13 Ways to Discover Your Purpose

Winston Churchill said, “It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something.” 

All too often, though, finding that “something" is more difficult than we feel like it should be. We’ve got a job to do, sure, but it doesn’t really fulfill us or make us feel like we’re moving in a direction that’s contributing to a cause that’s greater than ourselves.

So what do we do about it?

I’m a big believer in taking action. Brainstorming and theorizing have their place, but I’d rather give you specific things that you can do today. These tactical tips can be put into practice right now to help you move toward a greater sense of both professional and personal purpose. Be warned, though - like any advice, these tips are only as effective as your ability to execute on them.

If you’re going to take the time to read, be prepared to take the time to implement.

1. Explore the things that come easy to you - people find joy and fulfillment in things that they do well.

2. Explore the things you love - you're more likely to work more deeply and be more effective if it's work you're passionate about.

3. Ask people around you: What are my strengths? Sometimes people see things in us that we don't see in ourselves.

4. Explore the qualities you love expressing the most - if your behavior looks different based on whether you're at home, at work, or with friends, find ways to bring those other parts of your personality to areas you've never shown them before.

5. Ask yourself: What has brought me the most joy and fulfillment in life? The moments you're most joyous will contain patterns. Find the common thread.

6. Identify your Core Values. If you've never had someone walk you through that process, I'd love to do that for you. Just reach out to me.

7. Ask: What would you do if you could not fail? The big dreams you have that are independent of your fear are a great indicator of where you find the most purpose.

8. Spend time in prayer or reflection. Listen to the quiet voice inside you.

9. Take the time to craft your own "Personal Purpose Statement." Be on the lookout for a great tool I've developed to help you do this later this week

10. Use visualization and SMART goal-setting to jump start your motivation, give you a surge of momentum, and allow you to act as though your goal were already in hand.

11. Stay focused on your purpose in each moment and each task, no matter how small it might seem. Assess and evaluate how working towards that objective makes you feel. Often, we discover a larger sense of purpose unexpectedly in the midst of something else that’s on our plate.

12. Make time for your own physical and mental health. Giving yourself the clarity that comes with effective self-care can make all the difference between truly succeeding and just barely keeping your head above water.

13. Start taking action. Set goals, even if they end up being the wrong ones. It’s much easier to adapt than it is to hit the bulls-eye on your first try. You can’t steer a parked car. The world rewards decisive action.

Sometimes, it's hard to know what action to take, especially when others are counting on you to lead and be at your best.

When that's the case, having a trusted guide in your corner who has sat where you're sitting and can help you make the most of your opportunities and avoid pitfalls can be a real game-changer.

As a Leadership Coach, I help executives make the most of their leadership potential so that they can maximize the potential of every other person in their organization. That way, every person acts with purpose.

If that's what your organization needs, set up a time to speak with me about working together. It might be the best thing you ever do for your organization.