — even when I’m scared. These purposeful branches allow for new growth alongside many others.

3. Purpose flourishes in community.
We can do a lot of inner work on our own, but when we reflect alongside others, something special happens. Perspectives widen, encouragement flows, and we remember we’re not alone in wanting our lives to have meaning. The women that day left with personal insights of their own, celebrated “lightbulb” moments in others, and agreed to continue the journey together.

The LEAF garden offered more than a pretty setting — it mirrored the experience itself. Healthy ecosystems, whether in nature or in teams, thrive through diversity, interconnection, and care. Purpose is no different.

Sponsor a Purpose Portfolio Workshop
Bring this experience to your team or community.
A Purpose Portfolio workshop is a powerful way to:

• Build trust and strengthen relationships
• Foster collaboration and creative thinking
• Connect individual purpose to your organization’s mission
• Refresh engagement and morale
• Support wellbeing and resilience

Available in-person or virtually, these sessions are tailored to your audience and objectives.
To explore hosting a workshop, contact Glenna Wiseman at Glenna (at) permissiontobloom.com or visit PermissiontoBloom.com.

Next month, I’ll be facilitating a virtual version of this workshop for the clients of SF Dress for Success on September 9th. Whether in-person in a garden or online in a shared virtual space, the heart of the work remains the same — to help each person cultivate a living, evolving purpose foundation that enriches their life and legacy.

Because purpose, like a tree, grows best when we tend it — together.

Disclaimer: The Purpose Portfolio process as a Tree of Life is a custom adaptation by Permission to Bloom of content from the MEA Transitional Intelligence (TQ) training.