Having a sense of purpose in life is a fundamental human need which is essential for optimal well-being. Research in positive psychology has even shown that people with a sense of purpose have a better immune system and live longer! However, determining what your purpose is can be a very difficult task.
This blog post will guide you through a basic, step-by-step process which encourages you to explore your feelings and options and helps you to identify a meaningful direction in your life.
There are three fundamental steps to the process of discovering your purpose:
1. Understanding the principle of choice 2. Creating your 'underlying principle' 3. Aligning your life with this underlying principle
Understanding The Principle of Choice
Norman Vincent Peale once said, “The greatest power we have is the power of choice. It is an actual fact that if you have been groping under unhappiness, you can choose to be joyous instead, and, by effort, lift yourself into joy. If you tend to be fearful, you can overcome that misery by choosing to have courage. The whole trend and the quality of anyone’s life is determined by the choices that are made."
Making choices is your mind's most important activity, because by making a choice, you're proclaiming your desires to your subconscious mind. Once your subconscious mind gets to know your desires, it's going to strive to manifest them. Thereby, the choices you make in your life become your goals. And, if you're sincere and persistent in pursuing them, there's no reason why you shouldn't accomplish them.
Indecision, on the other hand, not only creates frustration and anxiety, but it can also confuse your subconscious mind about what you want. It's vitally important that the choices you make are made by you, in accordance with your true desires and aptitude. A lot of us let others make choices for us, or make our choices according to what we think is ‘correct,' even if that means that we go against our wishes. What's right for someone else may not be right for you, and the way to know this is by taking time to listen to what your heart is truly saying.
So, to begin with, think about what interests you; things which you have always enjoyed, which absorb you, which make you feel better, which inspire you to surge ahead, no matter what obstacles you face. Do you like doing something creative or artistic? Do you like the sea? Do you get pleasure out of making a difference in other people’s lives? Is there a cause that you're passionate about?
Then, for each of the interests you have identified, write down your answers to these questions:
1. What is it that you love to do? 2. What is it specifically that you love about this and why?
3. How could you incorporate more of this into your life? 4. How could you do this for money and make a living out of it?
Creating Your Underlying Principle
The next step is to examine your answers to and see if there is a recurring theme. Maybe it's the contribution that keeps coming up, or a desire to seek or give love, or a commitment to lifelong learning? Whatever it is, try to identify the central theme of the things you love to do, and put it in a short and precise statement. This will be your ‘Mission Statement.' Of course, as you grow and evolve, so too will your statement, but its essence will likely remain the same. Now, write down your Mission Statement.
Aligning Your Life With Your Underlying Principle
The final step in this journey is to map your path to your ultimate purpose by implementing changes that help to align your daily life with your mission statement. By making these little changes in your lifestyle, you'll be able to begin living by this principle each and every day. It might take a while, but by becoming aware and intentional about this underlying principle in your life, you'll start to feel a difference in your enthusiasm for life in general. If you realise that you love being amidst nature, plan regular outings or your next holiday. If you discover that you enjoy helping those in need, start to look for opportunities to volunteer in your community. Over time, driven by these small changes, you might even feel inspired to change your job, or even start a new business that's more in line with your mission.
By following these steps, you'll be on your way to identifying and living your purpose. And, as you go through this process, remember, “You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it courageously.” - Steve Maraboli