A Journey to Discovering Your Purpose
Do you know what your purpose in life is? If not, don’t worry – you’re not alone. A lot of people don’t know what their life’s mission is. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find out. This blog post will discuss how to discover your purpose in life and start living a more fulfilling existence. So, if you’re ready to find out what makes you truly happy, keep reading!
In the book, The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho tells the story of a shepherd boy named Santiago who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. Although he knows that such a quest may mean leaving the love of his life behind, Santiago feels drawn to follow his “Personal Legend” despite the challenges and sacrifices it will undoubtedly entail. As the boy begins his journey, he meets an array of characters—some of whom teach him valuable lessons, while others attempt to dissuade him from continuing on his quest. Ultimately, Santiago succeeds in finding his treasure and true purpose in life.
The story of Santiago reminds us that the journey to discovering our purpose is often fraught with difficulty and heartache. Nevertheless, those brave enough to embark on this journey are invariably rewarded with a great treasure: the knowledge that they are living their lives according to their deepest desires and highest aspirations.
Finding Your Purpose
Although the concept of “purpose” is often spoken about in spiritual or religious contexts, it’s important to remember that everyone has a unique sense of purpose—regardless of whether or not they subscribe to any particular faith tradition. In fact, some of the most successful and fulfilled people have taken the time to reflect on what brings them meaning and satisfaction and have made a conscious decision to align their lives with those things.
Of course, this is easier said than done. It can be difficult to identify our deepest desires, let alone figure out how to turn them into reality. If you’re having trouble getting started, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
– What makes me feel most alive?
– What am I most passionate about?
– What am I really good at?
– What do I deeply care about?
– What contribution do I want to make in the world?
– Whose life do I want to touch in a positive way?
– How do I want to be remembered when I’m gone?
Answering these questions isn’t easy, but it’s worth taking the time to do so. Once you’ve identified your purpose, you can begin making small changes that will help you move closer to living it out daily. And while there will inevitably be challenges and setbacks along the way, remember that every step forward is a step in the right direction.
Conclusion:
The journey toward discovering your purpose can be challenging but ultimately rewarding.
By connecting with what brings you fulfillment and satisfaction, you can begin making small changes to help you live out your purpose daily. Remember, every journey begins with a single step.
Coelho, P. (1995). The alchemist. Thorsons.
4 Comments
I feel as though finding one’s “purpose” will always be a hot topic, as well as a difficult topic. As Dr. Maddox stated, almost all people, regardless of spirituality or faith, spend time reflecting on what brings them satisfaction, and what they are meant to do with their lives. As a Christian, I believe discovering one’s life purpose requires knowledge of Christ and what He has done for us and commanded us to do. Once someone lives into the truth of the Gospel, their life hopefully changes in response, therefore revealing a different purpose.
Regardless of spirituality, the questions laid out in this article are a great way to help a person direct themselves into the path of their purpose.
Greetings Dr. Maddox!
I thought your blog post was truly empowering and encouraging. Here at CBU, we are always being taught to “live our purpose”, but I am very curious as to how many people know how to do that exactly? As you mentioned, the idea of pursuing a life passion can be quite daunting especially when you may not have a clear idea of what that looks like just yet. I would also have to agree that the journey of following life’s purpose can be very fulfilling, as it is a reminder that you are continuously pushing yourself despite any potential setbacks. Taking the time to appreciate yourself for doing so, I believe, is so very crucial to keep going. I also appreciated you including some helpful questions to ask yourself to find your purpose. While reading these, I thought of how common it might be for the answers to change over time, whether it be slightly or drastically. I believe whether your purpose changes or not, it is important to have the drive to continue with it. Every step counts. Thank you so much for sharing this post!
Dr. Dretona Maddox,
Purpose has been a struggle among many individuals, especially when feeling stuck. I like how when you bring up the purpose you said that it doesn’t need to be faith-based. A lot of individuals who struggle with this are individuals who don’t pertain to a certain faith. The question that really stood out to me in understanding purpose is whose life I want to touch in a positive way. I have always asked myself when pursuing my career interests and always found myself intrigued by children who struggle with mental health. I know that I don’t know a lot about my purpose yet, but these questions are definitely something I should start with.
Juliana thank you for sharing! Identifying and using individual purpose is definitely a wonderful way to touch others in a positive way!