What if one could unlock a superpower within themselves that provides unshakeable motivation, clarity, and fulfillment? A force that guides their decisions, fuels their passions, and infuses even the most mundane tasks with meaning? This superpower exists and it’s available to every single person. It’s called purpose. And once they discover how to harness the power of purpose-driven living, they’ll never look at their life the same way again.
Living “on purpose” means orienting one’s life around their deepest values, passions, and the impact they want to have in this world. It’s not about achieving perfect happiness or living a life free of challenges and struggles. Rather, purpose gives them an overarching “why” that makes even the tough times meaningful and worthwhile. When someone has a clear and compelling purpose, they experience higher levels of motivation, resilience, life satisfaction, and even physical vitality. Unlocking one’s purpose is the key to a life rich with meaning and fulfillment.
The Science Behind Purpose: Why It Matters
You might be wondering, “Is having a purpose really that important?” The answer is a resounding yes, and science backs it up. Numerous studies have shown that people who live with a sense of purpose experience a wide range of benefits that contribute to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
- Enhanced Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Research published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that individuals with a strong sense of purpose reported higher levels of life satisfaction and positive emotions. They were more likely to describe their lives as meaningful and worthwhile. - Improved Physical Health
A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that people with a strong sense of purpose had a 15% lower risk of death compared to those who felt their lives lacked direction. Purpose-driven individuals also showed better cardiovascular health and were more likely to engage in preventive health behaviors. - Increased Resilience
Having a clear purpose acts as a buffer against stress and adversity. A study in the Journal of Research in Personality found that purpose-driven individuals were better equipped to cope with life’s challenges and bounced back more quickly from setbacks. - Greater Longevity
The famous Blue Zones research, which studied populations with the highest concentrations of centenarians, identified having a clear sense of purpose (or “ikigai” in Okinawa, Japan) as a key factor in living a long, healthy life. - Improved Cognitive Function
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry showed that older adults with a strong sense of purpose were 2.4 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to those with a weak sense of purpose.
These findings underscore the profound impact that living with purpose can have on every aspect of our lives. By cultivating a strong sense of purpose, we’re not just setting ourselves up for greater success and fulfillment – we’re literally transforming our mental and physical well-being.
So, how can you unlock this powerful force in your own life? Let’s explore the steps to discovering your unique purpose.
Four Steps to Discovering Your Purpose
1. Clarify your core values
Purpose always flows from a person’s deepest held values and ideals. These are the guiding principles they want their life to stand for and be about. To discover their purpose, they should start by identifying their 4-5 core values. They can ask themselves:
- What are the principles and ideals most important to them?
- What values do they strive to embody through their daily actions?
- How do they want to be remembered by others?
Some examples of core values are: compassion, creativity, adventure, honesty, leadership, service, community, etc. Getting clear on one’s fundamental values provides the foundation for uncovering their purpose.
2. Identify your passions and strengths
A person’s purpose lies at the intersection of what they love (their passions), what they’re good at (their strengths), and what the world needs. They should reflect on these questions:
- When do they feel most alive and “in the flow”?
- What activities make them lose track of time?
- What are their unique gifts and talents?
- How could they use their strengths in service of something beyond themselves?
They should look for the common themes in their answers. Their passions and innate strengths provide clues to their greater purpose. As an example, perhaps they feel most alive when mentoring others and they have a natural ability to encourage people. This could point toward a purpose of empowering others to fulfill their potential.
3. Connect to a mission bigger than yourself
While a person’s purpose certainly expresses their individuality, it has an external component as well. True purpose is ultimately about contributing to something greater – making a positive impact in the lives of others and in the world. They should consider:
- What breaks their heart or pulls at their soul?
- What kind of change do they want to see and create in the world?
- What legacy do they want to leave behind?
- How do they want to make a difference in the lives of others?
When someone connects their purpose to a compelling mission, vision, or cause, they tap into a deep well of motivation and meaning. They realize their life is about something much bigger than their own personal happiness.
4. Craft a purpose statement
Once a person has reflected on their values, passions, strengths, and the impact they want to have, they should distill their insights into a clear purpose statement. This is a concise declaration, usually just one or two sentences, that captures the essence of their purpose. Some examples:
- “Their purpose is to create beauty that inspires and uplifts others.”
- “To be a force of positivity that empowers people to fulfill their potential.”
- “To build community and advocate for social justice.”
Having a purpose statement gives them clarity and focus. It serves as their North Star – the fixed point they can orient their life and decisions around. They should post their purpose statement where they’ll see it often. It will be a regular reminder of their “why” and the person they aspire to be.
The next step is to align one’s life around their purpose…
We have an in-depth guide “How to Discover and Live Your Purpose”. which provides more practical strategies and insights to help you uncover your unique purpose and align your life around it.
Putting Your Purpose Into Action
Discovering one’s purpose is a major milestone, but the real magic happens when they start living it. Putting their purpose into action is an ongoing, lifelong process of alignment between their reality and their ideals.
Here are some key practices to integrate purpose into daily life:
- Start the day by reflecting on one’s purpose. Set an intention for how they’ll live their purpose that day.
- When making a decision, ask oneself “Does this align with my purpose?” Let purpose be the guidepost.
- Do at least one thing each day that’s a concrete expression of one’s purpose – an action that makes the purpose real.
- Surround oneself with people who share similar values and purpose. Proximity to purpose-driven people will fuel one’s own sense of purpose.
- View challenges, obstacles, and even failures as opportunities to learn and grow in pursuit of one’s purpose. With a strong purpose, setbacks won’t derail them.
- Regularly reflect on how one is living their purpose. Assess what’s going well, where they’re off track, and where they could live more purposefully.
Remember, the aim is not perfection but rather purposeful progress. The ultimate goal is for one’s purpose to become their way of being, the overarching theme that guides and permeates their entire life.
For those who want to dive deeper into the process of uncovering and living their purpose, the following books are highly recommended:
- “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho – A beautiful fable about the transformative power of pursuing one’s “personal legend” or destiny.
- “Find Your Why” by Simon Sinek – Practical frameworks for discovering one’s WHY and bringing it to life in their career and organization.
Closing Thoughts
A lot of ground has been covered, but here’s the core message: Each person has a unique purpose to fulfill in this life and discovering that purpose is the key to an inspired, fulfilling existence.
Here are a few challenges to leave with:
- Schedule a “purpose date” with oneself this week. Block off an hour to reflect on the questions in this article and uncover one’s purpose.
- Identify one way to live one’s purpose today. Big or small, take a purposeful action before the day is over.
- Share this article with someone they care about. Encourage them to discover their purpose and be a supportive partner in bringing each other’s purposes to life. Together, let’s start a purpose revolution.
Every life has profound meaning. No one is here by accident but for a reason. The world needs the impact only they can make. Their joy and fulfillment depend on it. So they should get out there and start living “on purpose.” Because when they do, they’ll not only change their own life, they’ll change the world.
