Life With Purpose: How To Find Life's Meaning
Ready to escape the rut? Discover how to infuse your daily life with purpose and find your true calling in this guide.
Let's be honest: finding purpose in life isn't as easy as ordering your favorite coffee from that trendy shop downtown.
Most people spend their lives dodging the big question: "What is the purpose of my life?" Well, good news, you're not alone.
In this post, we will break down what it means to live a purposeful life, why it matters, and how to get there without losing your mind.
What Does It Mean to Live a Life with Purpose?
Living a life with purpose means you aren't just existing, you're thriving. Purpose is not just about career goals or reaching the "dream job." It’s about aligning your life with the important things that make you feel alive.
Whether it's raising a family, volunteering at a nonprofit organization, or pursuing your passion for baking pastries that make people’s lives sweeter, a life with purpose is one filled with meaning.
Some people find their true calling early on - like those high school seniors who know they want to be brain surgeons.
Others, like most of us, stumble around for a long time trying different things until something clicks. The good news is there is no "one-size-fits-all."
Purpose can come from different sources and show up in different ways. Even historical figures went through plenty of self-reflection before finding their unique purpose.
Why Is It Important to Have a Life with Purpose?
Why bother having a life with purpose, you ask? Well, having a strong purpose isn’t just a good thing, it’s the right thing for a happy life.
Recent research shows that people with a clear sense of purpose enjoy a better place mentally and physically.
You might even get an added benefit like better sleep, reduced stress, and fewer chances of heart attacks. Yes, a life of purpose could potentially save you from ending up in the ER.
Besides, having a driving force gives you a sense of direction, which makes getting out of bed less of a chore and more of an adventure. You feel a greater sense of control over your own gifts and decisions.
Purpose also motivates you to make a positive impact, leading to high levels of true happiness. Trust me, adding some positive emotions to your daily life is a great way to keep moving forward.
How to Find or Create Your Life Purpose
Finding purpose isn't like downloading a purposeful app that tells you your purpose in 30 seconds - although I'm working on making one.
It takes time, effort, and more than a few moments of staring at the ceiling wondering what you’re doing with your life. Here are some steps to get started:
Self-Reflection Techniques
This is where we pull out the journal, light the fancy candle, and do some deep self-reflection.
Ask yourself: What am I passionate about? What gets me in the zone where I lose track of time? Answering these questions might help uncover a few hidden gems.
Identify Core Values
Core values are like your life compass. They help you know when you're heading in the right direction and when you’re just getting lost.
It’s about understanding what’s truly important: creativity, compassion, helping older adults, or advocating for racial justice. Once you know your values, making life decisions becomes much easier.
Follow Your Passions and Curiosities
If you love painting, start painting. If you feel drawn to nonprofit organizations, sign up for volunteering. Following your curiosities is a great way to discover meaningful goals that can shape your life's purpose.
Just remember, the first step is always to try new things and step out of that comfort zone. You never know where it might lead.
Take Small Steps Towards Exploration
You don’t have to change your entire professional life overnight to find purpose. Start small. Volunteer on weekends. Take up a new skill, like knitting or public speaking.
The point is to try new experiences, meet new people, and keep growing.
Using Life Challenges to Define Purpose
Ever faced personal loss or failure? It sucks, but it also shapes you. Some of the most purpose-driven people I know found meaning through adversity.
Challenges bring clarity. They help you understand what truly matters and how you can use your own gifts to make the world a better place.
Overcoming Common Obstacles in Finding Purpose
Fear of Failure
Fear of failure is an easy answer to why most of us don’t pursue our dreams. But here’s the thing: failure isn’t the end, it’s just feedback.
The only way to build a stronger sense of purpose is to fail, learn, and keep moving. Trust me, it’s much better than staying stuck.
Pressure to Conform
Societal expectations, the comforting voice that tells you to stay in your comfort zone and watch more TV.
Unfortunately, doing what everyone else thinks is right rarely leads to fulfillment. Resist the pressure to conform and focus on what feels right for your true self.
Uncertainty and Anxiety
Yes, finding purpose can be anxiety-inducing. There are no guarantees. But a purposeful life doesn’t come from sitting idle; it comes from taking action despite the anxiety.
If you need help, there are coaches - like me - or support groups who can guide you on different paths.
Sustaining a Life with Purpose
Daily Practices to Stay Aligned with Purpose
Living a life of purpose is like maintaining a healthy life: it requires daily attention. Setting intentions in the present moment, practicing gratitude, and checking in with yourself regularly are good ways to stay on track.
Think of it as less TV and more purposeful app time.
The Role of Relationships
You know what helps sustain a purposeful life? Having relationships with like-minded people who uplift you.
Whether it’s your best friend, a supportive community, or that random barista who gives you great advice at the coffee shop, surround yourself with positive influences who push you towards becoming your best self.
Adaptability
Purpose changes - and that’s perfectly fine. What drives you at 25 might not be the same when you’re 50.
Be open to letting your purpose evolve as you grow and go through different experiences. Adaptability is key to staying true to your unique purpose.
What is a Life Without Purpose?
A life without purpose is a life without a clear life purpose statement or a sense of direction.
Young people, especially, can find themselves struggling for a period of time, unsure about the real purpose behind their daily life.
Without a strong sense of purpose, the routine can feel repetitive and dull. People miss out on fulfilling their deepest human needs and don’t find the motivation for positive change.
For many, the absence of true purpose leaves them feeling disconnected from the bigger picture. They are merely surviving rather than thriving, lacking a driving force or meaningful goals to chase.
There’s no guiding life purpose or personal vision statement giving meaning to their actions. The real challenge of a life without purpose is the feeling of stagnation.
In examples of life purpose, we see the power of having a purpose in people’s lives. Whether it’s working to end domestic violence, supporting racial justice, or helping others through altruistic behaviors.
Without these motivations, we lose the opportunity to use our personal strengths for the greater good.
During these purposeless periods, young people and older adults alike can become vulnerable to feelings of anxiety or depression.
Without a sense of control and positive direction, it’s easy to feel lost. However, there are complimentary access opportunities like life coaching or programs at Claremont Graduate University that can help you find that greater sense of purpose.
To move away from a purposeless existence, it’s important to ask the following questions:
What is the purpose of life for me personally?
What brings me a stronger sense of purpose?
Answering these questions can help anyone, from coaching clients to high school seniors, find new skills and personal approaches to life that provide a real purpose.
Taking action to discover your true calling doesn’t have to be grand. Engaging in different exercises, seeking new experiences, and developing a self-transcending purpose are some of the best ways to discover what drives you.
Whether it’s through helping others, developing a personal vision statement, or focusing on personal values, finding purpose is about the journey.
And that journey is full of possibilities and personal growth that can transform your current life into one with meaning and fulfilment.
Imagine waking up each day, going through the motions, and feeling like your daily life has no real meaning.
A life without purpose can often feel like a repetitive cycle, where every day seems the same and there is no deeper satisfaction beyond simply surviving.
Without a strong sense of purpose, many people experience a lack of direction. There's no driving force pushing them towards something bigger, no meaningful goals giving them a reason to grow.
A life without purpose lacks a clear vision, which often leads to boredom, stress, or even feelings of anxiety.
Instead of feeling like the author of their own story, people may feel like passive observers, unable to make any positive change or meaningful impact.
My Philosophy oN Life Purpose
Here's my philosophy: life, by default, is pretty meaningless. We are just specks on a floating rock in space. But that’s what makes it so incredible.
We have the luxury to create our own meaning. We can choose to live for our passions, our family, the greater good, or just to leave the world a better place than we found it. And that’s the special gift - we get to choose.
For me, purpose isn’t about grand gestures or some ultimate goal. It’s about doing the small, meaningful things that bring me joy and help others.
Finding purpose is like writing your own story. You get to decide what matters, and you get to rewrite it whenever you want. That, my friends, is the blessing of choice.
I've had a coaching client or two struggle in this area, but the good news is that there is no right or wrong. There's only what you want and what you will do.
Something To Think About
So, what now? Are you ready to take that first step towards a more meaningful life? Remember, finding your purpose isn’t something you do once and forget about.
It’s a journey that involves personal growth, reflection, and sometimes a little chaos. It’s about trying new experiences, failing, learning, and getting back up.
Whether you’re a high school senior trying to figure out what’s next or an older adult exploring a new chapter, the quest for purpose is a life-long adventure.
In the end, life’s purpose is about finding what drives you, what makes you feel alive, and what helps you leave a positive impact. There’s no easy answer, but hey, wouldn’t life be boring if there were?
Now go out there and start writing your story. After all, you have the freedom of choice.
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