From Success to Significance: 5 Excuse-Free Ways to Find Your Purpose and Make a Difference
It can be unsettling to feel like you have achieved success but still lack a sense of purpose. However, it is actually quite common for people to feel this way, especially if they have been focused on external markers of success such as career advancement or accumulating wealth.
So how can you find purpose? A couple obvious but essential points to cover first:
This won't be easy: I’m just going to let you know upfront that much like anything worth doing, finding your purpose is worth doing “right.” By right I do not mean in a single and specific, one-size-fits-all way. I mean the way that reveals itself to be right for you. Understanding the right way for you is going to take time. For most people, purpose is not revealed overnight. Purpose is found through internal and external exploration over time. It doesn’t have to take years, but I just want to be clear that it won’t happen overnight.
Minimize your barriers to entry: Purpose is one of those aspects of life that despite its simplicity can swallow us up in money spent on books, travel, education, profit models and more. Please know that, with the exception of money spent on direct guidance and support, finding your purpose is a free and individual experience because it starts and ends with, and inside, of you. Don’t let cost, timing, or resources be barriers to your pursuit of your purpose.
Write, write, and write some more: From the ancient Stoics to CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, great leaders and thinkers with a clear sense of purpose wrote their way into the history books. You can also think of writing as a way into your own soul. Even if you consider yourself to be a terrible writer - shoot, even if you are actually a terrible writer - writing as a private and introspective practice is invaluable to discovering purpose. Don’t be afraid to put pen to paper!
With those words of wisdom out of the way, here are five ways you can start finding your purpose today:
Reflect on your values and passions. What truly matters to you? What makes you feel most alive and fulfilled? What are peak moments in your life so far - who were you with, what were you doing, and how did you impact the world around you? These are clues to your purpose.
Consider your unique strengths and abilities. What are you naturally good at? Push yourself to make a list of 100 things you're great at! Don’t edit as you go, simply list your natural talents. If that’s making morning coffee, cool! If it’s helding world leaders plan for the future of their countries, awesome. There is no talent too small or large to exclude from your list, for now. Next, ask how can you use these strengths to make a positive impact on the world.
Think about the problems or issues that you care about. Is there a cause that you feel passionately about? Do you notice a persistent problem in your life or that of others that seems ripe for a solution? Notice why you care about this issue. How can you use your skills and resources to make a difference in this area?
Seek guidance from others. Talk to friends, family, mentors, a coach (especially this one), or a therapist about your feelings of purposelessness. They may have insights or suggestions that can help you find your way.
Take small steps towards your purpose. Once you have even a slight sense of what your purpose might be, it can be helpful to start taking small steps towards it. This can help you build momentum and gain confidence in your direction. Embrace an Experimenter’s mindset here - your steps do not need to be perfect, nor do they need to produce perfect outcomes, or any outcomes at all. Small steps offer you a feedback loop. They are how you create the space to reflect, decide, act, and repeat that process over time to know yourself and your purpose better.
It is important to remember that finding purpose is a journey, and it may take time and exploration to discover what truly gives your life meaning. Be patient with yourself and trust that the answers will come in due time.
Once you have found your purpose, it is important to continue to pursue it with passion and dedication. This may involve setting goals and creating a plan to achieve them. It may also require taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone. But the sense of fulfillment and meaning that comes from living in alignment with your purpose is well worth the effort.
Finally, don't forget to take care of yourself along the way. Purpose-driven living can be rewarding, but it can also be demanding. Make sure to prioritize self-care and balance in your life to ensure that you have the energy and well-being to sustain your journey towards purpose.
If you’re seeking support along your journey to discover purpose, let’s talk!