Tag Living for a Purpose

Finding Your Purpose in Life

Steve Keating 2 Comments

I’ve always believed that the best lived lives were those that were lived on purpose for a purpose. The challenge with that of course is that most people can’t tell you with any specificity what their purpose in life is.

That causes them to live a somewhat “reactive” life. A life lived helping other people achieve their purpose. That’s not necessarily bad, it’s just not as fulfilling as living YOUR life for YOUR purpose.

But finding your purpose in life is a deeply personal and introspective journey. Other people can help you find your purpose but no one can or should tell you what your purpose in life is. If you’re interested in living a more purpose driven life this post might help. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, here are some general steps that can you discover how you can make the most of your time on this earth.

• Self-reflection: Take time to reflect on your values, passions, and interests. What activities make you lose track of time? What issues or causes resonate with you? Understanding yourself is the first step to discovering your purpose.

• Identify your strengths: Consider your skills, talents, and strengths. What are you naturally good at? What activities bring out the best in you? Aligning your purpose with your strengths can lead to a more fulfilling and sustainable path.

• Explore new things: Be open to new experiences. Trying different activities, hobbies, or volunteering can expose you to new ideas and perspectives. Sometimes, your purpose emerges through unexpected avenues.

• Set goals: Define short-term and long-term goals for yourself. These goals should align with your values and interests. Working towards meaningful objectives can provide a sense of direction and purpose.

• Learn from experiences: Reflect on past experiences, both positive and negative. What did you enjoy or dislike about certain situations? What did you learn from challenges? Your life experiences can offer valuable insights into what truly matters to you.

• Seek inspiration: Read books, watch documentaries, or listen to talks that inspire you. Learning about the experiences of others who have found their purpose can provide guidance and motivation.

• Connect with others: Engage in conversations with people who share similar interests or are on a similar journey. Networking and building relationships can offer support and different perspectives on life’s purpose.

• Consider your impact: Reflect on the impact you want to have on the world. How do you want to contribute to society or make a difference in the lives of others? Thinking beyond personal satisfaction can add a greater sense of purpose.

• Embrace change: Be open to change and adaptation. Your purpose may evolve over time as you grow and learn more about yourself. Don’t be afraid to reassess and adjust your goals.

• Seek help if needed: If you find it challenging to navigate this journey on your own, consider seeking guidance from a life coach or mentor. They can provide valuable insights and support.

Finding your purpose is a continual process. It’s okay if it takes time, and your purpose may evolve as you go through different life stages. Stay patient, stay curious, and stay true to yourself.

Be the Very Best You

Steve Keating 1 Comment

You are more, way more, than good enough. There is no need to try to be something you’re not just because some fool may have told you at some point in your life that you weren’t good enough.

You are special. You are unique. You are the way you are for a purpose. If other people don’t know your purpose then that’s their problem. If you don’t know your purpose then that’s your problem…and it’s kind of a big one.

It’s a problem for you because not understanding your purpose will often prevent you from accomplishing it. Not knowing, and living, your purpose in life can also cause you to attempt to live a life you’re not meant to live. It can cause you to pretend to be something, or worse, someone you’re not.

This is a pretty big statement but I’m going to say it anyway: you are always better off being yourself then you are trying to be someone that somebody else thinks you should be. I do not believe it possible to be truly happy living solely for other people. I do not believe life-long happiness can come from chasing other people’s dream for you. No matter how well meaning their dreams for you might be.

To stop any temptation to try living out someone else’s idea of what your life should be you need to discover your purpose in life. That can be a life long journey and it can change over time. That’s okay. If whatever you’re doing today is on purpose and for a purpose then it doesn’t matter if that purpose is different from last year or next.

People discover their purpose in life in different ways. Some kind of stumble upon it and some are very intentional about finding it. Some people are living it and not even realizing it. But living it and not realizing it still makes it possible for someone else’s judgment about your life to knock you off the track of a purposeful life.

So I recommend the intentional route.

Try to discover what drives you. When I was a younger salesperson I loved chasing a deal. I especially loved earning the business of a customer who had previously said they would never buy from me. Sales kinda came naturally to me.

But what was even more fulfilling to me was helping other people chase down a deal that I believed they could get even when they didn’t. I don’t know why but I’ve always liked seeing other people succeed with my help, even if I didn’t get “credit” for it. I admit that hasn’t always served my career well but it has served my life well.

Discover what you’re willing to sacrifice to live a life of purpose. It sounds like a generality but if you’re not making any sacrifices to live a life of purpose then the life you’re living might not be all that purposeful.

Lots of people want to do things. But out of all those people it’s the ones willing to make a sacrifice to do them that will actually accomplish them. Most everyone you ask would say that they would like to make a difference in the world if only they could. But when asked what they would give up to make that difference too many lose interest pretty quickly. Those people will always struggle to live a purpose driven life.

When I think of living a purpose driven life I’m reminded of a poem I first heard years ago. Here it is: “Your task is to build a better world,” said God. I answered, “how? The world is such a large, vast place, so complicated now. And I, so small and helpless. There’s nothing I can do.” And God, in His great wisdom said, “just build a better you!”

One of the most effective ways to discover your purpose in life is to focus on building a better you. If you’re living the life that someone else wants you to live or if you’re pretending to be someone you’re not, the process of building a better you will stop that in its tracks.

Don’t try to be someone or something you’re not. Be the very best you that you can possibly be and you’ll have success and happiness all the days of your life.