A personal purpose statement creates clarity and a sense of meaning
Do you ever look at the calendar and wonder how a month (or two or six) seemed to rush by without your notice? Those moments seem to reduce our existence to a series of calendar squares, filled with routine, busy-ness and even monotony. But we’re made for so much more than that, and a personal purpose statement can help you get more out of each day you have been given.
Life in the active setting
That sense of losing weeks or months of your life tends to happen most when you feel compelled to complete tasks and rush to the next milestone. Whether that milestone is the a family birthday, a holiday or something bigger like a promotion at work, momentum pushes you forward in a kind of cruise control.
In those task-driven phases of life, how much satisfaction do you feel? What is your joy to effort ratio? While you might complete a long list of to-dos, does that busy-ness reflect how you were uniquely created to contribute in meaningful ways? If you answer no, it’s time to take your life off cruise and turn on the active setting, which places you in control of examining your intentions, choices and actions. For me, it also includes listening to God.
Ultimately, life satisfaction or transformation occurs when you make choices based on a fundamental sense of purpose and values. Importantly, how you were created by God to contribute is deeply personal. You cannot model your life choices based on anyone else’s path – you might wonder if you are living in the joy of how you were created to contribute.
Connecting with your purpose
Here’s where things can get tricky. Movies and folklore have conditioned us to expect our purpose to knock us over the head in a grand, revelatory moment. While some people describe experiencing an undeniable and loud calling, for many of us, it begins with more of a whisper, or a connection which leads to purposeful contribution.
Choosing to understand your unique intention and path in life requires confidence and an ability to get quiet. Listen within your spirit. Pray. Look for the subtle, quiet signs that you are where you should be. Listen and look for what you are missing.
Many people miss those opportunities because they are too busy trying to live up to others’ expectations of a successful life. Your successful life will not match anyone else’s successful life. Your path can become as uncommon and as beautiful as you are.
In a blog post about finding purpose in midlife (and, beautifully, renaming midlife as midlove), sociologist and author Brené Brown wrote this heart-wrenching line:
“I was incredibly busy proving myself in all of my different roles (mother, professor, researcher, writer, friend, sister, daughter, wife), so much so that it was difficult for any emotion other than fear to grab my attention. However, I do remember flashes of wondering if I’d always be too afraid to let myself be truly seen and known.”
That fear and need to prove our worth can derail many of us from our true selves and from how we were created to contribute. Whether you find yourself questioning who you are at 18, 38 or 78, you can choose to pause, listen and live out of the depth of your gifts you were designed with when God created you. I imagine your joy will increase and your efforts will decrease in this satisfying place.
More than a series of goals
Life is not a checklist. Setting and meeting goals is only one piece of the puzzle toward creating a satisfying, purpose-filled life.
Verywellmind reported that:
“The combination of a successful career, a loving family, and a strong social network may seem like the recipe for a perfect life. However, even those who can check each of those boxes might feel like something is missing…Only around 25% of American adults cite having a clear sense of purpose about what makes their lives meaningful.”
You can have perfect grades, a great career path, the right partner or spouse and a huge community of friends – and still feel disconnected from your true self.
When you slowly begin to connect with what really energizes you – your passion or purpose – all those other important aspects of your life thrive even more. Careers and relationships both flourish when the individuals involved have a strong sense of well-being.
So, how can you cultivate more satisfaction in your life? You can begin today by:
Giving back. Studies show that people who volunteer feel a deeper sense of happiness and meaning. Along the way, you might also connect with a new talent or passion that leads you in a new life direction. Volunteer somewhere where you know your skills bring you joy, and others notice.
Asking for input. The people in your life can sometimes see your talents more clearly than you can. Parents, teachers, colleagues, bosses and friends could help you identify skills and talents to explore more deeply. Combine their input with your own intuition and listening to God to weed out anything that falls flat.
Seeking new communities and opportunities. Routine and comfort zones can inhibit creativity and growth. Try something new. Take a class. Join a new social group at church. Visit a new place. New experiences can change your perspective and introduce you to parts of yourself you have not discovered.
Spending time doing what you love. Which activities or interests consistently bring a smile to your face? When you lose track of time and completely immerse yourself in something. Look to those moments for cues about what you really love and where you want to invest your energy.
Tackling a problem. If issues in your neighborhood, community or society keep you up at night, that could be a sign that you can help solve those problems. Look for ways to contribute to social causes and projects that matter to you.
Life satisfaction and transformation, as with everything in life, is not an end point. You get the chance to create it and cultivate it with each new day and throughout your life. Especially in the tough and difficult seasons. When you approach life with intention, you will begin to better understand your unique purpose and develop meaning in your life. You can contribute in the unique ways in which you were created, even if it seems awkward at first.
As a life coach and counselor, I work with individuals and couples at all stages of life. I come alongside you to identity challenges, develop leadership, launch into life or career, identify life mission, and purpose. Together we create victories and I hold you accountable to reach your desired outcomes. Learn more and contact me today for a complimentary, 15-minute needs assessment call.