I seem to know a lot of people that have a strong sense of purpose. They have discovered ways to combine their passion, talents, and concern for the world in a way that gives their lives meaning, whether it be by working for racial justice, teaching young people to read, creating moving art, or gathering donations of masks and face shields for hospitals during the pandemic.
Both, states researcher Kendall Bronk, who also serves as the lab’s director at Claremont Graduate University. People might discover a feeling of purpose naturally or via intentional activities and analysis. According to Bronk, there are moments when simply talking to someone about what important to you causes you to reflect more deliberately on your life and its meaning.
While hardship can lead to purpose, most people likely find it more slowly, according to Bronk, by combining education, experience, and self-reflection, frequently with support from others. But with the correct tools, you may also jump-start discovering your mission. Exercises designed to help you discover your values, interests, and abilities as well as exercising positive emotions like thanks, according to her and her colleagues, can help you find your life’s purpose.
Here are some of her suggestions that are supported by her thorough research.
1. Identify what matters to you.
Applying your talents in a way that matters to you to the greater good is what purpose is all about. Therefore, deciding what you are motivated about is a good start.
High school seniors were asked to consider the world around them—their homes, communities, and the world at large—and imagine what they would do if they had a magic wand and could change anything they wanted to change as part of the Greater Good’s Purpose Challenge, which was created by Bronk and her team (and why). They could then use that contemplation to come up with more specific actions they could take to help get the real world a little bit closer to that ideal.
Jim Emerman of Encore.org, a group that aids seniors in discovering new meaning in life, suggests a similar procedure for senior citizens. But instead of imagining a perfect future, he advises asking yourself these three questions:
- What do you excel at?
- What did you do to develop a skill you can utilize to further a cause?
- What matters to you in your neighborhood?
He claims that older persons might generate ideas for repurposing abilities and pursuing interests accumulated over a lifetime toward benefiting the world by reflecting on these topics.
2. Pay attention to what others find interesting about you.
Shawn Taylor, who had a difficult childhood like Kezia Willingham, was drawn to dealing with children who had serious behavioral issues. But unlike her, he frequently felt that his job was pointless. He adds, “I believed I sucked at my chosen career.” Then, a female he had worked with five years earlier got in touch with him one day.
According to Shawn, “She outlined how I helped to alter her life.” She also asked him to accompany her on her wedding day. In all that time, Shawn hadn’t even given her a thought.
The craftsmen, journalists, and artists I talked with frequently depicted how appreciation from others filled their work. Dani Burlison never missing the mark on feeling of direction, and she worked for a really long time as an essayist and civil rights dissident in Santa Rosa, California. Yet, when fierce blazes moved throughout her local area, Dani found that her assets were required in another manner: “I’ve found that my systems administration and crisis reaction abilities have been truly useful to my local area, my understudies, and to firemen!”
3. Explore the purpose of life
The meaning of life varies from person to person, just as happiness is something that is unique to every single person.
While Elon Musk’s goal in life may be to bring futuristic concepts to life, yours may just be to give your family and kids the greatest possible existence.
You’ll probably feel content and unhappy if you copy and paste the goals of someone you respect and like. Elon Musk, for instance, is achieving some amazing things, but if I were in his position, I wouldn’t be content. His and my goals in life are completely dissimilar!
I have determined my own life’s purpose, and I suggest that you do the same.
4. Discover and create community
We can usually discover our sense of purpose in the people around us, as we see in Dani’s situation.
Many people have mentioned finding meaning in family to me. In addition to reading, Art McGee adds that his “love and respect for my industrious father” gave him a reason to struggle for social and racial justice. He deserved much better because he worked hard.
Jodi Sugerman-Brozan is a social justice and environmental activist who feels compelled “to leave the world in a better position than I found it.”
” She claims that becoming a mother “strengthened that purpose (it will be their world and their children’s world)”. It “certainly effects how I parent” (wanting to bring up radical, anti-racist, feminist children who will want to carry on the struggle and be leaders).
5. Share a story
Curiosity about your own life frequently leads to purpose. What problems have you met? What skills gave you the upper over them? How did others assist you? How did your abilities improve the lives of others?
According to Emily Esfahani Smith, author of the 2017 book The Power of Meaning, “We all have the ability to make a narrative out of our own lives.” It provides us with insight into our own lives, teaches us how to comprehend ourselves, provides us with a framework that extends beyond the ordinary, and essentially aids in helping us make sense of our experiences.
Coming Out, Being Cast Out, and Discovering the True Love of God, Rose Cantorna’s book, was inspired by this. After losing everyone she loved, Amber was first despondent, but she quickly found new strengths within herself. Now, she is using her book to empower gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians in their coming-out journey by helping to establish a nonprofit organization.
