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How to Find Your Purpose in Life
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Finding your purpose
Many seem to think that purpose comes from your unique gifts and sets you apart from other people. That is only partly true.
Meaningful goals that foster a sense of purpose are ones that can potentially change the lives of other people. It is why a crisis of meaning is often a symptom of isolation.
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Read
Reading connects us to people across time and space.
- Research shows that those who read the Bible more tended to have a stronger sense of purpose.
- Reading fiction also seems to make a difference. By seeing purpose in the lives of other people, we are more likely to see it in our own.
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Find purpose in suffering
Finding purpose is not just an intellectual pursuit, it is something we need to feel. That's why purpose can grow out of suffering.
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Cultivate awe, gratitude, and altruism
Feeling like we're part of something big makes us feel connected. But we also need to feel driven to make a positive impact in the world.
Those who are able to count their blessings are more likely to contribute to the world. People that express behaviors like volunteering or donating have a greater sense of purpose.
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What other people appreciate about you
Appreciation from others fuels our work. Although no research directly explores how being thanked might increase a sense of purpose, we do know that gratitude strengthens relationships, and they are often the source of our purpose.
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Find and build community
We can often find our sense of purpose in the people around us.
If you're having trouble remembering your purpose, take a look at the people around you. Do they have a common goal that can have a positive impact on the world? Can you join with them in making that impact?
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Tell your story
Purpose can arise from curiosity about your own life. When we make a narrative out of our own lives, it gives us clarity on how to understand ourselves and provides a framework to help us make sense of our experiences.
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Finding meaning
Employees who derive meaning from their work are mor...
How to find meaningful work
Define what meaningful work means to you.
Find your own personal satisfaction and connection to your work. It could be the people you work with or a project you are passionate about.
Personal engagement
There’s always some level of personal investment in your work.
If what you're doing has a positive impact, it adds up and makes you feel proud of what you’re working on.
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Key Ideas
Meaning from work
Since the 16th-century Protestant Reformation spawned the work ethic, many believe that the job gives meaning, purpose, and structure to their lives. More than 50 percent of American workers tod...
Self-transcendence
Meaning may be found in self-transcendence (or devoting one’s efforts and energies to something beyond oneself).
Though there are many ways to become part of something bigger, two of the most powerful ways are pursuing mastery and performing acts of kindness.
Pursue long-term progress
Aristotle wrote that the fundamental part of a meaningful life is found in mastery, be it art, intellect, or athletics. Pursuing excellence is not always pleasant and requires exertion, not constant entertainment.
A study found that people who continually developed themselves scored higher on assessments of life satisfaction and self-esteem than those who did not.
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Key Ideas
Emotional Resilience
This is the ability to handle a stressful event or experience without destroying one’s resolve, sense of purpose, or sanity.
An emotionally resilient person can channelize...
Journaling to increase emotional stamina
Reflective journaling as a daily practice helps us improve our emotional stamina.
Writing down our experiences leads to new insights and a deeper understanding of our behaviour and actions. Writing down your failures and successes also helps us self-analyze our life in an objective, detached way. One can choose a pen and paper or digital format to write and make it a point to write when one experiences highs and lows in life.
Self-Compassion
We have to take care not to damage our self-esteem and our sense of self-worth by being judgemental about ourselves.
Embracing one’s imperfect moments with kindness and grace, makes us see the positive aspects of the situation and helps us learn from our mistakes. Meditation and certain thought exercises that steer our mind towards positivity, help us in being compassionate towards ourselves.