Have you ever questioned the life you have built for yourself? Wondered what your purpose was and if you were living it? In a world where countless problems are waiting to be solved, there isn’t a limit on what you could do to make a difference.
Passion has no cap if you want to pursue it. The problem is that your purpose seems to be hiding just out of sight.
There are a ton of reasons why you may not know what your purpose is. Sometimes it’s the way we were raised – you finish high school, you pick a major at college that will lead to a stable job, you find a partner, you settle down, and you have a family.
A lot of people do that and then realize that it doesn’t fit. Their job may be stable, it may pay well, but it’s not their purpose. It might be that the problems of the world just seem too great or that you’re too small.
You may be fatigued by life and find it difficult to muster up the energy to fight. None of that matters right now, though. What matters is that you find your purpose and we can help you.
1. Captivating
Take a look at your Pinterest, your wish list, the blogs and pages that you follow. What are you reading right now? What is leaving you enraged or bringing you excitement? If you were going to write an article or op-ed, what would it be about and why? This can help give you an idea of what matters to you and what you’re truly passionate about.
2. Past Interests
Draw from your past – are there interests that you used to hold that you have lost? Do you still have an interest in them and you just don’t have the time? You may be able to draw inspiration from past interests to determine what your purpose is now.
3. Journal It
Grab yourself a pen and paper and let everything flow out of you. Write out 50 numbers and start filling it with your calling and what it could be. Don’t think about it, don’t edit it, don’t stop yourself from writing until all 50 numbers have something next to them.
4. Values
Your values guide everything that you do, so why wouldn’t you take them into consideration when you think about your purpose? Your purpose can’t be in contradiction to your core values. So, with every potential purpose, ask yourself whether it will honor your core values.
5. Advice
Don’t be afraid to reach out to the people who know you best. Whether it’s to gain their input into potential purposes or to see if your thoughts make sense.
6. Vision Board
It’s something that we often associate with teenagers, but it’s never too late to build yourself a vision board. You can do it manually or use an online tool to do it. Regardless of the avenue take, finding images that speak to you and creating a vision board will help you create a clearer picture of what you want from your life. Once you finish you can stand back and see a pattern. You might just be surprised by how much you can learn about yourself.
It’s time we stopped taking life so seriously and started viewing it for the adventure that it can be. Live a curious life, push yourself to travel and see other cultures. Don’t be afraid to push yourself to determine what your purpose in life truly is.
Ask yourself what inspires you or brings you joy. Is there something that gives you chills, makes your heart beat faster or lights your eyes like nothing else? We all have a purpose and life without living that isn’t any life at all.
– Scott Blessing