Determining our purpose in life can be one of the most complex questions we must answer. In this article, we will be going through a step-by-step process, exploring your feelings and options. By the end, you should have a reliable tool you can immediately employ in your life to help give it a meaningful direction!
There are three steps to the process of discovering the purpose of your life:
Understanding the principle of choice
Creating your “underlying principle.”
Aligning your life with this underlying principle
Understanding The Principle of Choice
Norman Vincent Peale has this to say about the power of choice. “The greatest power we have is the power of choice. It is a fact that if you have been groping under unhappiness, you can choose to be joyous instead. And, by effort, lift yourself into joy. If you tend to be fearful, you can overcome that misery by choosing to have courage. The choices made by you determine the whole trend and the quality of anyone’s life”.
“Choosing” is an important activity of your mind because you proclaim your desires to your subconscious mind by making a choice. Once the subconscious mind knows your desires, it will do anything to manifest them in your life. The choices you make in your life become your goal. And, if you are sincere in pursuing them, there is no reason you should not accomplish them.
On the other hand, indecision creates frustration and anxiety and can also confuse the subconscious mind about what you want. But it would help if you made the choices, you produce according to your true desires, purposes, and aptitude. Many of us let others make choices for us or make our choices according to what we think is ‘correct,’ even if that means that we go against our wishes. What is suitable for someone else may not be right for you, and the way to know this is by listening to what your heart says.
So, to begin with, make a list of things that interest you; items you have always enjoyed, which make you feel better, which inspire you to surge ahead, no matter what obstacles you face. Do you like doing something creative or something artistic? Do you enjoy nature? Do you like the sea? Do you enjoy helping others? Do you get pleasure out of making a difference in other people’s lives?
Whatever it is that interests you, write it down and answer these questions:
● What thing do you love to do?
● What is it that you love in this thing and why?
● How could you do this for money and make a living out of it?
Creating Your Underlying Principle
The next step is to examine the list you just made and find out any recurring theme. Maybe, it is the contribution that keeps coming up, or an effect to seek or give love, or to help your parents cope with old age. Whatever it is, try to identify the central theme of the things you love to do and put it in a short and precise statement. This will be your ‘Mission Statement.’ It may even be a quote by a famous person or a philosophy that has influenced you. Of course, as you grow up, this statement could evolve, but its soul will remain the same. Now, write down your Mission Statement.
Aligning Your LIFE With Your Underlying Principle
The final step in this journey is to map your path to your ultimate purpose and begin implementing changes that help align your daily life with your underlying goal. By making these minor changes in your lifestyle, you will start living this principle out every day. It might take a few days, but by becoming aware and intentional of this underlying principle of your life, you will undoubtedly start to feel the difference in your enthusiasm for life as a whole. If you realize that you love being amidst nature, plan out your holiday. Maybe an outing with your children could be enough to recoup your energy. If you discover that you enjoy helping those in need, start to look for opportunities to volunteer in your community. On the other hand, you might even want to change your job or create a new business that is more in line with your mission.
So, there you have it! By following along with the steps outlined above, you will be on your way to finding and living out your purpose. And, as you go through this process, remember, “You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it courageously.” - Steve Maraboli