People often struggle with trying to figure out what their purpose is in life. In this article, we will go through a step by step process, allowing you to fully understand what you are experiencing and what your options are. At the end of this process, you will have a fairly solid tool that you can use to give your life a meaningful direction.
There are three steps to the process of discovering the purpose of your life:
• Understanding the principle of choice
• Creating your underlying principle
• Aligning your life with the underlying principle
Understanding the Principle of Choice
Norman Vincent Peale has this to say about the power of choice. The greatest power we have is the power of choice. It is an actual fact, that if you have been groping under unhappiness, you can choose to be joyous, instead. And, by effort, lift yourself into joy. If you tend to be fearful, you can overcome that misery by choosing to have courage. The whole trend and the quality of anyone’s life are determined by the choice that are made.
Choosing is the most important activity of your mind because by making a choice, you are proclaiming your desires to your subconscious mind. Once the subconscious mind gets to know your desires, it is going to do anything to manifest them in your life. The choices you make in your life become your goal. And, if you are sincere in pursuing them, there is no reason why you should not accomplish them.
Indecision, on the other hand, not only creates frustration and anxiety but can also confuse the subconscious mind about what you want. But it is important that the choices you make are made by you, in accordance with your true desires, purposes, and aptitude. A lot us of let others make choices for us, or make our choices according to what we think is correct, even if that means that we go against our wishes. What is right for someone may not be right for you, and the way to know this is by listening to what your heart says.
So, begin with, make a list of things that interest you; things that you have always enjoyed, which make you feel better, and which inspire you to surge ahead, no matter what obstacles you face. Do you like doing something creative, or something artistic? Do you enjoy nature, do you like the sea? Do you enjoy helping others? Do you get pleasure out of making a difference in other people’s lives?
Whatever it is that interests you, go ahead and make a list under the following headlines:
• Things you love to do:
• What is it that you love in this thing and why?
• How you could do this for money, and make a living out of it?
Creating Your Underlying Principle:
The next step is to examine the list you just made and find out if there are any recurring ones. Maybe, it is the contribution that keeps coming up, or an effect to seek or give love, or helping your parents cope with old age. Whatever it is try to identify the central theme of the things you love to do, and try to put it in a short and precise statement. This will be your Mission Statement. It may even be a quote by a famous person, or a philosophy that has influenced you. Of course, as you grow up, this statement could evolve, but its soul will remain the same. Now, write down your Mission Statement.
Aligning your LIFE with the Underlying Principle:
The final step in this journey is to map your path to your ultimate purpose. Make the little changes in your lifestyle that would accommodate this principle in your life. LIVE this principle each and every day. It might take a few days, but you will certainly feel the difference in your enthusiasm for life. If you realize that you love being amidst nature, plan out your holiday. Maybe an outing with your children could be enough to recoup your energy. On the other hand, you might even want to change your job or start a new business, that is more in line with your mission.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you will be on your way to finding and achieving your purpose. During this time, never forget that you were given this earth to accomplish your greatest self, to live your purpose, and act courageously.
