Having a sense of purpose gives you the foundation for a healthy approach to life. When you know what you want to achieve and which path to take, you feel empowered. However, while some can quickly identify their purpose, many struggles to find answers as to ‘why are they here?’
You may wonder how to answer this question. Well, start with asking, “What is the purpose of my life?”, “How can I spend my time doing something productive?” Holocaust survivor and author Viktor Frankl wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”
Your sense of purpose is shaped by things you believe in and value. It enables you to focus your efforts on things that matter to you the most, compelling you to take risks and move forward, regardless of the odds and obstacles. According to Leah Weiss, author of the book How We Work: Live Your Purpose, Reclaim Your Sanity, and Embrace the Daily Grind, “To make the greatest impact at our jobs—and also feel the greatest satisfaction—we need to tap into work’s deeper meaning.”
However, many people find it hard to discover their purpose in life. The process requires plenty of self-reflection, listening to others, and finding where your passions lie. If you are struggling to uncover your purpose, here are some questions you need to ask yourself.
What are you willing to fight for?
This question will help you uncover where your passion lies. No matter what you do, you may encounter many trials and tribulations on your path. Thus, you need to ask yourself what price are you willing to pay? Or what struggles are you willing to tolerate? Ultimately, your ability to handle the rough patches and how you weather the storm when faced with tumultuous situations will determine how well you can pursue your goal. For example, if you want to be an entrepreneur but can’t handle stress and risks, then you are not going to make it far.
What keeps you awake at night?
Knowing what hinders you from accomplishing your goals instills a sense of self-awareness. Developing a better understanding of the factors that deter you from scaling new heights can help prepare you to face life’s ordeals. Moreover, you must introspect whether your decisions are driven by fear and anxiety, the archnemeses of success.
Ask yourself whether you blame your failures on external factors or are you willing to take ownership of your life and your decisions. You must take cognisance of the fact that every situation is a result of your own decisions, not someone else’s. Face your fears and let go of the negative thoughts that restrict you from achieving the true purpose of your life.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Most of us have no clue what we want to do with our lives. Even after we get a job and start earning money, we may still not be certain about what we wish to achieve in life. When you are stuck in an existential conundrum, ask yourself what you wish to accomplish in a decade. While you may not be able to come up with a concrete answer immediately, you might at least get a basic idea of what you want to pursue. More often than not, where you see yourself in a given timeline is not where you necessarily end up. But at least by that time, you will have developed new skills and strategies that can help you inch closer to what you want to achieve in life.
What are you willing to fight for? what keeps you awake at night? where do you see yourself in 10 years? what was your passion as a child? what makes you lose track of time? what problem do you want to solve in the world? and what career should you choose?
This question prompts you to identify causes or values that deeply resonate with you. Discovering what you’re passionate enough to fight for can provide insights into your core values and guide you toward a purpose that aligns with your beliefs.
Considering what keeps you awake at night highlights your concerns and desires. These worries and aspirations often offer clues to your purpose, pointing you toward areas where you can make a meaningful impact and find fulfilment.
Visualizing your future helps you set long-term goals and aspirations. Imagining where you want to be can guide your decisions and actions, allowing you to align your choices with a purposeful path that resonates with your aspirations.
Comments