8 Ways to Find Your Purpose
People should be looking not for their “purpose,” but rather for what they are passionate about or what they truly value in life
Many people ask themselves this question, and the answer often eludes them. The problem is that they’re asking the wrong question. They should be looking not for their “purpose,” but rather for what they are passionate about or what they truly value in life. Once you find these things, then your purpose becomes clear — it’s just a matter of figuring out how to best express it.
1) Be Creative
Creativity expert Tony Buzan says that if you want to become creative, “you have to use all parts of your brain.” That means separating creation from evaluation so that you can come up with lots of ideas first before picking apart which ones are good or bad. To do this, try starting with a big problem you want to solve and then work backward from there.
2) Reflect on Your Values
Open up your journal and write down what matters to you in life — and be thorough! If it’s relationships, family, or just hoping that the next day will be better than the previous one, jot it down. What do you value in any given situation? Writing down your values will help you see what really matters to you and how different aspects of life connect to each other.
3) Read Books that Inspire You
Do you have a book that’s always made you excited about life and kept you going? Use that as a way to discover what you’re passionate about. When you find a book that makes your heart race, think about why it has this effect on you and how it changes your perception of the world.
4) Explore New Places
What inspires you? Is it mountains or seaside views? Maybe it’s the hustle and bustle of a city or perhaps there is something about that small town that makes you feel at home. Many creatives find inspiration in nature, so why not live as close to it as possible?
5) Volunteer for Something You Believe In
Sense of community and making a difference are both things that give life meaning. Volunteering helps you find people who believe in the same causes as you and can make a difference together. Go out to lunch with other volunteers every now and again to remind yourself of why you’re working so hard!
6) Look Into Different Faiths
Some religions provide great guidance for how we should live our lives and what we should be doing with our time here on Earth. Look into different faiths and see what makes you feel inspired and connected to the world at large. Beliefs that may seem foreign can often resonate strongly with you as well, so don’t write things off just because they’re not common.
7) Exercise
Exercise is a great way of releasing stress and getting in touch with your body. It can also help you become more aware of how you use your time, as well as give you a greater sense of discipline and ambition. The runner’s high is a real thing, so sign up for a race or challenge yourself to go for a certain distance every day!
8) Turn Off Your Phone
Finally, just disconnect every once in a while — go outside and take in the sounds of nature or go to an art gallery that you’ve always wanted to visit. Try out different activities to see what makes you truly happy, because that’s where your purpose will be found.
What is your purpose? It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, but rather that you find something that makes you feel passionate and alive. This might be reading books or reflecting on values, volunteering to make a difference in the world we live in, exploring new places with fresh eyes, turning off your phone, and spending time outside — or any number of other things!
The first step is always identifying what truly matters to you so that when it’s time to start making decisions about where to go from here, they’ll be easy ones.
