How to Discover Your Purpose

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By coachniquenya
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Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade? ~Benjamin Franklin

Since the beginning of time people have been asking themselves a singular question, "why am I here?" The answer to this question can determine how happy one lives their life. Discovering your purpose; however, can be a difficult journey. These suggestions will help you to discover your purpose or, at the very least, identify what your passions might be.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Quiet time
Willingness to hear
Concentration
A journal or notebook
A pen or pencil

Step 1

Pray, and let God worry. ~Martin Luther

Pick a quiet place to meditate and pray. Request clarity, focus and guidance from your higher power. Ask that your purpose be revealed to you. Be patient and still to allow yourself to listen for a response. Pay attention to any thoughts that are conjured. Don't get discouraged should nothing be immediately revealed. You will have more help in the next step.
Step 2

Faith without works is dead. ~James 2:26

You may or may not have a general idea about your purpose at this point. Now it is time to do something. Think about three times you have been ecstatically happy. Write about each event in great detail. Where were you, what was the occasion, who were you with and what were you doing? Write about the feelings you felt and what about the event made you so happy? Do this for each of the three events for as long as you have something to write about. Try to be inclusive of every thing you can remember.
Step 3

Our thoughts create our reality - where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go. ~Peter McWilliams

Now review what you have written about these three events. Pick out keywords or phrases from each event that best summarize the occasion. Meditate on these until you have a clearer picture of what your purpose might be. It can be helpful to perform the "tombstone" test at this point. Ask yourself if you were about to pass away but had lived your best life and already accomplished everything you could possibly hope for, what would be written on your tombstone? I'll start you off. "Here lies _________________, he/she was ______________________________." For instance, mine might say, "Here lies Niquenya D. Fulbright, she was a gifted teacher." Now you try. Go for it!
Step 4

Sometimes questions are more important than answers. ~Nancy Willard

Gain affirmation from friends, family and associates. In the business world we would call this a 360-degree assessment. You will ask people whose opinion you value and trust two questions: 1) what are three words or phrases that best describe me? and 2) what is the one thing that I do best and/or am most passionate about? Ask at least 5 people but try to get closer to 10 for a more accurate depiction. Some of the answers may surprise you. Consolidate the answers you receive until there are three primary trends. Compare these to what you have identified in your personal exercise.
Step 5

To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping. ~Chinese Proverb

Great! If you have followed steps 1-4 diligently then you should have a really good idea of what your purpose is or at least what your passions might be. You can use your purpose and passion to make better, more quality decisions about the direction of your life. Continue to pray and meditate for greater clarity and focus as needed. Your purpose may slightly alter as you reach different phases of your life.

Comments

tammyfrost said

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on 8/10/2009 Nice article!

elaineee said

on 6/15/2009 The tombstone test on step three just might be the kicker to understanding your purpose. All of this is good advise

fenominon said

on 6/8/2009 Thanks for your description of the purpose statement. Most people do not realize what a difference having a compass like this can be in their lives. Even Jesus had a mission statement: "I came into the world so they might have life and have it more abundantly"