What is the Point of Life: 7 Tips on How to Find Your Life Purpose

Though you are in a good company, happily married, and have a job you love, you still can’t feel that deep connection to life if you haven’t found your calling.

Unfortunately, most people spend their entire lives drifting endlessly from one goal to another without finding their true calling or purpose.

So, what’s a life purpose?

In simple terms, it is something you would keep doing even if you are not being paid for it. It may sound simple, but finding your life purpose isn’t a cakewalk.

What is the Point of Life? – 7 Tips on How to Find Your Life Purpose

The following 7 tips will help you discover your life purpose.

1. Create a List of Things You Want to Do

When it comes to finding your life purpose, the first thing you need to do is to make a list of the things you want to do in your life. The list should include things that you want to do before you die.

However, that doesn’t mean you should discount seemingly obvious goals. In fact, the list should include whatever you want, including goals you want to achieve, things you want to experience, and dreams you want to fulfill, irrespective of how trivial they may seem.

• As your bucket list consists of whatever you want, it isn’t restricted to a particular social context such as your occupation or hobbies, that’s why it is different from your everyday to-do list. Remember, the sole purpose of creating this list is to live your life to its fullest potential so that you can find your calling.
• Another way to find your calling is to create a vision board. Some people may find it better to have a vision board than a bucket list because it allows you to visualize your goals every day. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
• You can make the vision board online or the old-fashioned way using a poster board, scissors, photos, and glue.
• The board should have images and pictures that represent your goals and things you want to achieve. The images and pictures should make you have the “I want this in my life” feeling.
• You can also add inspiring notes from your friends and colleagues to your vision board.
• However, you should focus on creating a vision board that induces positive emotions, instead of just adding random material things. In other words, it must showcase your soul’s desires whenever you look at it.

2. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Most people tend to live inside a personal bubble where they are the center of attraction. People often create such a bubble to protect themselves from uncomfortable situations. Chances are that you are living in one.

Unfortunately, living in a bubble can severely affect your social, professional, and personal life because you are so concerned about your pleasure and comfort that you try not to be uncomfortable.

As you never step out of your comfort zone, it becomes increasingly difficult to find your calling.

• Make a list of things that make you feel uncomfortable. As you go through the list, you will realize that fear of failure is the reason why you have never explored any of the things on the list.
• Pick the smallest and easiest task on your list to challenge your fears. It may be something very petty, such as smiling at a complete stranger or taking the subway to your office. Gradually, you can work your way up as your confidence grows.
• Try to open yourself to new experiences and connect with people outside your professional or personal circle. You can also hang out with people who have managed to step out of their comfort zone.
• Stop making petty excuses such as, “I don’t have time for this right now” or “I am too tired to finish this today.” Whenever you make an excuse, try to be honest with yourself. Entertain only genuine excuses.
• You are bound to make mistakes when stepping out of your comfort zone. However, you shouldn’t take your efforts too seriously. Try to make this journey as much fun as possible, you can even laugh your petty mistakes off.

3. Listen to Your Heart Instead of Your Head

Your heart is the best way to tap into your emotions and passions. Your head may guide you to the rational path, but everything rational does not always serve best to your emotions.

Considering the heart for the decision-making will guide your emotions and develop a connection with the task at hand.

You will feel more joyful if you follow your heart.

However, being happy and passionate enables you to learn what your life purpose is. It also results in spontaneity, allowing you to grow as a person. That’s why you need to listen to your heart instead of your head as often as possible.

• The first step is to change your present decision-making process, shift your focus from rational decision-making to going with your gut feelings. However, you need to be patient as this transition takes time.
• Start making small decisions based on what your heart says and see what happens. Your confidence will grow as you work your way up gradually.
• Stop weighing a decision into pros and cons. It’s a sure-shot sign you are using your head instead of your heart.
• Try to clear your rational mind. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to chant a mantra. Sometimes taking a walk or indulging in your favorite hobby can also help in this regard.
• Learn to live in the moment. Most people have a habit of overthinking. Allow your decision to unfold in its natural flow. Don’t overthink about the possible outcomes.
• Listening to your heart essentially involves identifying and responding to your emotions. Meditation will strengthen your intuitive senses, helping you connect with your inner self.
• Get a Life coach. Life coaches are great for helping you to give you more clear pictures on your life goals and how to make tough decisions in life. This is a great guide on how to choose a life coach.

4. Nourish Your Hobbies

Only a handful of people are lucky enough to have a career that encapsulates their passions and life purpose. The rest of us, however, are stuck in a job that doesn’t infuse with our hobbies, leaving us yearning for a creative activity at the end of the day.

While your occupation reflects the bond between you and your social circle, your hobby (or passion) is the connection to your inner self. After all, you would hold onto your hobby even if it doesn’t pay your rent or put food on your table.

In other words, your hobby is more than just a way to deal with work-related stress, it’s a tool that can help you find your purpose.

• Take some time to think about your childhood. What did you love doing as a child? What did you do in your spare time as a kid? Did you paint, swim, go camping, write essays or play the flute?
• Many of these factors relate to your natural talents or things you love the most. Maybe you can pick up one of your childhood hobbies once again to help discover your purpose in life.
• Alternatively, you can also think of what you love to do in general. You may like to doodle, explore your neighborhood or try your grandma’s old recipes on weekends.
• However, be honest with yourself. Don’t take up a hobby because your best friend is doing it or you have a degree or training in a particular field. Do what you enjoy from the bottom of your heart, even if it seems offbeat or plain crazy.
• Nothing is more satisfying than doing something that truly connects you with your inner self or stimulates a sense of purpose. So, create a weekly schedule to follow your hobby and try to do it as often as possible.

5. Be Prepared to Find More Than One Calling

It’s a common misconception that you have only one genuine purpose in your life. In fact, most people miss several great opportunities in their life because they are hooked on a particular idea of their life.

As you grow up, your dreams, goals, and ambitions also evolve, it’s a natural process. Your sense of purpose is no exception to this natural process either.

Sometimes, people may even fulfill one purpose and start looking for another. In other words, you need to let go of the notion that there is only one true purpose in your life.

• Be open-minded about finding your true calling. There’s nothing wrong with having multiple callings. It just means you are a multipotentialite like thousands of others. So, refrain yourself from being judgmental if you find a calling or two in your life.
• You will need to create a work plan to nourish your multipotentiality. Perhaps, the best way to nurture your different purposes is to turn them into a source of income or an active vocation. For example, if you are a cycling enthusiast, maybe you can start organizing cycling rallies or teach local kids mountain biking.
• However, putting all your interests together is easier said than done. You will need a cohesive plan to work things out. Initially, you may struggle to reach the balance. It’s more like a trial and error method. With patience, however, you will learn to keep all your interests bound together with ease.

6. Keep Your Inner Demons in Check

At its core, finding your purpose involves sailing into uncharted waters, exposing yourself to new experiences, and changing your way of thinking. You not only have to overcome the fear of the unknown but sometimes also have to question your beliefs as well.

Whether it is the disruptive inner monologue or outdated beliefs, these inner demons can stop you in your tracks. That’s why you will need to keep your inner demons under control.

• It is tough to fight your inner demons unless you know what you are up against. So, the first thing you should do is identify the triggers that may stop you from finding your purpose. Your beliefs and the fear of the unknown are the most common triggers.
• Find a way to slay these inner dragons. Take small steps to challenge your fears and beliefs at first. For example, if you are wary of crowds, try shopping by yourself in the nearest grocery shop. Don’t jump on the wagon to find your calling until you have crushed all your demons first.
• Don’t settle for the next best thing. You may stumble badly at times, but never give up on your aspirations. Remember, you will never be able to learn and never be able to grow if you fail to slay your inner demons.
• Just like most other aspects of life, you will come across plenty of obstacles when finding your calling. These obstacles will trigger your inner demons. To avoid this from happening, think of your past achievements, dreams, and ambitions. They won’t let the demons overpower your inner desire to reach your goal.

7. Be Prepared for Hardship

Most people are under the impression that once they find a calling, everything else will just fall into place. They couldn’t be any farther from the truth. You will have to struggle a lot to achieve the level of distinction that your purpose demands.

In other words, achieving the level of distinction that your purpose demands involves a long and laborious journey that will test your limits. However, the grueling efforts are also refreshing.

• Keep honing your skills and abilities to make the journey smoother.
• Always keep your commitments irrespective of how hard the journey may seem.
• Take care of your physical as well as mental health. Make sure to follow the preventative health advice your doctor provides.
• At times, this journey may also test your relationships. So, be prepared if a friend or a family member unexpectedly blindsides you.

Conclusion

Once you find your purpose, you are more likely to get fully involved in living. It also makes it easier to live passionately, overcome the fear of failure, and learn to embrace the unknown.

However, most people lead a life without any purpose because finding your calling is not as easy as it sounds. Hopefully, these 7 tips will help you find your calling.

How did you find your life purpose?

Did you stumble upon it accidentally or did your conscious efforts guide you to it?