Do you want to live with greater purpose? In my last post, I offered some simple methods to cut through the noise and begin to rediscover your focus, which is one aspect of creating a more flourishing life. In this post, as promised, I’m offering some guidance to help you rediscover, redefine, and reactivate your purpose.
First of all, let’s demystify purpose. Your purpose in life isn’t some ephemeral concept that will magically make all your decisions and goals clear. It doesn’t need to be complicated, super spiritual, or impressive.
Purpose isn’t something you “find.” It’s a way of life. Instead of asking, “what is my purpose?” you’ll be more successful and satisfied by asking, “How can I live with purpose?” Living purposefully involves making practical, daily, intentional choices to take action that matters instead of wasting your hours on mindless activities or doing stuff that doesn’t add value to your life or the lives of those around you.
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
Pablo Picasso
Why do you need to redefine your purpose from time to time?
Because life gets busy and other people’s “squeaky wheels” take over our priorities. If we’re not careful, we can shift from living with purpose to living in reaction and catch-up mode. Sometimes life’s like that, but if we want a flourishing life, we can’t stay there. Rather, we need to take stock and begin living with greater purpose and intention.
Because unexpected problems (or opportunities) send us on life detours where our previous purpose no longer makes sense. Our life purpose changes with the phases of our lives. Once upon a time, my greatest purpose focused on my children and their school and other activities. I’m not in that phase of life anymore. I’ve redefined my purpose toward the ways God is calling me to minster and make a difference in this season of life.
Because it’s easy to settle into a rut and forget to consider whether there are better choices and goals than the ones we’re used to. This one is the most challenging for me. I’m not a risk-taker, so staying in the rut of what I know feels safer than moving on to new and better things. But if we want to live with greater purpose, we need to avoid growing stagnant and continue to pursue new skills, new opportunities, new experiences.
These are some of the reasons we need to clear space now and then to refocus our priorities and redefine our purpose.
Five questions to help you live with greater purpose
I wish there were a simple app where we could input some data and voila, out would come our life purpose in three easy steps.
It’s not that simple.
But it’s not that complicated, either.
Remember, the goal is to live purposefully right where we are, with the people who are already around us.
With every day and every decision, we have the opportunity to move in the direction of a purposeful life. One small action or choice at a time. Nobody but you can determine what your life purposes should be for this current time.
But I can help you make those decisions by offering some questions that will help you identify what living with greater purpose looks like in your life.
- Will I look back in six months, or six years, and be glad I spent my time doing this?
- Is this the kind of work that I want to leave as a legacy?
- Am I making the world a better place somehow when I do this? That is, am adding beauty, solving problems, helping others, mentoring others, creating change, etc.?
- How can I do more of what fulfills my soul and brings joy to my heart, and less of what eats away at my soul and fills me with resentment?
- Do I have a long-term vision for this area of my life, or am I merely going through the motions? A purposeful life needs some target to aim for.
When was the last time you pondered your life purpose?
If it’s been a while, maybe it’s time to reconsider what matters to you, and how you can live with greater purpose and clearer direction.
Having a clear sense of purpose isn’t necessary to survive. But it will help you make better decisions and enjoy a more satisfying life.
The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.
Fyodor Dostoevsky
