If you’ve ever asked yourself what your purpose in life is, you may have unwittingly given yourself a headache. It’s one of those life-impacting questions that requires quite a bit of self-introspection and understanding of oneself. It’s also a question that so many of us avoid because it seems unrealistic, or downright, impossible to get the right answer for ourselves.
[Related: 30 Best Personality Assessments to find the Career you Want]
As I’ve been navigating through my own career journey, I’ve stumbled upon it quite a few times. While I was able to successfully sidestep it for years, It came a point in my life and career when I could no longer avoid it. The more I was faced with a growing sense of restlessness and impatience in my work, the more I was compelled to look within. The more I looked within, the more it was obvious that I needed to get clearer about my purpose.
As I went along my career journey, here are 7 questions I asked myself throughout my journey to find and get more clear about my purpose:
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What did you want to be when you grew up?
You know how as a kid, people will continually ask” What do you want to be when you grow up?” While this question makes many of us smile at the randomness of the answers we get from the mouths of babes, it actually may reveal more than we think. I came to understand that gifts, skills and talents are naturally placed in each and everyone of us, from the time we’re children. It’s those gifts and talents that usually are there to indicate a sense of purpose in our lives.
I’ve always loved to write. From an early age on, I would walk around with a notebook and pen in two, recording senseless stories about plants and insects. It’s a natural, God-given talent that has never left me, even decades later as I’ve switched paths to become a writer.
What You Should Do: Do you remember who you wanted to be when you grew up, even as a kid? Take a moment to do some self-introspection and go back to the careless days of your childhood. What did you answer to this question? Write it down in your journal and record those memories.
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What can you do that others find hard to do?
Whatever it is that you can do with ease while others struggle at, is the sign of a natural skill and talent. Can you whip up a 700-word article in a half-hour, while it takes everyone else around you two days to finish? Does investing come easy to you, while your friends don’t get the very basics of stocks and mutual funds?
Your purpose is always linked to something that you can do with more ease than most people. It’s easy to overlook these talents and skills that we may have for the very reason that they’re so natural for us. However, they’re indicative of areas we are gifted in and can use to make an impact.
What You Should D0: Grab your journal and make a list of those areas, skills and talents which come easy and natural to you. These don’t have to be career-related. Anything that you’re good at should go on this list.
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What do others seek your help in?
Are you the go-to-person your family, friends and colleagues come to when they need help with writing? Do people call you for investing, real estate or financial advice? Do your colleagues always come to you for graphic design advice?
One of the clear signs of your purpose is linked to those areas in which people seek your help and advice. Most times, others will recognize our purpose in us before we even do.
What You Should Do: Make an inventory of those things and areas you help people the most with. List them in the order of the frequency with which you help them most often.
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What would you do even if you weren’t paid for it?
This is one of the best Litmus tests to identify your purpose. What could you spend most of your time doing, even if you weren’t getting paid for it? For me, it was always writing and reading. My husband could cook and provide investing advice all day, for free.
Those activities that you wouldn’t mind doing for free are those that are linked to your purpose. Make sure to carefully recognize throughout your professional and personal journey.
What You Should Do: Think back about what you do on weekends and during your free time. The activities, skills and talents you use during these times are most likely linked to your purpose.
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How can you best help people?
Your purpose is first and foremost linked to helping people. By tapping into your specific talents and skills, and leveraging your abilities to the best, you can help people the most. If you’re wondering what your purpose, looking at ways in which you are best equipped to help people is a great indicator.
What You Should Do: Look back at instances when you were able to help people? What gifts and talents did you use? How did you manage to help them? How did you feel about helping them?
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Who are your role models in life?
The people you admire and want to emulate the most are also associated with your purpose. There’s a reason why you’re such a big fan of Oprah or Lebron James. These people display qualities, abilities, and strengths that are also charasteric to you.
It’s not about imitating others’ lives and successes, but rather about using them as guides and role models towards your purpose.
What You Should Do: Make a list of those people who you consider to be your role models. What attracts you about them? What qualities and talents would you like to emulate?
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How do you envision your life?
How do you see yourself living your ideal life? What would an ideal day, week, or year look like for you? Your purpose is meant to help you live your best, most fulfilling existence. However, it can only happen if you dare to dream big and imagine the life you were created to enjoy.
What You Should Do: Create a vision board on which you record images of what your ideal life would be. Take time to create the best vision and record it in your journal as well.
[Related: How to create a vision board]
Have you been wondering about your purpose? What steps have you been taking to find your purpose?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
