Discover your Purpose in Three Easy Steps

In this short article we will explore the concept of life and its underlying values. It’s a step by step procedure in exploring your feelings and your options, to help you discover your purpose in life.

By the end of this article you should have a fairly simple & effective tool to help give your life immediate meaningful direction.

The process to discover your purpose in life has three steps:

1. Understanding the value of choice
2. Creating your underlying values
3. Aligning your life with your underlying values

Understanding the value of choice

In his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” Stephen Covey says this about choice;

“Highly proactive people recognize their ability to choose their responses in life. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behaviour. Their behaviour is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling”.

Making a choice is the most important activity of your mind, it declares to your subconscious mind about what your desires and needs are. Once your subconscious mind becomes aware of what you want, it sets about assisting you in manifesting your desire.

The choices you make in your life become your goals and desired outcomes. Armed with sincerity and persistence there is no reason why you should not accomplish them.

Most of your frustration, anxiety and stress is born out of indecision and double-mindedness, this is because your subconscious mind becomes confused about what you want. So it is important to be clear about what you want in life.

Many times we allow others to make choices for us, or make our choice based upon what we think is right, even if it is contrary to what our values are. What is right for someone else, may not be right for you, you can identify this by listening to what your heart is saying.

To do this, begin by making a list of things that interest you; things you have always enjoyed, things that make you happy, things that inspire and motivate you, things that make you feel better no matter what obstacles you are facing.

Are you philosophical, do you enjoy helping others? Are you creative, are you artistic? Do you enjoy nature the ocean? Do you get pleasure out of writing, reading or public speaking? Do you enjoying making things with your hands? Do you enjoy playing an instrument?

Whatever it is that interests you, write it down under the heading “Things I love to do”

Then ask yourself, What is it about this activity that I love and enjoy and why? Could I make a living out of it? Is it sustainable?

Creating your underlying values

The next step in discovering your purpose, is to examine the list you’ve just created. Notice any recurring theme in them. Maybe, it’s the ability help others, or contribute to the less fortunate. You may find yourself doing what you enjoy automatically. It could be a feeling of fulfillment, or a sense of belonging.

Whatever it is, do your best to identify a common theme of the things you love to do, then write it out in a short but precise statement. This will become your Mission Statement. It may even be a quote, or a philosophical statement that has influenced you.

Keep in mind this Mission statement may evolve and change as you begin to grow and learn more about your values. But the core essence of it will remain the same.

Aligning your life with your underlying values

The final step in your journey to discover your purpose, is to map out your path to your ultimate purpose. You will do this by making small incremental changes in your daily life to accommodate these values into your spiritual, mental and physical life.

Allow these core values to be lived out in your everyday activities and interactions with others. The more you do this, the more you will begin to recognise a difference in your enthusiasm and motivation for life.

If for example, you enjoy helping people, join a non profit organisation that assists people in your community. If you enjoy painting and being in nature, plan a weekend away and take your canvass and brushes with you. There may even come a time when you might want to change your career, or start your own business that is more in line with your mission and passion.

Never change jobs or begin a business because of money. Do what you love and enjoy the money will follow.