Do you ever feel stuck? Perhaps you don’t have the job, relationship, or finances you want. You know what it is that you don’t want, but have you ever taken the time to figure out what it is that you do want? Rather than answer with overviews like a job that “pays more” or “is closer to home” or “to find your soulmate” or “to be rich,” think about being as specific as possible. What does your ideal life look like? What would you need in your life for it to be more fulfilling and meaningful?
If you win the lottery tomorrow and suddenly, you’re a multimillionaire, what will you do with the rest of your life? Will you continue working at your job? Will you spend more time with your family or travel the world? Will you start your own business or spend more time with your favorite hobbies?
Take some time to dream about the possibilities. Then, take out a piece of paper and write down your dream in vivid detail.
Write down a list of the things that are most important to you in your life. What gets you out of bed in the morning? What things are most important in your life? These are the things you are willing to devote time and energy to each day.
For example:
Family & Friends
Spirituality
Personal Growth
A Healthy Lifestyle
Financial Abundance
Work/Life Balance
A Loving Romantic Relationship
Being Happy at Work
Being Organized
Engaging in Hobbies
Making a Difference in the World
Setting priorities is important because we often have so much going on in our lives at once that we lose track of who we are and what we want out of life. We end up putting out one fire only to be confronted with another. With so many things on our plate at once, it’s easy to neglect ourselves and what’s important in our lives.
When you are finished writing your list, take a few moments to prioritize them in order of importance.
Ask yourself these questions:
What am I most passionate about?
What would inspire me to get out of bed at 5AM on a Saturday morning?
What haven’t I experienced yet that I’ve always wanted to?
What haven’t I learned yet that I’ve always wanted to?
What part of me haven’t I healed yet that I still need to?
Am I doing now what I really want to do?
If not, do I even know what I’d really like to do?
What can I do to serve others?
Write down what answers you receive and be honest with yourself. Not what other’s expect of you. Once you’ve done this exercise, combine all your answers into a life’s purpose statement. Your purpose statement will answer the question “Why am I here? What is my true calling in life?” You get to define yours, so what do you want to do with your life?
Write down, “My purpose in life is…” and fill in the blank. Spend some time reflecting on your dreams, priorities, and the questions listed above.
Next, think of the ways you can use your passions and dreams to serve the world. Write down the following statement, “I will make the world a better place by…”
Get all of your ideas down on paper until you feel you have some clarity about your life. Read it. Is it powerful for you? Is it a wakeup call? If not, keep writing until you find something that lights you up.
When you do define your life’s purpose, it will be an emotive experience and a revelation.
The Secret To Living A Life Of Purpose
Researchers believe that developing a sense of purpose can enhance a person’s life immensely. The basis for their theory comes from numerous studies conducted over decades that documented the effects of happiness and having a sense of purpose on health outcomes. These studies found that those who had a sense of purpose in addition to happiness displayed better physical health than those who experienced happiness alone.
Here are a few ways that can help you develop a sense of purpose:
Helping others in your community. With family or friends.
Helping through a job or volunteering to a cause you care about.
Being recognized, respected and valued for your contribution.
Having a sense of identity or finding your tribe.
Recognizing a sense of achievement from what you do.
Find your passion.
Having a purpose helps to build confidence and self-esteem. People who lack purpose are often unhappy and lonely. We see this a lot in the retirement community. Their career fulfilled a purpose and now they may have free time, yet many feel uninspired in their life.
How often have you thought about what you would buy or the problems that may be solved by a lottery win? The possibilities are endless yet, many times we hear about people who have had this stroke of luck and discover that their lives are not necessarily enhanced in any meaningful way. Or are even worse because of it. We have all seen stories about families who have broken up after winning money. People who quit their jobs and gone on shopping sprees. People who got used and taken advantage of because of their new found wealth. To us it may look like they have everything but to them it could be the worst thing that happened.
There is truth in the saying that when you work hard for something you will appreciate it more. When you do something that you love or something that is important to you, it gives you a sense of purpose.
Everyone’s sense of purpose is unique. The options are limitless. Whatever you do will be of benefit to you if you feel inspired. When you do something you care about it makes you a more optimistic and hopeful person. Having something important to aim for encourages us to remain hopeful when things go wrong and learn from the experience.
Having a sense of purpose brings us joy. And living a joyful life is always a good thing.
Blessing,
Melisa