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How to Find Your Life Purpose

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In a recent article, Creating a Purpose Driven Life, I divulged many details of how I came to find the profession I fit best. While there still is struggle even within that profession, I have also learned that the most important thing is that I have discovered what it is that motivates me to go to work every day.

However, that article did not really cover specific steps you can take in order to find your own life purpose, and this is precisely what will be covered in this article. If you think that you have everything in life, but that something seems to be missing, be sure to review that article to learn good reasons that you might want to make a drastic career change. Another interesting point about finding your life purpose is that it can create a massive amount of positive change for other people (see ASN’s Changing the World by Treating Anxiety to learn how anxiety sufferers could single-handedly rescue Haiti from disaster, for example).

Here are the steps that you can take in order to help you find your life purpose:

  1. Figure out what it is that you do not like doing. Based on your current experiences in life, think about past jobs that did not work out. Ask yourself why these jobs did not work out, and make a list of the things that bothered you.
  2. After you have eliminated what it is that you cannot do, then you have a beginning idea of what it is that you might like to do. Think about those past jobs that were tolerable or worse, but this time, write down everything that you liked about those jobs. No job is 100% terrible, and at every job you can be sure that you will find at least some parts that you enjoyed.
  3. Now that you know what you did like, think about possible professions that would fit the things you liked. Keep in mind that right now, you should only worry about finding the professions. If you are tempted to say, “Oh, there’s no way I could do this profession because it would force me to go back to school, and it’s too late for that.” When you are in any industry, you will discover there are many ways to perform the same job functions that require years of school without going to school at all! Anything is possible.
  4. Keep writing your list for a few minutes, just relaxing and getting into the flow of the exercise. You may find yourself starting to write down things that surprised you! After a few minutes or so, you will notice that you have written down things that really struck you. At this moment, you are not quite sure why you were struck by these professions, but for some reason they stick out at you.
  5. These things that struck you are all very likely good candidates for fulfilling your future life purpose. Contemplate the things that have really struck you for a few minutes. Does one invoke a very intense level of emotion, a level so intense that you are not quite sure if you have ever experienced emotion like that before? If so, this is your life purpose.
  6. If, after careful consideration, none of these items that really struck you aroused an intense level of emotion, venture out into the world and gain more experience. Volunteer at a local organization that seems interesting for a couple hours per week. If it seems very motivating and you look forward to going there, you may have found your life purpose. If it is very disinteresting and mediocre, move on to another position that does seem interesting.
  7. Attend conferences, free public speakers, or watch successful people on TV. If you are particularly fired up when you are engaging in one of these experiences, or if you really look up highly to one of the people at these sessions, do some research and figure out how they got to where they are. It is very likely that if you look up to someone highly, then you would enjoy engaging in a profession similar to theirs. Overall, I am a fan of making lists and systematical routines in order to accomplish my own goals, and I encourage people who are trying to find their life purpose to do the same. However, lists and routines only go so far. The other part of the equation is experience. If you have not find your life purpose and are intending to do so, you will find it as long as you keep trying; or, it might find you. When you experience that intense passion, you will certainly know it, and then you will know your life purpose.

Life does not suddenly became easy and joyful once you have found your life purpose, but finding it does add an incredible level of joy to your life. And, for us anxiety sufferers, it reduces a ton of anxiety and enhances our feelings of confidence, relaxation, and fulfillment! If you would like help finding your life purpose, I am certainly more than willing to help you. Contact me now to set up a free 30 minute consultation – please check out the life coaching page if you would like further details!



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