Finding Your Purpose

Today, I am presenting a topic that has given me grief over the years. From high school until now, I guess I have been wrestling with my purpose in life. When I was in high school and undergrad, the question was more so, who am I? I still don’t know the answer to that.

It is easier to define others than it is to define yourself. Because when you define yourself, you start eliminating your three-dimensionality. You stick yourself in a box and on the inside, subconsciously, you know that you cannot fit in a box. You are a friend, sister, brother, student, karaoke-singer and even now, those labels are boxing you up.

What does defining who you are have to do with finding your purpose?

You have to know yourself to know your purpose. Not who people say you are! But who are you really when the doors close? What do you enjoy? What makes you tick? What do you spend extra time on?

Maybe you love fitness science and nutrition. Really, get to know yourself. Spend time alone with yourself and figure yourself out. Know your skillset and your talents. Understand what you are good at and not so good at.

If you have trouble figuring out what you’re good at, ask your friends and family. You’ll be amazed at what they’ll tell you. If the stars align, you’ll be good at what you enjoy.

What were you like as a child?

I listen to a lot of podcasts and I’ve noticed that there are a lot of habits and passions that follow us from our childhood. What is something that has followed you through life? Were you always good with money and, now, people ask you for financial advice all the time? Maybe your purpose may lie in helping people with their finances.

How can you make an impact in this world?

Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com on Pexels.com

This question is a heavy load. So much pressure but even the smallest stone makes an impact in an ocean. It’s the ripple effect.

Anything you do makes an impact but how does it happen? You do not need to safe the world in order to make an impact. Maybe you enjoy, making music.

Does that make an impact? Does it matter? Of course, it does.

You ever play a song because you know it’s going to cheer you up or it represents your mood at the moment? It’s something that resonates with your soul? That’s how you make an impact.

It’s not only the doctors and the nurses that make an impact. There are subtle ways to make an impact in the world too. Maybe you can use your music to create cultural awareness. The possibilities are endless.

What does the World want? What does the world need?

Chances are the things you notice will be related to something you have interest in. Maybe you realize that the world needs more transparency when it comes to mental health. Okay, so what are you going to do about it? Are you passionate about the issue?

Does the world need more scented candles? It sounds silly. But that’s someone’s purpose. I once listened to a podcast about a woman who created her own candle company out of her passion for scented candles and travel.

The candles also paid tribute to the richness of Harlem. That candle company is called Harlem Candle Company. It’s a luxury candle company. It sells in places in luxury stores. She makes big money too. Apparently the world wanted scented candles.

And don’t think you can only have one purpose in life.

You can have many purposes in life at different phases in your life. I think this is where many of us get stuck. We think that we have to be committed to one purpose all our lives.

My purpose is to be able to inspire people to be their best and keep on going. But it isn’t my only purpose.

Humans have many roles and compartments. Our purpose(s) should be just as complex as us.

How do you want to be remembered or rather what do you want to be remembered for?

Your great strength? Your perserverence? How do you embody that vision? There are so many ways to find your purpose. This is not the only way.

For some people, it will take a downhill fall. You’ll be at your lowest point and it will just hit you. For others, it will be a serendipitous moment that happens while you are at your highest point doing something you love.

For the rest, it may be a little anticlimactic. Maybe, while your at work during your lunch break. But, don’t stress yourself about it.

Do what you love. I don’t think all the people who were great spent hours contemplating about there purpose in life. They just went out and did stuff!

So, go out and do stuff! Dance, write, help people, heal people, and be great! Your purpose is to be great and it will happen. You just have to will it to happen.

Thanks for reading my rant,