What is my purpose in life? Discovering Your Purpose
What is my purpose in life might be one of the most difficult, yet the most important question in our lives.
I know people who really struggle with this question for years. Even I, who is thinking about this quite often, don’t have it completely figured out.
Not many people can say they do. Some people never even tried, and in many cases it’s maybe even better for them. 😀
Purpose in life is a very subjective topic and it is completely different to each one of us. In this article we will discuss the basic theory and concepts, paths if you will, that will narrow down your thinking and help you to get closer to the ultimate answer: What is my purpose in life?
Brief overview of the concept of life purpose
“Life becomes truly meaningful when you connect with your purpose. Purpose is what gives life meaning.” - Eleanor Roosevelt:
The concept of life purpose centers on the quest to find meaning, direction, and fulfillment in one’s existence.
It's about understanding why we are here and what we are meant to do, contributing to a sense of significance and satisfaction in our lives.
At its heart, life purpose is the essence of what drives us forward.
Importance of finding one's purpose
If you aim to do anything meaningful with your life, it's very important to have at least partly figured out your life’s purpose.
Plan My Life is all about setting personal goals, and personal goals are tightly interconnected with your 'Why's—e.g., your purpose in life.
Setting goals, with at least partially knowing why I am doing it or where I am heading, is what could easily make the difference between success and failure in achieving our goals.
Finding one’s purpose greatly helps with:
Direction and Clarity
Knowing your purpose provides the significant advantage of understanding exactly where you are heading. Your mind is clear on its goal, maintaining a sharp focus. There is no wandering.
When you know exactly what you want to achieve, you stay motivated and driven.
It allows you to assess risks, weigh alternatives, and choose the best course of action.
When you have a vivid vision of what you want to achieve, you feel more capable and worthy of success.
Everything successful individuals do is consistent with their clarity of purpose, and they actively decide where they want to be.
Increased Motivation and Persistence
Purpose fuels motivation, propelling you forward even when faced with obstacles, because you're driven by a deep sense of meaning.
Having a clear sense of purpose provides intrinsic motivation.
When individuals understand the why behind their actions, they are more likely to be engaged and committed.
Individuals with a strong sense of purpose tend to persist in the face of challenges.
Motivation and her sister procrastination are substantial topics in their own right. The more you understand why you are doing something, the easier it becomes to persist. It's as simple as that.
Enhanced Well-being and Life Satisfaction
It goes without saying that the more you find purpose in your work or, more broadly, in your day-to-day life, the more fulfilled and happier you will be with your life.
It affects many different parts of your life, but for example in your work, as they say: if you love what you do, you won’t work for the rest of your life. If you have your life purpose figured out, and your job aligns with it; Happy life.
Discovering your life purpose and aligning your job with it, for example impacts your work-life balance. As the saying goes, "If you love what you do, you won't work a day in your life." When your career resonates with your life purpose, you're not just working; you're living a life of fulfillment and happiness.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
This is a main topic around motivation and procrastination. When difficult times come, and they sooner or later always come, having a clear sense of purpose provides direction, which GREATLY helps to stay motivated and push through with greater resolve and focus.
Positive Social Impact
When you've figured out your purpose, it's highly probable that you'll excel in your endeavors or find yourself engaged in community work driven by sheer passion. This engagement leaves a positive impact on your community or the public at large, turning personal fulfillment into collective benefit.
Health Benefits
Your body and mind work together. Stress, anxiety, they both have physical manifestations. Having clear purpose in life, reduces both stress and anxiety and helps to live healthier life.
There is no doubt that having at least some sort of understanding of your life purpose is beneficial to our lives in many different ways.
“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
What 'purpose' means in various contexts (philosophical, psychological, spiritual)
The concept of 'purpose' goes through various fields, each offering unique insights into its meaning and significance.
Although maybe not immediately important for your personal purpose search, you might find it interesting to know more about how purpose is viewed across philosophical, psychological, and spiritual contexts.
Philosophical
Sometimes I feel that philosophy was invented for the purpose of finding life purpose. Although, that’s obviously not true, it’s a big part of philosophy, which is often inquiring into the existential aspects of human life.
Philosophically, purpose often ties into the search for meaning and the rationale behind existence and actions.
Psychological
In psychology, purpose is closely linked to motivation and well-being.
Psychologists study purpose through the lens of personal goals, aspirations, and the pursuit of activities that align with one's inner values and contribute to a sense of fulfillment and identity.
Spiritual
Spiritually, purpose often involves a quest for connection to something greater than oneself.
In many spiritual contexts, purpose is not just about individual fulfillment but about contributing to the collective good, nurturing connections with others, and aligning one's life with transcendent values or the divine will.
In general, the exploration of purpose addresses fundamental questions about why we exist, what we strive for, and how we find fulfillment and contentment in our lives.
Historical Perspectives on Purpose
Philosophical Perspectives
Ancient Greek Philosophy
For philosophers like Aristotle, purpose (or "telos") was central to understanding ethics and the nature of life itself. Aristotle believed that everything in nature has a purpose, including humans, whose highest purpose is to attain eudaimonia (often translated as 'flourishing' or 'happiness') through the practice of virtue.
Existentialism
Existentialist philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Friedrich Nietzsche challenged traditional notions of predetermined purpose. They argued that life inherently lacks purpose, and it's up to the individual to create their own meaning through choices and actions.
Stoicism
Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca focused on living in accordance with nature and reason as the purpose of human life. They emphasized virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance as means to live a fulfilling life.
Cultural Interpretations
Eastern Philosophies
In Hinduism, the concept of "dharma" denotes behaviours that are considered to be in accord with Ṛta—the "order and custom" that makes life and universe possible. This includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living". Similarly, Buddhism speaks of "dhamma," the path of righteousness and living one's life according to the natural laws of the universe.
Indigenous Cultures
Many Indigenous cultures view purpose through the lens of community and connection to the land. Purpose is often seen as living in harmony with nature and fulfilling roles that support the well-being of the community and future generations.
The Abrahamic Religions
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, purpose is often connected to fulfilling God's will and living a life that aligns with religious teachings and virtues. The concept of serving others and contributing to the greater good is emphasized as part of one's divine purpose.
Modern Perspectives
The Human Potential Movement
Emerging in the mid-20th century, this movement emphasizes self-actualization and finding personal purpose through exploring and realizing one's unique potential and talents.
Positive Psychology
This contemporary field of psychology focuses on what makes life worth living, studying purpose as a key component of happiness and well-being. Researchers in this field investigate how having a sense of purpose impacts health, longevity, and life satisfaction.
The Psychology of Purpose
The exploration of purpose within the field of psychology brought significant insights into how having a sense of purpose influences various aspects of our life.
The Impact on Mental Health
For example, a study published in Journal of Clinical Psychology found that purposeful living is inversely related to symptoms of depression and anxiety, suggesting that having a life purpose serves as a protective factor against mental health challenges.
Basically, individuals with a clear sense of purpose experience lower levels of depression and anxiety.
The meta-analysis involved systematically collecting and synthesizing findings from various individual studies to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of this topic. After a thorough screening, the final analysis included data from 89 studies encompassing over 66,000 participants.
The researchers found that:
A higher sense of purpose in life was strongly associated with lower levels of depression. The effect size for this relationship, measured as a correlation coefficient, was 0.49. This indicates that as the sense of purpose in a person’s life increases, the symptoms of depression significantly decrease.
The relationship between a sense of purpose and anxiety, though still negative, was moderate compared to depression. The effect size here was 0.36, suggesting that a greater sense of purpose is also associated with reduced anxiety levels, but the association is not as strong as it is with depression
Purpose and Well-being
Studies in positive psychology, notably those by Dr. Martin Seligman, highlight the role of purpose as a critical component of well-being.
Research suggests that individuals who report a strong sense of purpose tend to have higher levels of happiness and well-being. This is articulated in Seligman's PERMA model, where Purpose is identified as one of the five essential elements contributing to lasting well-being.
Positive Emotions (P): Experiencing positive emotions, joy, and pleasure contributes to overall well-being. It makes sense right? When you are happy, it’s difficult to be depressed.
Engagement (E): Being fully engaged in activities that challenge and absorb you leads to a sense of fulfillment.
Positive Relationships (R): Meaningful connections with others foster well-being. Humans are a social creatures.
Meaning (M): Having a sense of purpose and understanding the significance of your actions contributes to lasting well-being. As it was already mentioned above, I assume if you have meaning it’s more difficult to be depressed and being anxious even during the challenging times.
Accomplishments (A): Achieving goals and accomplishments provides a sense of fulfillment and purpose. This is obvious.
Seligman’s PERMA model emphasizes that these elements are pursued for their intrinsic value and contribute independently to overall well-being.
Although, I can imagine situations when you can feel a great sense of accomplishment even if the goal is coming from the extrinsic value, e.g. for reward.
Longevity and Physical Health
Perhaps one of the most striking findings is the association between purpose and longevity.
A groundbreaking study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine investigated the relationship between purpose in life and health outcomes, specifically focusing on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events.
This research underscores the idea that purpose not only enriches life quality but may also extend life itself.
Resilience and Recovery
Psychological research also delves into how purpose influences resilience.
Studies, such as those examining survivors of trauma, reveal that those with a strong sense of purpose recover more effectively and are less likely to succumb to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Having a sense of purpose also plays a vital role in trauma recovery. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms, evidence suggests that purposeful living positively impacts mental health outcomes.
Motivation and Achievement
Dr. Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist best known for her work on the concept of a “growth mindset”, has made significant contributions to our understanding of motivation, mindset, and achievement.
Purpose-driven individuals are more likely to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and achieve their goals.
The Neuroscience of Purpose
Recent advancements in neuroscience have begun to shed light on what happens in our brains when we engage with life in a purpose-driven way.
Enhanced Brain Functioning
Research indicates that individuals with a strong sense of purpose exhibit more resilient brain functioning, particularly in areas related to executive function, which includes planning, decision-making, and impulse control.
Living purposefully can strengthen neural pathways that facilitate cognitive processes, making it easier to set goals, make decisions, and navigate complex social situations.
Purpose seems to enhance neural plasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire and form new connections.
Dopamine and Reward Pathways
Purposeful living is associated with increased activation of the brain's reward pathways, particularly through the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.
When we make progress toward purpose-driven goals, our brain rewards us by releasing dopamine, reinforcing behaviors motivating us to continue pursuing meaningful objectives.
Over time, through repeated exposures, this leads to learned behaviors or habits aligned with our sense of purpose.
Stress Response and Resilience
Neuroscientific studies have shown that a strong sense of purpose can modulate the brain's response to stress.
Individuals with a clear purpose tend to exhibit lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and have a more robust activation of the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate emotional responses.
This neurological resilience makes purpose-driven individuals better equipped to handle stress and recover from adversity.
The very easy to understand example which most of us will be able to align with is the job loss.
Job loss can be a very stressful situation. Especially when the stakes are high; family to feed, mortgage to pay, market is down, etc.
You can very easily get into panic attacks, anxiety, depression. Your brain is going to override and it’s difficult to focus on anything, even the most important thing.
Having a clear purpose (basically you know what you want to do next), in combination of solid planning habits, you can focus your mind and keep working on the most important task at hand, which in return reduces your stress and anxiety.
If you know what you are doing and why, there is no point of being stress about it.
All this is backed by studies:
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a crucial brain region involved in higher cognition, working memory, decision-making, and emotional regulation
As mentioned above, purpose-driven individuals often exhibit a more robust activation of the PFC. This activation helps regulate emotional responses and contributes to overall resilience.
Cortisol, the stress hormone, plays a pivotal role in our body’s response to stress.
Purpose driven individual’s PFC remains more adaptable and functional even under stress.
This resilience allows them to handle challenges effectively and recover more swiftly
Increased Neural Connectivity
Engaging in purposeful activities has been linked to enhanced connectivity within the brain, particularly between regions involved in cognitive control (such as the prefrontal cortex) and emotional regulation (such as the amygdala).
This interconnectedness facilitates a more integrated approach to processing life experiences, enabling individuals to navigate challenges with greater emotional intelligence and cognitive clarity.
The increased connectivity within the prefrontal cortex allows for better decision-making, planning, and emotional regulation.
Purposeful living strengthens the connectivity between the amygdala and frontal regions. This interconnectedness facilitates a more integrated approach to processing life experiences.
Purpose-driven individuals navigate challenges with greater emotional intelligence. Enhanced connectivity enables them to recognize emotions, regulate reactions, and maintain clarity during adversity.
Long-Term Brain Health
Living with a sense of purpose may also contribute to long-term brain health.
Studies suggest that individuals with high levels of purpose are at a reduced risk for cognitive decline (cognitive decline refers to deterioration in functions such as thinking, memory, understanding, and learning) and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.
The protective effect of purpose on brain health is thought to stem from a combination of enhanced cognitive engagement, reduced stress levels, and healthier lifestyle choices that often accompany purposeful living.
Regularly challenging the brain through purpose-driven tasks helps maintain cognitive function.
Whether it’s pursuing hobbies, volunteering, or meaningful work, cognitive engagement is a protective factor.
As already mentioned above, purposeful living is linked to reduced stress levels and chronic stress negatively impacts brain health, but purpose acts as a buffer. So, lower stress contributes to healthier brain function and resilience.
Plus a purpose-driven individuals tend to make healthier lifestyle choices. They prioritize self-care, exercise, and balanced nutrition. These lifestyle factors directly impact brain health and reduce the risk of neurological diseases.
The neuroscience of purpose paints a compelling picture of how living with intention and meaning positively influences our brain's functioning and structure.
I am sure if you think about your life and lives of people around you will find many experiences that would partly match what you’ve just read.
With a clear life purpose you plan, you work on your plans, you engage your brain, you mostly live healthier lifestyle, which again helps your body and brain.
I'm confident that if you reflect on your own life and observe those around you, you'll find many experiences that align with what you've just read.
With a clear life purpose, you not only plan and work on those plans, but you also leave a healthier lifestyle, benefiting both your body and mind.
Finding Your Purpose
Finding your purpose is not an easy task. For some, it comes naturally, and I consider these individuals very fortunate.
For many of us, figuring out our purpose in life is akin to a quest for the Holy Grail. A fortunate few might discover it early in life (which is the best), many of us may come close, and a handful might never find it.
In any case, it’s important, as you could get from all the content above, to at least try.
Techniques and Exercises for Introspection
Journaling
Begin a journaling practice to explore your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to various life events. Journaling is exceptionally effective at archiving your ideas, ensuring they're there for your future reference.
For me, the most significant benefit of journaling is its ability to declutter my mind. Throughout the day, my mind processes numerous thoughts and generates many new ideas. Writing these down at the end of the day, or as the first thing in the morning, helps clear the mind's buffer. This practice allows me to focus on other tasks with the confidence that I won’t lose these insights.
This principle mirrors the importance of setting goals. Without clear goals, it's easy to flit from one activity to another, never fully engaging or excelling in any area. Journaling, like goal setting, fosters focus and direction.
Meditation and Mindfulness:
Incorporate meditation or mindfulness practices into your daily routine. These practices can significantly quiet the mind, making it easier to tune into your inner voice and intuition. Such inner guidance is invaluable for nudging you toward understanding your true purpose.
Your mind knows you. Surely, you’ve experienced those moments when your subconscious seems to whisper advice, yet you choose a different path—only to later wish you had listened to that inner counsel.
So, listen to it. Meditation can serve as a bridge to better understanding and alignment with your subconscious mind.
Life Mapping/Go Back In Time
Create a life map that includes significant events, achievements, and turning points in your life.
Look for patterns or themes that might indicate your deeper interests and motivations.
Identify the times when you were happiest
What were you doing?
What factors contributed to your happiness?
Identify the times when you were most fulfilled and satisfied
What need or desire was fulfilled?
How and why did the experience give your life meaning?
What other factors contributed to your feelings of fulfillment?
The Five Whys
Use the "Five Whys" technique to explore your motivations. Start with a statement like "I want to change careers" and ask "why?" five times in succession to drill down into the deeper reason behind your desires.
The purpose of exercises like the Five Whys is to find out your core values. Understanding these values is important for defining your life purpose, as they work together to clarify your vision of an ideal life.
By engaging in these practices, you can refine your focus on finding what truly constitutes your dream life.
Identifying Passions, Strengths, and Values
These techniques overlap with the exercises for the introspection.
Passions
List Making: Make a list of activities, topics, or causes you feel passionately about. Reflect on times you've been so absorbed in an activity that you lost track of time.
Experimentation: Try new activities that spark your interest. Pay attention to how these experiences make you feel to discover hidden passions.
Strengths:
Feedback Analysis: Ask friends, family, and colleagues what strengths they see in you. Often, others can offer valuable insights into talents you might overlook.
Strengths Assessments: Consider taking formal assessments, such as the VIA Character Strengths Survey or the CliftonStrengths assessment, to gain a structured understanding of your strengths.
Values:
Values Exercises: Engage in exercises designed to help you articulate your core values. One approach is to choose from a list of core values the ones that resonate with you most and then narrow the list down to your top five.
Reflect on Influences/heroes: Think about people you admire and why. Reflecting on the qualities of those you respect can offer clues to your own values.
Life Experiences and Purpose
There are many events in your life that could push you to finally realize what you truly value and what you want to achieve in life, or it can change your purpose in some way even when you thought you have it figured out already.
Major Milestones
Significant Achievements
Graduations, promotions, or completing major projects often prompt reflection on our journey and aspirations, helping clarify future directions.
Relationships
Forming or ending significant relationships, including friendships, romantic partnerships, and familial bonds, can profoundly affect our priorities and sense of purpose.
Experience like marriage or divorce could put a lot of stress on your life purpose in a very positive or very challenging ways.
Take, for instance, my wife's experience. When she met me, she had plans to return to her home country. However, choosing to marry me meant deciding to stay in our current country. While this has been a positive change overall, it also introduced considerable pressure on her life purpose. The career and goals she was pursuing back home are not entirely feasible here.
Years later, she continues to work on the complexities of realigning her purpose with her new reality.
Parenthood
The experience of becoming a parent often brings new levels of responsibility and a reevaluation of what matters most, potentially reshaping life’s purpose.
Nothing in my life has had as monumental an impact as becoming a parent.
The arrival of a child can sharply narrow your focus in life, funneling your priorities and energies into what truly matters. Surprisingly, it also boosts productivity remarkably. The constraints on your time become a powerful motivator, pushing you to accomplish more within the limited windows available.
Transitions and Changes
Career Changes
Switching careers or facing unemployment can prompt deep introspection about one's true calling and professional aspirations.
There are countless stories of individuals who, upon being fired, chose to chase their dreams and found success.
My own experience of losing my job during a downturn in the job market forced me to reassess and significantly realign my life priorities. While the process was fraught with stress, it paradoxically honed my focus, helping me to recalibrate my efforts towards achieving my life purpose.
When you combine this with fresh parenthood, it can be a significant moment which helps you to narrow down your purpose in life.
Relocation
Moving to a new city or country can expose individuals to different cultures and perspectives, inspiring new goals or a redefined sense of purpose.
In my life, I've had the opportunity to move to a different country twice, each time, obviously, undergoing a life-changing experience. These relocations brought some clarity to what I truly want in life, serving as pivotal moments that reshaped my path.
Challenges and Adversities
Health Challenges
Personal or loved ones’ health crises can lead to a heightened appreciation for life, compelling us to focus on what’s genuinely important.
This story is as ancient as humanity itself: when faced with a life-threatening illness, individuals are compelled to reassess and realign their life priorities. Such moments of crisis bring forward what truly matters, prompting a reevaluation of one's path and purpose.
The first thing that comes to mind is that people start to write down their bucket list.
Loss and Grief
The loss of a loved one often provokes contemplation on the meaning of life and our legacy, urging us towards a purpose that honors those we’ve lost.
Again, another story as old as times. Usually, this has mostly negative ending, in a sense that the loss of loved one makes people to loose their purpose in life and give up.
Moments of Reflection
Travel and Exploration
Experiencing new places and cultures can broaden horizons and inspire a reevaluation of life’s objectives and purpose.
For me, traveling is one of the most important things in life. Seeing how people around the world are struggling with similar issues like us and how they deal with life in different ways makes you think and grow as a human being.
Spiritual or Religious Experiences
Moments of spiritual awakening or deep religious experiences often lead to profound insights into one's purpose and place in the world.
Although, I am not religious, I saw many people around me who found their purpose thanks to religion.
Volunteering and Philanthropy
Engaging in selfless acts and contributing to the welfare of others can unveil passions and a purpose centered around service and impact.
Purpose Across Different Life Stages
The search for purpose evolves throughout the various stages of life, each bringing its own set of challenges and opportunities for discovery and fulfillment.
Youth and Early Adulthood
Early life stages are often marked by exploration and the pressure of societal expectations, from choosing a career path to establishing independence.
It’s easy to struggle with the paradox of choice, especially in the age of social media, and the fear of commitment to a single direction.
At the same time it’s the best time for exploration and self-discovery because you don’t have any burdens and responsibilities that come later in life.
It’s very important to learn and travel (explore) so you can broaden your perspectives and ignite passions.
If you can find your life purpose in your early age you might be very fortunate and on the path to a huge success in that area of your life.
Midlife and Reevaluating Purpose
Midlife often brings a reevaluation of earlier life choices and achievements, sometimes leading to a phenomenon commonly referred to as the "midlife crisis." The realization that time is finite can prompt a deep questioning of one’s accomplishments and future legacy.
Having a life purpose, even if only partly defined, along with personal goals aligned with that purpose, can be immensely beneficial when going through the midlife crisis.
One positive aspect of reaching this stage is the advantageous position you likely find yourself in to pursue your life purpose more vigorously. With the experience, resources, and a solid foundation (such as a home and family) already established, you're well-equipped to take more assertive steps towards realizing your aspirations.
Later Life and Legacy
Later life stages can be accompanied by reflections on missed opportunities and the challenges of adjusting to retirement, health issues, or the loss of loved ones. There can be a sense of urgency to find or fulfill one’s purpose before it’s too late.
These years are rich with the potential to mentor younger generations, share wisdom, and focus on creating a lasting legacy. There’s an opportunity to invest time in passions perhaps previously sidelined by career or family obligations, contributing to a sense of fulfillment and completion.
Across all stages, the quest for purpose is deeply personal and subject to shifts in response to life’s changing circumstances and growth.
Living with Purpose
Now we are going to explore how to actively integrate your purpose into every aspect of your existence, overcome the inevitable challenges that arise, and measure your progress and growth along the way.
Aligning Life with Purpose
Set Purpose-Driven Goals
Ideally all your goals should be purpose-driven as this will give you the advantage of intrinsic motivation, e.g. you are highly motivated to achieve them because they matter to you on a personal level.
These should cover various aspects of your life, from career and education to personal development and relationships.
Make Purposeful Choices
Evaluate your daily decisions and actions through the lens of your purpose. Ask yourself if what you’re doing today moves you closer to your goals.
Incorporate Rituals and Routines
Build daily or weekly rituals that remind you of and reinforce your purpose. This could be as simple as morning reflection, journaling, or volunteering your time.
Align Your Career
Seek roles and opportunities that resonate with your purpose. If a direct alignment isn’t possible, find ways to infuse your current role with purposeful activities or advocate for changes that align with your values.
Overcoming Obstacles
Societal Pressures
Remain steadfast in the face of societal expectations that may not align with your purpose.
Building a support network of like-minded individuals can provide encouragement and strength.
Many great people resisted the societal rejections and pressures just to do amazing things. It’s normal and having a clear purpose make this easier to overcome.
Fear of Change
Sometimes following your life purpose require radical changes in your life. Quitting your job, breaking the relationships and so on. Although very difficult sometimes it’s inevitable to overcome your fear to be able to be happy.
Embrace the discomfort of change as a sign of growth. Small, incremental steps can help manage fear and build confidence over time.
Financial Constraints
Financial realities can sometimes limit immediate pursuit of purpose-driven changes, especially in career.
I know the feeling of being stuck in job you don’t like, job that has nothing with your life purpose, but the job that pays the mortgage.
If you plan it right and budget your life properly, the change might be possible.
Measuring Success and Growth
Define Your Own Metrics
Success in a purposeful life is highly personal.
Define what success looks like for you, whether it's impact on others, personal growth, or achieving specific milestones.
This is something personal goals can help you with very well. Plan My Life servers exactly this purpose.
Regular Reflection
Set aside regular times for reflection on your progress. Assess not just what you’ve achieved, but how aligned those achievements are with your purpose.
Again, if you do life planning with Plan My Life you can do regular reflections.
Seek Feedback
Engage with trusted friends, mentors, or coaches who understand your purpose and can provide honest feedback on your journey and growth.
Adjust and Evolve
Nothing is ever set in stone. Be open to refining your understanding of your purpose and adjusting your goals as you grow and learn. Purposeful living is a dynamic process that evolves with you.
