On finding your purpose...

What motivates you to rise each morning? What compels you to persist even in the face of adversity? What engrosses you so fully that time seems to slip away, leaving you startled and disoriented when you finally look up?

All of these experiences share a common thread: purpose.

Purpose may well be the most powerful motivator you encounter in your lifetime. It is the foundation of humanity's greatest achievements. What has ever been created without a clear purpose driving its development?

However, as crucial as purpose is, it can be elusive. Many people spend their entire lives searching for it. Purpose has been the subject of countless discussions and debates, explored by philosophers, religious leaders, and individuals for millennia.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PURPOSE

As you will soon discover, purpose is an incredibly powerful force. Without purpose, you may lose your drive, ambition, sense of accomplishment, and even your connection to the world. With purpose, however, there is nothing to hold you back!

Exploring the concept of purpose is an exhilarating journey. But before we can identify our own purpose and learn to harness its power, we must first grasp the fundamentals. We must start by defining what purpose truly means.

WHAT IS PURPOSE?

What exactly does purpose entail? For some, it represents a driving force. For others, it serves as a roadmap to guide them on their journey towards their goals.

According to the dictionary, purpose is defined as "the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists." This may seem daunting, as if there is only one answer to the question, "Why am I here?"

Fortunately, purpose is not as straightforward as it may appear. In fact, it can be argued that our purpose evolves throughout our lifetime. Why? Because we never stop growing and changing, and it only makes sense that our purpose would grow and change with us.

Nevertheless, having a reason to get up in the morning is crucial. Without it, we might keep hitting the snooze button until noon if we could. We all require motivation in our lives, and purpose is where that motivation begins.

Purpose is living your life by design, in a way that inspires joy. Purpose, as defined here, is not so much about the meaning of life, but rather the meaning you give to life.

HOW DOES PURPOSE BENEFIT US?

There are numerous advantages to discovering your purpose, and it's difficult to list them all because purpose is unique to each individual. What you gain from it can be a deeply personal experience. This is because purpose satisfies our individual needs, which vary from person to person.

However, there are some universal truths about purpose that are worth mentioning, as well as some thoughts on how purpose fulfills these needs.

Purpose Provides Direction

With purpose, you already have a set of guidelines for where you want to go with your life. By following these guidelines, you have a clear sense of direction. This makes decision-making much easier, as it's simply a matter of staying true to your purpose. It's no wonder your direction will feel very clear when you're filled with purpose.

Purpose Allows You to Explore Your Passions

Passion is at the heart of all purpose. It's the first place you look when you want to create a purpose. In fact, you form your purpose from what excites you. By turning your passion into a purpose, you open yourself up to enjoying what you love most.

Purpose Provides Motivation

When you have a strong sense of purpose, it's hard not to feel enthusiastic. Because you have a clear direction and are doing what you love, every day begins with excitement and energy. Knowing that you're about to spend the day doing what you love is a powerful motivator.

Purpose Promotes Better Health

Your heart will thank you for how purpose removes the stress from your decision-making and makes your days exciting. Without worrying about the next steps or feeling stuck in a rut, you'll experience a calmer and more peaceful life. This, in turn, helps you sleep better and even affects how you cope with chronic pain, with your body functioning better and even healing. Purpose benefits your whole body.

Purpose Keeps Your Mind Active

When you have a purpose, you have things to think about and work towards

Discovering your purpose may seem daunting, but it's actually a simple process that begins with a deep exploration of who you are. To get started, you'll need to commit to spending time getting to know yourself by looking at your strengths, how you spend your time, and what creates strong emotions in you. Here are some steps and tips that can help you identify your purpose.

PREPARING YOURSELF

To prepare for the process of discovering your purpose, it's essential to start with an open mind, a willingness to look at yourself honestly, and an environment free of distractions. You should also have a way to record your thoughts, such as a journal, laptop, or voice recorder. Another helpful tool to consider is the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which involves determining what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

ANSWERING QUESTIONS

To discover your purpose, it's important to answer questions honestly and without overthinking. You may not have an immediate answer to every question, so feel free to skip over them and come back later. Here are some questions to consider:

Do you believe you have a purpose?

It's important to answer this question first, as your mindset can affect your ability to identify your purpose.

When you hear the word "purpose," what is your first thought?

This question can reveal any ideas you may already have about your purpose.

What are you good at?

Your strengths can point to areas of interest that could be a part of your purpose.

What do you like talking about?

Passionate discussions can help you identify what topics you care about most and may be a part of your purpose.

What unique experience do you have to offer?

Difficult experiences can provide valuable lessons and insights that may be helpful to others.

What are your best characteristics?

Positive traits can be an indicator of how you can best contribute to the world.

What are your current goals?

Your goals can help you identify what's important to you and what you hope to achieve.

What do you find inspirational?

Inspiration can help point you towards activities and topics that align with your purpose.

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude can reveal what's most important to you and what you value in life.

What path do you wish you'd never gone down?

Negative experiences can help you determine what you don't want in your life and may point you towards what you do want.

What would you change in the world if you could?

Desires for change can be a strong indicator of what you care about and may be a part of your purpose.

What does your obituary say?

Imagining your legacy can help you identify what you hope to achieve in your lifetime.

By answering these questions honestly and thoughtfully, you can gain insight into what drives you and what your purpose may be.

LEARNING FROM YOUR ANSWERS

As you review your answers to the previous questions, you will gain insight into your passions, skills, experiences, and values. Look for patterns or common themes among your answers. Take your time to reflect on your responses and consider how they relate to your overall purpose in life.

Questions 1 and 2

These questions address whether or not you already have a sense of your purpose. If you do, keep it in mind as you continue to review your other answers. If not, it's important to be open to the possibility of discovering a purpose.

Questions 3, 4, and 8

These questions explore the things you love and enjoy. Look for common factors among your answers to see what you are truly passionate about.

Questions 3, 5, and 6

These questions focus on your unique skills and talents. Reflect on your responses to identify what you excel at and enjoy doing.

Questions 5, 9, 10, and 11

These questions examine your experiences and personal needs, as well as social issues that matter to you. Think about how you can use these experiences to help others and make a positive impact in the world.

Question 7

Your goals and aspirations can provide guidance and direction for your purpose. Think about why these goals are important to you and how they align with your values and passions.

Question 12

Reflecting on what you want to be remembered for can help you clarify your purpose and make decisions about how to spend your time and energy.

If your answers to the four Ikigai questions (What do you love? What are you good at? What does the world need? What can you be paid for?) do not intersect, try to think creatively and explore how different aspects of your answers can be combined to create a purpose.

Ultimately, finding your purpose is a personal journey that requires time, reflection, and self-discovery. If you still need help, consider answering additional questions or seeking the advice of a trusted friend or mentor

Explore Further

By now, you should have a basic idea of what your purpose might be, or at least a direction to explore. The questions in this section will help you delve deeper into your purpose and gain a better understanding of it. You don't have to answer all the questions, just focus on the ones that resonate with you and see where they take you.

Who Would You Become With a Purpose?

With a purpose, you cannot remain the same person you are now. This might be daunting, as you haven't met the person you're about to become. But it's also an exciting prospect worth exploring. Take some time to visualize your future self. How does this vision make you feel? What do you look forward to about being this person? This glimpse of your future self can be used to work backward towards the purpose that leads you to become that person.

What is the Code You Live By?

We all have our own set of values, and our purpose should reflect those values. Write about what matters to you and add in the lines you will not cross. You need to know what you value and what you want to avoid.

What Really Impressed You Lately?

What have you read, seen, or heard that captured your interest or you couldn't put down? Write down what you found interesting and make a note of those things you wanted to explore further. If you went so far as to dig into something that interested you just to get more information, you might have found a component of your purpose.

What is the First Thing You Visualize When You Hear the Word "Success"?

We all have our own definitions of success. Describe your idea of success in detail. When you're done, look critically at your answer. Sometimes, our definition of success is not truly our own, but rather something that has been ingrained in us by others. What is important is to correct your answer and make it your own. What is YOUR definition of success?

What Would Your Friends Say?

Ask those closest to you what they think your purpose might be. When you're done, write down their answer and consider why they felt that might be your purpose. Were they right, or did they miss the mark? Is it possible they see something you don't?

What Would You Like to Try?

List things you might want to try as a purpose to see how they feel to you. Take note of your experiences, including what you liked or disliked about each. What did you find unexpected? Which ones require more research before you try them again? Which ones were you drawn to the most, and why?

What Do People Think You're an Expert At?

Consider what people come to you for when they need help. What do you know inside and out?

What's Your TED Talk?

If you had to give a speech on a topic you know better than anyone else, what would it be?

When You Were a Kid, What Did You Love to Do More Than Anything Else?

Think about your favorite activities growing up. How did they make you feel? How might you pursue those dreams or activities as an adult?

If You Knew You Were Dying, What Would You Want to Get Done?

This question might be difficult, but it's effective. What would become important to you? How do you want to spend your last few weeks, months, or year?

Look for Patterns

After answering these questions, look for patterns in your answers. What do you keep coming back to? What do you think about most as you step away from this process? Which questions got under your skin? Why?

Take a Break

If you're still unsure about your purpose, take a break. And then, start again.