What purpose looks like to different people, and how you can discover yours.
By Gillian McMichael
Purpose defines who you are; it reflects your passions and values. It provides clarity as you set goals and take action. Your sense of purpose steers how you live your life and how you lead yourself and others.
If we really want something, we can have it—we can achieve whatever we want to. By now, you will have realized that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. Like everything you have done so far, all you need to do is keep your focus and belief in yourself. Trust that you can do it.
The most authentic brands are always built from the inside out. They’re genuine and real. When you embrace personal purpose to identify and capture who you really are, what you stand for, and live this every day, you will inspire, motivate and make an impact in your life.
Another way of looking at finding your purpose is finding your calling. Call it faith, mindfulness, or whatever it is you wish to align yourself with. This anchoring makes it possible to navigate through life. You are able to visualize your existence for a specific reason.
Finding your purpose in life feels huge and difficult, but it’s not as hard as you think. All you have to do is know where to look. Some know from a very early age what they are here for: a surgeon, a scientist, a musician. But most of us search for it, longing to articulate exactly what it is. We question, “Who am I, and what am I here for?”
Yet, we are all born with a soul purpose, and we are all on a journey to follow our path. Purpose in life is known as dharma, and the law of dharma states that everyone has a purpose in life. We all have our own unique gifts and talents, and if we use these unique attributes in all aspects of our life and these are expressed and then shared with those who need it or with those who will benefit from it, then your dharma, your purpose, can be realized.
Living our life or soul’s purpose does not mean we have to conquer the world, find a cure for cancer or live like a saint. But what it does mean is that we should embrace what feels right to us.
Once we open ourselves up to this optimal life experience, we open the door of possibility in our own lives. You can achieve your dreams and make a positive impact on those around you. Remember, to live a life on purpose and self-actualize, it does not mean you have to be a rocket scientist; all you need to do is be you.
Your purpose is who you are and what makes you, YOU. Purpose defines who you are. It reflects your strengths, passions and values. It will provide you with the clarity you need to set your inner compass to navigate you to your true path. Your sense of purpose steers how you want your story to go and how you lead your life.
You could find joy in achieving mastery in a niche hobby. You could be a parent who gets purpose from raising their children to be a positive force in the world. Or an employee who uses their ever-increasing skills to improve the lives of others.
When you wake up and realize there is something more for you in life, something more you can offer the world, something more purposeful, that is good for you but also will be good for others. You start to pay attention, in a way you’ve never been able to do before. The fog lifts, and for the first time in your life, you can see clearly. Everything is more vibrant and has more meaning. This is when the universe offers a helping hand—synchronicity and all that we want falls into place. You will be guided gently to your true path, and opportunities will present themselves for you to live your purpose.
How can you find your purpose?
1. Start with your strengths
What’s my story?
What am I good at?
When am I at my best?
What are the strengths others acknowledge in me?
2. Tap into your values
What are my top five values?
What do I stand for?
What helps me make choices?
What are my passions?.
What do I love?
What excites me?
What am I drawn to?
Once you have these down you can start to pull them together and write your purpose statement. Living your dharma is the single most important thing you can do in your life. It’s not what you do; it’s how you do it and why—the strengths and passions that define you. It will feel like coming home.
Gillian McMichael is a transformational coach, founder of Full Circle Global, and author of Coming Home: A Guide to Being Your True Self. Her credentials include ICF Master Certified Coach; ICF Coach Educator, Mentor and Coach Supervisor; Chopra Centre Meditation & Wellness Certified Teacher; and Chopra Centre Perfect Health & Ayurveda Certified Teacher. Visit her website at http://www.fullcircleglobal.com.