The search for one’s life purpose is among the most rewarding journeys one can ever undertake. It gives meaning to your life, fuels your passion, and directs your efforts toward something greater than yourself. The path leading to finding your purpose, however, is not always straightforward. Most people struggle to identify what they are meant to do with their lives. If you find yourself in that condition, here are four ways to discover your life’s purpose: pain, potential, problem, and platform.
1. Pain, turn your struggles into purpose.
The pain you have had, the struggles you have survived, and the wounds you have healed can give direction toward a meaningful mission. Many people discover their purpose in helping others through similar difficulties.
The depressed person can then become an advocate to share with people and encourage them from his experiences, insight, and wisdom. A person who has lived in poverty may become a financial coach to teach other people how to handle their money. In such a situation, the pain you have experienced empowers you to show empathy toward others and have a profound sense of other people’s battles.
So how do you find your purpose in the pain? Ask yourself, well, a few questions, such as the following:
What have I overcome? How might I use my story to encourage or help others? What did I learn that others could benefit from?
2. Potential, Leveraging your Natural talent
Your clues to your life’s purpose include your unique skills and abilities. Everyone is born with talents, and some of them are natural leaders, others creative problem-solvers, and some have a gift for teaching, organizing, or innovating. Your potential lies in things you do effortlessly and excel at without much struggle. Take some time to reflect on what comes easily to you. For what do people compliment you most? Which things give you energy after doing them, as opposed to taking your energy away? What are your expertise at learning, and enjoying? These might be indicators of what your purpose is.
For instance, one may feel an innate sense of communicating and inspiring people to become a speaker, writer, or coach. People who excel in problem-solving and creativity could easily find satisfaction in entrepreneurship, research, or innovation. Let your potential shine with the help of the following questions:
What do I do better than most people?What comes to me naturally? What activities make me lose track of time?
3. Problem, solving a need in the World leads to purpose
Another way to find your life purpose is through identifying a problem that you feel compelled to solve. Some of the world’s greatest leaders, entrepreneurs, and activists discovered their purpose by trying to solve some pressing issues in society.
Look around and ask yourself: What injustices or challenges deeply move me? What problems do I feel called to solve? It could be environmental sustainability, poverty, education inequality, or access to healthcare. Your purpose may lie in being the solution to a problem that breaks your heart.
For example, if you feel extremely passionate about education, you might strive for higher literacy rates. You might dedicate your life and career to finding ways to live sustainably if you are constantly worried about climate change.
To find your purpose through problem-solving, answer these questions; What injustices in the world touch my heart? What are the things am most passionate about? How can I contribute toward solving this problem?
4. Platform, using your Influence to Make an Impact
A platform is the position from which you use to influence others. Whether you’re a teacher, entrepreneur, artist, or social media personality, you have a sphere of influence that you can use to a higher purpose.
It doesn’t have to be a big platform; it could be at your workplace, within your community, or even a small number of online viewers. The key is using your voice, your skills, and resources to uplift, educate, and inspire others.
For example, a business owner might leverage their enterprise to support good causes. The musician can sing songs that convey hope and harmony among people. A social media influencer can champion a cause through their platform. Your platform can be a dynamic force for positive purpose.
To discover your purpose via your platform, ask yourself:
What platform of influence do I have within my community or industry? How can I use my platform for good in the world? What message or cause would I want to amplify?
One’s life purpose does not just pop into one’s head one morning, but it can be found when pain, potential, problem, and platform are being considered. Your purpose in life can be about the very agony you have experienced, from some inborn talent, from problems that you want to solve, or from the influence you have amongst people. Whichever path you take, remember that your purpose is not just about personal success, but it’s about making a difference in the lives of others
