How do you wake up? Do you jump out of bed in excitement, or do you hit the snooze button seven times? Do you hit the ground running with eagerness to meet the day and its challenges, or are you driven by fear of missing a deadline or losing your job?
Do you have a purpose for your life?
The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why says Mark Twain. Why were you born? If you can’t readily answer this question, then this article is for you. You must learn how to find your purpose and change your life.
Why Finding Your Purpose is Necessary
Your life purpose is the central motivating aim in your life. The things that get you up in the morning and keep you moving. Having a sense of purpose for your life gives it direction and meaning. The purpose we live for is what defines us, and until we discover that purpose, we can only exist, but not live.
Finding and living your purpose is what makes you look forward to every passing day, regardless of how you feel. It gives you an air of assurance and peace of mind irrespective of the chaos and disorder typical of our day-to-day existence.
You must identify the purpose you are meant to fulfill. Otherwise, you’ll probably drift through life, bored and unfulfilled. However, finding your life purpose may be difficult for most people. And many do not even know where to begin. Luckily, we have inquired deeply into the subject and have created a small guide.
5 Ways to Finding Your Purpose and Change Your Life for the Better:
Believe that you exist for something greater than yourself.
One of the biggest obstacles facing many who are yet to finding their purpose is to believe that they exist for something bigger than they are known for. This can be as a result of low self-esteem caused by abuse of various kinds, or environmental circumstances in general.
Whatever the reason behind the belief that your life is insignificant, you should always tell yourself the opposite.
Always believe you are made for more.
In some cases, people around you may want to belittle or demean you because of your life circumstances, or even worse, a disability. You are not to give in or allow their antics to get under your skin. It would be best if you believed that there is more to your existence than what your current state spells.
Say what you believe about yourself, and believe what you say about yourself. This mindset is the foundation for building a purposeful life.
Make a resolute decision
You must make a steadfast decision not to look back regardless of what it might take to live out your purpose on earth.
There are changes you would have to make that might differ from what you are already used to. It could be friends that you would need to do away with, habits that you must replace or develop, places that you would need to frequent more often or not at all. Whatever it is, be resolute in doing whatever it would take to ensure that you live your purpose to its fullest.
This is a critical step on this journey, and it is something that no one else will do for you. It’s a thing of the mind. If you have the boldness to say it, then you can do it.
Be resolute in your stance regardless of the opposition you are likely to face due to the decisions you are ready to make. No one will live your life better than you, and if stepping on some toes will ensure that you live your life to the fullest, then I dare say it’s worth It.
Those who will get offended because of the seemingly lonely path you are about to undertake will still be the ones to celebrate your success eventually. So give little thought to how they will feel.
With time, you would see that it was all part of the story you were about to write.
Pay attention to what you can do effortlessly.
Whatever you feel at ease doing with little or no motivation at all is most likely what you are to bless the world with.
The persons who excel as athletes, entertainers, technicians, motivational speakers, etc. have one thing in common, they are gifted in their art or craft.
The man who goes into a particular line of work because of the paycheck and the one who goes into a specific career because he recognizes his gift will not get the same results.
The person motivated by a paycheck will quickly give up when faced with challenges compared to a person who is talented in the field. The gifted man will most likely find a way around the obstacle rather than looking for the next well-paying sector.
Imagine a LeBron James, or a Steph Curry (I’m more of a Steph curry fan though) as lawyers or doctors or even musicians. Looks off, right? They probably might be good at maths or some other vocational skill. Still, you and I agree that their purpose is better served on the basketball court, bringing joy to billions around the world.
And it doesn’t have to be something you are incredibly gifted at. It’s enough that it comes to you naturally, and you are passionate about it.
Following your talent is one of the easiest ways to identify your purpose and create a path to follow. With practice, you can further develop your skill and become truly exceptional.
Pursue whatever it is that brings you satisfaction and fulfillment, and most importantly, you are at ease with. An apple doesn’t fall far from its tree, and a man can never be far from his purpose. It’s probably staring at you on the face as you read this. So, do not wait another minute, find your natural inclination, and give it all you’ve got.
Let it consume you!
Now that you have identified what you are comfortable with, let it consume you. Let it be the reason why you eat, why you dress the way you do, why you act the way you do. Let people see you and quickly tell you what you stand for because of how you carry yourself.
For your purpose to consume you, it has to be bigger than you, and it has to engulf you. That would be the difference between a man who lived a purpose and a man who fulfilled his purpose.
No matter how ordinary your work is, or how irrelevant it might appear, I bet you have a unique way of making it outstanding. An approach that others appreciate and are grateful for.
We stand out from the crowd when we are unique. There are many basketball players, but there is only one Steph Curry (No offense to the LeBron fans). The assurance that you will fulfill your purpose lies in your uniqueness.
See beyond your horizon.
Learn to see beyond what you can see. In other words, learn to see beyond your circumstances.
The earth’s surface’s toughness has not stopped the discoveries of valuable gems as we know it today. The tough outlook of the environment or opportunities around you should not limit you as well.
Learn to dig deep within yourself, even if it means isolating yourself from everyone around you. Close your eyes from time to time and picture yourself in your intended environment.
Imagining the end from the beginning always has a way of creating a path for us, even if we might not know how to arrive there. Where there is a will, there will always be a way.
See yourself accomplishing your set goals even before you start them. In the long run, we will discover that it is what we see that we become. If you keep seeing a failure in yourself, then that is most likely to become your lot.
You can start becoming better by seeing the ‘best’ version of you.
Artists can only draw what they decide to see with their eyes. You are the artist of your life. No one will draw a better version of you than yourself. If you keep seeing the awkward version of you, you will keep drawing the awkward version of you, and people will have no option but to follow suit.
Conclusion
We can only say we are truly successful when we are successful in our designed purpose. Success outside your purpose is like filling a square hole with a round peg. There will always be a space to fill up, and deep down within you, you will still know that there is more than whatever it is that is bringing you the said success.
Despite the success already achieved in your chosen field, that emptiness you feel whenever you are alone is a sign of misalignment of purpose.
Nature has a way of reminding us of what we are designed for regardless of where we find ourselves. You can always discover your purpose and change your life for the better.