What is my life purpose?

For the fun of it, I Googled “Find My Purpose” this morning and the search resulted in 353 million results! Clearly a lot of people have something to say about this topic. With all of the information available, both anecdotal and empirical, why is it that so many people seem to struggle with this question?

I suspect that part of the problem is the concept of “life purpose” itself. Life purpose is perceived differently by different people. Often times, people seem to have very grandiose ideas of purpose which is what can make their true purpose more difficult to see. We live in a society that has very specific ideas about which pursuits are meaningful and which are of value. This dynamic puts a lot of pressure on us to “find” a really good life purpose, as if it is something that requires sleuthing and active pursuit.

I think we can start with the premise that not all of us were placed on this planet to find the cure for cancer or to eradicate world hunger. A pretty obvious declaration, right? That certainly makes me feel better! Maybe this next statement will help you to feel even better too. Our purpose is within us and isn’t necessarily about doing at all. You get to uncover your purpose by living authentically; from your place of truth.

Some of the questions I have found most helpful on this journey of discovery are:

What do you wake up wanting to do each day?

If you could only do one thing today, what would it be?

What makes you happy and leaves you feeling fulfilled?

What are you truly good at?

What matters most to you?

When you are not “controlling” your life, where do your mind and body take you?

We are all on this journey of discovery; finding and living our life’s purpose. Don’t worry if someone seems to have greater knowledge or awareness of their purpose. It’s their journey, not yours. By paying attention and living a conscious and intentional life, your life’s purpose will organically unfold before you. Keep watching. The discovery will amaze you!