Everyone in this world has a purpose to fulfill. However, not everyone could actually fulfill their purpose which leads to a wasted life. Many people die with regrets and wish they could change time and do things differently.
That’s why, while you are still alive, you have to find out your purpose and realize it to the best of your ability. Here are some ways you can find your purpose in life and make the most out of it.
1. Understand Your Personality Type
The first thing you want to do is discover your personality type. Everyone has different personalities and it’s best if you are aware of yours.
Now, you may be wondering, why is this important and how does it relate to finding your purpose? Well, it does matter, a lot.
For example, you may have the desire to be a flight attendant, but you are not a people person and you may prefer to be alone most of the time. Then you may want to reconsider your desire to be a flight attendant as it requires the ability to deal with people for a long period of time.
You could get your personality type professionally evaluated by a psychologist or you could take some free online personality type tests to determine your personality. Some online tests you could take include the MBTI test, The Big Five, Enneagram Test and Socionics test.
After taking these tests, you should get a pretty good idea of the type of person you are and could use it to help you navigate your life purpose.
2. Find Out What You’re Good at + Passionate About
After you understand your personality, the next step is to find out the things you are good at and passionate about. Now, it’s important to keep in mind that the things you are passionate about might not be something you’re good at. You can be passionate about sport, for example, but you may not be that good at it. So you have to understand, what was your innate gifts? Everyone has talents, some just take more tries to discover it.
However, if you are really determined to learn something, you can practically learn anything, just some things may take longer and more practices to master if you’re not innately good at it. That’s why it’s best to navigate your purpose in the field you’re actually good at to make life easier for you.
3. Understand Your Positioning in Life
Next, you have to understand your positioning in life. Which stage are you at right now? If you’re still relatively young, you still have plenty of potentials to do practically establish a career or positions in different aspects of life.
However, when you are already a certain age, it’s best to really think through every moves you make in the path to discover your purpose. That’s why timing also matter.
Some things you can start at virtually any age, like a business or picking up a new skill, degree or switching career paths. Maybe starting a new habit or lifestyle choice.
However, some things will be more difficult for you. For example, if you’re a woman in your late fifties and finally realize that your purpose all along was to become a mother, it might be a tad bit too late.
Understanding your positioning in life, as early as possible, will help you to navigate the path you want to take in life and your purpose.
Sure, you can always switch it later on, but it’s best to discover it while you’re still relatively young and have plenty of energy and opportunities to do so.
4. Find The Motive and Plan
Everyone must have that one thing they’ve always wanted to do, an innate desire that’s purely derived from inside the individual. Find that desire and plan on the ways you can realize it.
For example, you’re working a regular 9-5 office job but you have this innate drive to fully dedicate yourself to your artistic endeavor and become a great artist, then you can plan a way to monetize that artistic endeavor so you can do it in the long term.
Do not just quit your job impulsively and spontaneously when you have no plan for yourself because it will make things more difficult for you. Only quit when you are certain this artistic endeavor is sustainable so you can prevent any unnecessary problems caused by impulsivity.
5. Take Action
Last but not least, take actions.
Yes, we know, it’s easier said than done, but remember, nothing will ever be solved or realized if you do not take the actions necessary to achieve it.
Now that you have understood yourself, your passions, your positioning in life, motives and create a plan, time to make all of those come true. If you want to be a doctor and help others, apply for a medical school and work your way up to get your doctoral degree. You want to start a business? Gather your resources, create a marketing plan and start selling your products.
Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. If you want to start something but you know your purpose can only be filled if you move out from your city or country, then do that. Even though you still have to carefully plan it out and it might be scary at first, it’s better than staying stuck wishing you were elsewhere. Don’t forget to work on other things as well like your confidence to boost your opportunities to realize your purpose.
These were some practical ways to fulfill your purpose in life. While you’re on it, don’t forget to enjoy the journey as well and appreciate every steps you make that lead your closer to fulfilling your purpose.
