Let’s explore the true meaning of your purpose in life

Are you struggling to discover your purpose? What does it even mean?

Questions, more questions!

Are you busy living your life? Perhaps you are busy at work or busy fulfilling your family needs. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life it is ​​easy to forget to think about the things that are really important. The things that makes us feel truly satisfied and fulfilled in the real sense of it.

A good many young ambitious, successful and well educated people get to a point where they still feel dissatisfied with where they are in their chosen field and careers. They feel as though there is some sort of “hollow feeling” that makes them question their very existence wondering if they have fulfilled their purpose in life. They feel a keen desire to make a positive impact in the world, but they aren’t sure how to go about it.

The combination of a successful career, a loving family, and a strong social network may seem like the recipe for a perfect life. However, even those who can check each of those boxes might feel like something is missing—and that “something” is their purpose in life

Purpose often arises from curiosity about your own life. What obstacles have you encountered? What strengths helped you to overcome them? How did other people help you? How did your strengths help make life better for others?

“Finding your purpose” is more than just a cliché or a dream that will never be fulfilled. It’s actually a tool for better, happier, healthier life that too few people attempt to use.

This post will hopefully clarify this burning desire and help you find your purpose.

Discovering your purpose can be tricky and it isn’t something that can be done in a few days, weeks or months. Sometimes it can be a lifelong journey, and it can only be done one step at a time.

One salient point to keep in mind is that your purpose doesn’t necessarily mean you have to change what you’re doing already. You may discover your purpose while at your current work gig and when you do, you will surely know! Once you find your path, you’ll almost certainly find others traveling along with you, hoping to reach the same destination—a community.

I would love to share 5 ways to discover your purpose in life;

1; Discover What You Love to Do

Simply thinking about what you truly love to do can help you find your purpose as well.

Do you absolutely love musical theater? Your skills might be best put to use in a way that brings live performances to children who can benefit from exposure to the arts. 

Is analyzing data something that you actually find fun? Any number of groups could find that skill to be an invaluable asset.

Consider what type of skills, talents, and passions you bring to the table. Then, brainstorm how you might turn your passion into something meaningful to you

2; Consider Injustices That Bother You

Many people have their pet causes or passion projects that surround an injustice in the world. Is there anything that makes you so deeply unhappy to think about that it bothers you to the core?

It might be animal welfare, a particular civil rights issue or girl child education, caring for homeless kids or children with special needs. Perhaps the idea of internally displaced people in the North makes you weepy or you think that substance abusers need more rehabilitation opportunities—the organizations are out there, and they need your help.

You don’t necessarily have to engage in your purpose full-time. You might find your career gives you the ability to afford to help a cause you feel passionate about. Or, you might find that you are able to donate time—as opposed to money—to give to a cause that you believe in.

3; Explore Your Interests

Is there a topic that you are regularly talking about in a WhatsApp status update or in a Tweet? Are you regularly sharing articles about climate change or refugees? Are there pictures on Instagram of you engaging in a particular activity over and over, such as gardening or performing?

Consider the conversations you enjoy holding with people the most when you’re meeting face-to-face. Do you like talking about history? Or do you prefer sharing the latest money-saving tips you discovered?

The things you like to talk about and the things you enjoy sharing on social media may reveal the things that give you purpose in life.

4; Surround Yourself With Positive People

As the saying goes, you are the company you keep. What do you have in common with the people who you choose to be around?

Don’t think about co-workers or family members you feel obligated to see. Think about the people you choose to spend time with outside of work and outside of family functions. The people you surround yourself with say something about you. If you’re surrounded by people who are making positive change, you might draw from their inspiration.

On the other hand, if the people around you are negative individuals who drag you down, you might want to make some changes. It’s hard to feel passionate and purposeful when you’re surrounded by people who aren’t interested in making positive contributions.

5; Listen to Feedback

It can be hard to recognize the things you feel passionate about sometimes. After all, you probably like to do many different things and the things you love to do may have become so ingrained in your life that you don’t realize how important those things are.

Fortunately, other people might be able to give you some insight. There’s a good chance you’re already displaying your passion and purpose to those around you without even realizing it.

You might choose to reach out to people and ask what reminds them of you or what they think of when you enter their mind. Or you might take note when someone pays you a compliment or makes an observation about you. Write those observations down and look for patterns.

That said;

Certain emotions and behaviors that promote health and well-being can also foster a sense of purpose—specifically, awe, gratitude, and altruism. People who engage in more altruistic behaviors, like volunteering or donating money, tend to have a greater sense of purpose in their lives.

Many seem to believe that purpose arises from your special gifts and sets you apart from other people—but that’s only part of the truth. It also grows from our connection to others, which is why a crisis of purpose is often a symptom of isolation. Once you find your path, you’ll almost certainly find others traveling along with you, hoping to reach the same destination.

How would you then know when you have found your true purpose in life? You will fill genuinely fulfilled. It’s a wonderful feeling of satisfaction and unending passion that would make you keep at it. It would never feel like work and the energy to keep it going never wanes.

For every time that you complete the task or activity or gesture, you will feel so much at peace and it could last for days.

Find your purpose, don’t stop until you know it.