If there’s one common question most of my clients ask me it’s, ‘What’s the purpose of life?” I think it’s a very natural question to ask especially if you’ve been searching for a meaning for your existence on earth.
But, finding your life purpose can be an evasive exercise unless you’ve unpacked your inner Self and asked yourself some really hard soul-searching questions.
What if you want to start living a purposeful life today, now, right this moment? But, you haven’t figured out your life purpose yet. Does this mean you can’t live the life of a purposeful person? I don’t believe so. Even if you’re still searching for your soul's purpose it doesn’t stop you from having a life full of meaning and purpose.
I believe most of us have an innate “knowing” of our purpose. We’re just not ready to put it out there for the world to see. Maybe you're not ready to “see” your Self but something is still driving you to live a purposeful life. And, you want to do it now!
Here are some great ways to help you start living a purposeful life now while you’re still trying to figure out your own life purpose.
1. Find A Reason to Get Excited About Your Future
If you’re excited about your future which could be tomorrow, next year, or five years down the line then you’ll find activities and goals that give you a purpose for wanting a life worth living. Finding a reason to get excited about your future will open your mind up to endless possibilities.
Ways to find these reasons could include:
Meditation to tap into your inner source
Booking a life coaching session
Having a tarot card reading
Asking the right questions e.g. “What kind of future do I want to live in?”
2. What Are You Agreeing to Do and Why?
Take a hard and long look at your daily life. Identify what you’re agreeing to do and then ask yourself, “Why?” Are you participating in activities simply because you have to do them? Or, are you participating in everything you do from a place of deep self-awareness? When you have your answers, you'll be surprised by just how much of your daily life is non-purposeful.
A purposeful life includes doing the things you want to do or doing things because it’s essential for meeting your basic human needs. When you know “why” you're doing something, you’ll be able to decide if that activity actually has any purpose after all.
3. Live in the Moment
Now is the moment of power and you’ll realize how true this is when you start living in the NOW. How often do you hold back from doing something simply because you don’t “feel in the right mood” to do it now? Holding back from taking action today often leads to regrets further down the line.
By committing to taking small (and big) action steps every day, you’re finding some purpose in living every day. And, every step taken is a step in the right direction even if you do find yourself stumbling along the way. When that happens, pick yourself up, brush off all your worries and fears, and keep on moving forward – moment to moment.
“Whenever you become anxious or stressed, outer purpose has taken over, and you lost sight of your inner purpose. You have forgotten that your state of consciousness is primary, all else secondary.” ― Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle’s book, “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” helped me explore the concept of living in the moment. And, his book, “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" built on the principles of living in the moment talks about the importance of transcending our ego state so that we can find a place of personal happiness.
4. Keep it Simple and Be Intentional
When you’re living in the moment it really makes sense to only do one thing at a time. Otherwise, your energies will be scattered all over the place and you won’t achieve much. By focusing on one task at a time you’re giving your best and you’re doing it with intention.
Setting intentions every day gives your daily life some structure and purpose. It could be as simple as making a sandwich to give to the homeless guy standing on the corner of your road. Or, decluttering one cupboard every day so your home becomes more peaceful to live in.
5. Surround Yourself With Positivity
Okay, I know there’s such a thing as too much “light” but ensuring your circle of friends and family serves you in a positive way is far better than living with naysayers all the time! Check out your environment and ask yourself if it uplifts you or drags you down. This includes people you associate with, the stuff you read every day, and the conversations you engage in.
By surrounding yourself with positivity, you’re more inclined to live a purposeful life that aligns with your Self. Your perceptions about the world will help you to find the true meaning of existing so make sure it’s a positive existence.
6, Get Involved With a Charity
Volunteering to help a charity whose purpose speaks to your heart and soul means you’re doing an activity that has a meaningful “why.” And, when this happens you’re living a purposeful life even if it’s only happening on the weekends!
By helping others, be it through the giving of your time, donating money, or sharing your skills and knowledge, you’re giving your life some meaning and enriching someone else’s life. Connecting with those who are in need and being able to give them a sense of self-worth will help you find some meaning and value in your own life.
7. Discover Your Mojo
What makes you groove? Finding your “mojo” requires doing some in-depth inner work if you’re still trying to figure it out. Sometimes, life happens and our mojo simply fades away. Whatever the reason for losing your interest in life, getting your groove back lets you live a purposeful life again.
Identity your mojo. It could mean being dusting off your golf clubs and getting back into the swing of the game. Or, going back to college to study “that” course you never got round to doing simply because you became a wife, a mother, a caretaker for your parent, and so on. Find your interests and put the spark back into your life.
8. Take Care of Your Environment
Teaching children how to recycle household waste gives them a deep sense of purpose. They feel they can make a difference to the planet. The same can apply to adults. By doing caring acts that help to create a more sustainable world for all of us, you’re creating a better place for everyone to live in.
By taking care of Mother Earth through the following acts, you’re purposefully giving yourself and others a healthier world to live in:
Recycling, reusing, and reducing wastage
Installing LED lights in the home
Using eco-friendly cleaning materials
Taking advantage of solar power
Being water-wise (watering your garden with greywater)
Being eco-conscious in the garden by only using organic sprays
9. Discover Your Self
It’s very easy to drift through life and have no purpose. This happens often when you leave school, go to university to study something your parents thought was best for you, and fall into a job because it pays a good salary. One day, you wake up and wonder what is the purpose of everything you’re doing.
Finding your life purpose often requires doing a lot of self-improvement and personal development work. One of the best ways to do this is to sign up for a life coaching program and hire the services of a good life coach. Finding your Self is the first step of many toward finding your life purpose.
What Are the Benefits of Living a Purposeful Life?
If you’re going to start taking action today and create a purposeful life, you may be wondering what are the benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone. Because often it does feel like you have to challenge yourself to find any meaning in life.
And, this requires making some meaningful and often painful changes to your current lifestyle.
Living a life with purpose has many advantages or else you wouldn’t be searching for it! Your soul knows what is right for you and by listening to it, you know it’s paramount to live a life that has meaning and purpose.
People who live a life full of purpose are known to have:
Healthier hearts
A strong immune system
Fewer addictions (if any)
Longer and more fulfilling lives
Better mental and emotional health
Less risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
A more balanced mind, body, and soul
Viktor Frankel, in his book “A Man’s Search for Meaning,” talks about the survivors who lived under horrific conditions in concentration camps during WW2. He was able to identify who would make it out of the camps eventually purely by those who had some meaning to life. It could be someone they loved or meaningful work that gave these survivors a purposeful life even under such horrendous living circumstances.
Watch this video to discover Ikigai - one of the secrets to living a purposeful life.
Final Thoughts
Exploring the concept of living a purposeful life is a good step to take when you’re searching for meaning in your life. Taking small steps every day adds a sense of purpose and gives your life some direction and focus. While finding your life purpose may take longer it doesn’t mean you can’t live a purposeful life now.
Start today and create a life that is purposeful for you. You won't regret it!
This post was updated on April 3, 2023.