If you were to ask the majority of people what they want out of life, you’d probably hear things like happiness, job security, family, and friends. Most people would list off all the typical things they desire in life. But what if we took it a step further? What if instead of asking “What do you want out of life?” we asked instead “Why do you want that?” If you read that last sentence again, great! It means you’re engaging with this content and ensuring that you take away the most from these words. Why does it matter so much? Because when it comes to discovering your purpose in life, why matters more than what.
What is a purpose statement?
A purpose statement is your core reason for being. Just like a mission statement (a company’s core reason for being) is a declaration of what you are doing and why, a purpose statement is a declaration of who you are and why you are here. Your purpose statement is the lens through which you view the world. It’s the filter you use to decide what to say yes to and what to say no to. It’s what you think about when you wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night. It’s what you think about when you’re out shopping, at the gym, on your commute to work, and during all your free time. It’s what you think about when you’re making decisions and solving problems. A purpose statement is so much more than the goals you have set for yourself. It’s so much more than the things you want to achieve. Your purpose statement is your reason for being.
Why discovering your why is so important?
In the words of the legendary Jim Rohn, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” What that means is that you will become the person you surround yourself with. If you want to be successful, you need to be around successful people. If you want to be fit and healthy, you need to be around fit and healthy people. If you want to make a positive impact on the world, you need to be around people who share the same mission and vision. The people you surround yourself with will have a profound impact on who you are and what you become. Think about it for a moment. If you’re around people who are negative, pessimistic, anxious, and depressed, what do you think about when you’re around them? You’re going to start to feel the same way. But if you’re around people who are positive, optimistic, and happy, you’re going to start to feel the same way. In order to achieve your greatest potential, you need to be around people who share your vision and mission. You need to be around people who will hold you accountable and inspire you to be your best. It’s impossible to discover your purpose when you’re surrounded by people who don’t know who they are or why they exist. You need to surround yourself with people who are like-minded and who will help you discover your why.
How to discover your why?
If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re already on the path to discovering your why. You’ve already taken the first step towards becoming the person you were meant to be by reading this far! But let’s look at five different methods you can use to discover your why. Self-Exploration – Self-exploration is the process of looking inwards. You’re taking the time to explore your own feelings, thoughts, and desires. With self-exploration, you’re asking yourself questions like, What do I want out of life? What kind of person do I want to be? What are my core values and principles? You’re spending time getting to know yourself and exploring your innermost desires and motivations. – Reflect on the Past – Reflection on the past is the process of looking back and taking note of the things that have shaped your life. You can explore things like your childhood and adolescence or your early adulthood. You can also look at major life events like graduating from college or getting married. Explore the Present – Exploring the present is the process of taking note of the things that are influencing your life right now. For example, you can take note of your job, your relationships, your daily activities and routines, and so on. Engage in Creative Visualization – Creative visualization is the process of creating mental imagery about what you want your life to look like. You can create imagery about your job, your relationships, your hobbies, and more. It’s about creating a vision for your life. The key to creative visualization is to do it with as much detail as possible. Engage in Conversations with Other People – The final method of discovering your why is to engage in conversations with other people. You can engage in conversations with friends and family members. You can also engage in online conversations by joining online communities, leaving comments on other people’s blogs, and so on.
Steps to discovering your purpose
Though there are many different methods and techniques for discovering your purpose. These steps are simply a framework to help get you started and to ensure that you’re covering all of your bases. Have a Desire to Discover Your Purpose – Nobody is going to stumble upon their purpose in life by accident. You have to have a desire and be willing to put in the work. Be willing to explore and take note of your daily activities and interactions. Be willing to reflect on your past and explore the present. Engage in creative visualisation and be willing to engage in conversations with others. – Be open to observing and recording your daily activities and interactions. Be willing to think about your past and seek new possibilities. Identify Your Core Values and Principles – In order to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, you have to know who you are and what you stand for. Once you know your core values and principles, you can use them to make decisions and solve problems. Work on Yourself – Most people spend their time and energy trying to change others. The problem is that you can’t change a person who doesn’t want to change. Instead of changing other people, work on yourself. Be True To Yourself – It’s very easy in our society to get caught up in the rat race of wanting things we don’t need or wanting things we already have but in different forms or from different sources. You have to be true to yourself and your beliefs in order for you life to mean something.