What is Your Purpose in Life?

Written by Melica Barnett

Do you feel lost or that something is missing in your life? So many of us walk through life feeling numb, lost, and desperate for a deeper connection. To be truly fulfilled and happy, it is critical to become well-balanced by exploring your passion and life’s purpose. Nothing is better than feeling satisfaction and at peace; it is important to remember fulfillment is a right, not a privilege. Once you understand your WHY, you will clearly understand what drives, inspires, and motivates your life to do the things that make you smile, laugh, and forget time.

Look inside yourself for what makes you truly happy: Listen to your inner self, being careful and brutally honest with yourself. Your passions are driven by an innate love and joy, and you are drawn to them for a reason…they lead you to your purpose like a compass. When pursuing self-discovery, it is important to ask yourself some of the following questions:

- What am I doing when I feel most beautifully connected?

- What do I believe in?

- What can I do for hours and not be tired?

- What am I sacrificing or doing just to keep the peace?

- How do you finish the sentence “I wish….”

- What makes you feel at the top of your game?

Pay attention to the things that happen in your life, the people you meet, the things you like, and the places you are drawn to; notice the ripple effect on others. Ask questions instead of drawing conclusions. What is the common thread amongst all your gifts, talents and abilities? Think about what connects each aspect of ‘you’ and how that impacts others. Once you are clear about what you want, the ‘how’ will keep showing up. You were born with an inner-guidance that tells you when you are on or off course by the amount of joy you are experiencing.

Journal your interests and passions – Keep a personal journal, writing down the things that you enjoy spending time doing; journaling is a useful tool for making any changes to your life. These can be related to your work, personal life, or home life; they will be things you will be completely present with and cause you to lose track of time. Create a ‘passion plan’ in your journal, making three lists: 1) What piques your interest? 2) Jobs that sound like fun or fulfilling, and 3) Specific functions / activities you would enjoy. The list can be fluid and will change over time as you learn about them and how they fit with your purpose.

Write a purpose statement - Write “What is my true purpose in life?” on top of a page, and let the answers come to you; keep writing and revising your purpose statement until it feels right to you. You should feel an emotional tug when you come up with your purpose statement. Revisit and redefine your purpose from time to time as needed.

Find what ‘lights you up’ - Understanding what invigorates you versus what makes you feel drained is key to charting a new course. Focusing on things that energize you is will make you inspired, empowered and let you think creatively.

Drop from your head to your heart. Start taking steps to do what you love; when you are inspired and connected to your happy-self, inspiration floods your heart and soul. When you lead from your heart, you are naturally inspired and gain insights into what brings you the most joy.

Share your vision – When you share your vision of success with trusted others, family and close friends, you will gain their support. Each time you verbalize your goals, you are affirming to yourself that you know what you want in life, where you want to go, and that you are deserving of the success you will find when you arrive.

Cultivate Gratitude - Gratitude is extremely powerful when it comes to finding our purpose and living it; unwrap the gift of life, be fully present, improve your health, your well-being, and your relationships.

Passion + Daily Action = Purposeful Life. True happiness and fulfillment come from giving back to others as a meaningful contribution to your community and the world around you; this is your IMPACT and legacy. Be bold, be brave, and don’t limit yourself; dare to write your biggest, courageous, and truest answers because your perfect life is attainable. Soon you will be oozing with passion and you will feel so purposeful and fulfilled, you will wonder how you lived life without it. Enjoy the journey into your own awesome life.

Disclaimer: Please note; l am neither a doctor nor naturopath. If you have any concerns/conditions/psychological problems, it is strongly recommended that you seek individual professional help from a qualified medical doctor.