What is purpose and why is it important for well-being?

Purpose is a concept that is often misunderstood. People struggle with it because they think uncovering their purpose means uncovering a bold statement that involves saving the world. It doesn’t.  

When I embarked on a journey of discovering my purpose, I felt a huge amount of pressure and overwhelm. “What if I don’t do this right?” 

Eventually, I realised that my purpose kept changing based on how I was growing and evolving as a person. When I was in university, I believed my purpose was to be like Amanda Donahue from LA Law! I realise now that this purpose was driven by what I thought my parents wanted for my life. I now see my purpose as helping people live more fulfilled, balanced, and happier lives by coming home to themselves. This is aligned more closely with my values and who I am rather than what the outside world thinks or expects of me. When I think of purpose now, I remind myself that whatever it is, it has to be meaningful to me in the present moment.

A purpose is something authentic to who you are at a particular time of your life.

It reflects your values, what you do, and how you want to serve the world around you. Think of it as the manifestation of your soul’s longing. It is your anchor, helping ground you. Empowering you to focus your efforts on what matters most and giving you the confidence to take risks and push forward regardless of obstacles.

Your purpose is born from your past experiences, it is the total of the lessons you learned, the experiences you had, and the values you adopted throughout your life. That’s why a lovely place to start when you want to discover your purpose is to reflect on your life journey. 

Try this...

1. Grab a pen and as many pieces of paper as you need.
2. Draw a line across the middle of the page. Divide your life into 5-year increments. 
3. In each 5 years, add stories, above your line, that positively shaped who you are today, and stories, below your line, that had a negative impact on your life.
4. As you reflect on the stories that were most impactful from your past, what themes or patterns are emerging that might give light to your purpose in this moment?

You live a purpose—you are not a purpose statement

As life unfolds around us, oftentimes we lose sight of our purpose. We end up doing things, in our lives and careers, that reflect what society tells us we should be doing rather than what is aligned to our authentic self.

Finding your purpose isn’t a one-time event focused on drafting the perfect sentence through which you can now live your life. Just like values, your purpose will evolve and change throughout your life as you evolve and change.

Whilst some people may get to their purpose pretty quickly, for others it will emerge over several iterations and contemplations. It’s about looking for and appreciating the qualities, strengths, and passions that bring to light who you are at your natural best. As you begin the journey of uncovering your purpose, know that whatever is here for you now, is what is right for you.