Developing a Sense of Purpose

I RECEIVED an email that hit close to home when a reader asked me, “How do I develop a sense of purpose?” I feel this is one many can relate to, as sometimes, when our passions are challenged or our hard work bears no fruit, we feel hopeless and question everything we thought we knew. It’s disheartening but there is a way we can keep our head up, push forward and find a true purpose.

A sense of purpose is what you strongly believe in, your driving force, motivation, and guiding light, which guides you to what brings you joy in life and what you think you should be giving to the world. It’s your “why”?
Finding purpose in life is one of those things that most people want and look for, and yes, at times, it can be challenging but, like everything else, not impossible to attain. If you haven’t spent much time thinking about your own purpose, it may be due to preconceived ideas that stem from your childhood. Such as “the purpose in life is to get married and have children” or “simply get a well-paying job and provide for my family”. While those are perfectly fine, these don’t often bring the true kind of fulfilment that comes with finding a deeper and a personalised sense of purpose.

When we have the ultimate and timely challenges that life seems to always have to offer, it’s our purpose that brings us back on track with a sense of direction; it’s the long game, not a short-term goal. In an ideal situation, your purpose aligns with what brings you genuine joy. It’s a concept derived from Japan known as Ikigai, where what you love overlaps with what the world needs, and you can make a living off of it. If you are one of the lucky ones, you may have found it through work or a hobby. For example, you feel your true purpose is to help people, and you were able to become a doctor, or your true purpose was to travel, and you were able to excel in a sport which allowed you to do so.

For others, it may not be so easy, and between our work and everyday responsibilities and road bumps, we tend to abandon or fail to even identify our true purpose. I’m going to give some tips on how to do this because it allows for a much more satisfactory life.

You can start with an evaluation or a re-evaluation of your life. Do you currently have a sense of purpose? Did you have one previously? Think about your past or desired achievements and how they make you feel. Do you feel as though your purpose aligns with your life choices? If the answer to the question is yes, your sense of purpose is perfectly fine. You need some inside or outside motivation to put it into practical implementation. It would also be beneficial to constantly remind yourself of your previous benefits of having a clear sense of purpose.

If your answer is no, we have some work to do.
You can begin here by exploring your passions- take a second and do some self-reflection. Use the five Whys during your self-inventory – who, where, what, when and why? They play a significant and effective role in discovering your sense of purpose. What are you good at? What brings you joy? Why are you happy when you are, and why are you sad when you are? What is a cause that you’ve always wanted to fight for? Any injustices that upset you? If you had a magic wand and could change anything about the world with one wave, what would it be? Explore all possible passions and interests as these can be a good indicator of your true purpose.

If you have identified at least a few, join a cause that reflects your passion. This could be any charity or organisation that aids in what you want to aid in or fights in what you want to fight. This also ties to volunteering and giving back to the community. Sometimes, you find your purpose just by doing this, by seeing even the smallest injustice in a community that you can become a part of.

Recognise and acknowledge your strengths and talents. This is not a time to be self-deprecating as everyone is good at something. Take a second and imagine your best possible self? What does that look like to you? What are you thinking, feeling or doing? If this self-reflection is difficult for you, seek feedback from those around you- not just anyone; those who you trust, who know you well and who inspire you. These people may be able to provide some insight, as many of us have issues when it comes to seeing the good in ourselves. You can simply ask them what they believe you are good at or what comes to their mind when they think of you. Spend more time with them and simply pay attention to the compliments they pay you.

Read more fiction. It sounds counter-productive, but research shows that fictional books improve not only creative and critical thinking but also empathy. As you put yourself in the shoes of a character, you imagine how you would react in that situation which could be across time, place, and culture.

Develop and maintain a growth mindset. This means just simply being dedicated, every day, to becoming a better version of yourself. These aren’t the big things but the little everyday things that you may want to change. For example, are you typically a few minutes late but prefer to always be on time etc.? Consistent self-growth helps you identify your purpose and commit to pursuing it.

Turn any pain you have into purpose. This is easier said than done, yes, but there are so many examples of how possible this is. We all go through tremendous struggles at times, and the lucky ones do overcome them. Many of these people find their purpose by helping those through similar situations. I know a wonderful woman who lost a child to a drunk driver and then started a campaign which brought seatbelt laws, traffic lights and harsher drink driving penalties to Guyana. I know a woman who had experienced severe domestic violence and dedicated her life to an organisation which helps women every day. These individuals didn’t find their purpose through a life of happiness but rather by transforming their perspective in the face of suffering and tragedy.

Finding your purpose does not have to be hard and it does not have to be a full-time job or consume your life. You might find your career gives you the ability to donate- money or time- to help a cause you feel passionate about. Either way, I hope you all do attempt to identify and honour your purpose as it brings so much joy and life satisfaction, perspective, prioritisation, morals and values, and so much more

Thank you for reading. Please continue to send suggested topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com

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