Finding Purpose
If you don’t already have a purpose in life, that’s perfectly fine, most people don’t. And it’s not wrong or cynical to look for your purpose or to even invent it.
And that’s because a core part of purpose is finding something that works for you too. With that in mind, here are some of the ways that science suggests are the best path to purpose:
DO WHAT YOU LIKE
Find something you like or that you’re good at, and see if that can help others.
FIND WHAT YOU HAVE TIME FOR
A purpose is of little value if you just don’t have the time to live it.
BE BRAVE AND OPEN-MINDED
The purpose that calls you might not feel like it fits with what people think about you. Be brave enough to pursue it anyway.
CREATE A LIST
Many of us have many things we think would give us a purpose, so start by writing them them and then filtering them out.
ASK OTHERS
The people around and close to you might have a very different idea about what you might be best at.
VOLUNTEER
A great way to try out different causes and missions, and learn and be inspired by like-minded people.
USE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
If there are certain things you’ve been through in life, challenges, the best place to start might be to help people going through similar challenges.
BE OPEN MINDED
Not just great in helping you find purpose, but in living it once you get there.
THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE
Think about where your purpose will take you in one year, or in five years, and how big a part of your life you want it to be. Maybe it will be all of your life.
EXPLORE IKIGAI
A centuries-old Japanese practice that turns the pursuit of purpose into both a science and an art, and a simple way to life to its fullest.
