How To Find Purpose In Your Life With 7 Great Questions

Share this content :

Have you ever wondered why things don’t seem to fall into place? Sometimes, life can be tricky and confusing. Even the most talented and knowledgeable people can end up feeling lost. If you’re wondering why you can’t seem to find direction, it could be a lack of purpose in life. By knowing what this means, you can understand what you’re missing and how you can start to find your way again. If you want to know how to find purpose in your life, here’s how you can get started.

Why do I need to know “how to find my purpose in life”?

When you feel like you’re lost and hopeless, it could be from a lack of purpose. Sometimes, things don’t seem to make sense or have meaning. Learning how to find purpose in your life is all about understanding yourself and what you want. That’s why those who feel directionless can seem irritable, unhappy, and unmotivated.

Another reason why you should learn how to find purpose in your life is to develop the right habits. People who lack purpose can easily fall into vices. For example, drinking can be fun if you do so on occasion. However, some people make drinking part of their daily life because they feel unhappy or confused. It’s not easy to change this once started, and it can lead to serious problems. If you want to change how you are, you can start by knowing how to find purpose in your life.

Why do I feel like I lack purpose in life?

Statistics show that 57% of Americans wonder about finding more purpose in their lives every month. The reason why can vary from person to person. Some might feel unhappy with the way their lives have changed, while others might be confused about what they really want. To help you understand yourself better, here are five possible reasons why you don’t know how to find purpose in your life.

You feel unsatisfied with the way things are, even if they’re good.

A survey revealed that 4 out of 5 Americans believe that there is an ultimate purpose and plan for their life. Whether it’s destiny, goals, or even ideal futures, they believe their lives are meant to do something. Now, imagine if you knew you were meant for more things but you weren’t doing enough. That could cause you to feel unhappy and unsafe about how your life is going. If you constantly find yourself unsatisfied with the way things are, you might question your own worth. This can be why you struggle to know how to find purpose in your life.

You feel trapped or stuck.

Everything in the world today needs to grow. The plants turn into healthy and strong flora. The animals develop into healthy survivors out in the wild and in domestic life. As a human, you also share that same need to grow. That’s why learning how to find purpose in your life can be so life-changing.

However, if you don’t know how to find purpose in your life, you might feel trapped. Life can seem like a rut that you can’t escape, especially if you lack direction. One reason could be that you don’t have enough goals, which leaves your potential unfulfilled. You could also live a routine that doesn’t maximize your abilities, like a sedentary lifestyle. Mix it all together, and you end up with a routine that makes you feel caged and unsatisfied.

You focus so much on one aspect.

If you look at any movie or video game review, you’ll find that the best ones seem to meet all the criteria. In other words, they seem to be holistic or complete. Similarly, humans view a great life as one that meets all the requirements. When you understand how to find purpose in your life, everything seems to make sense and feel complete.

However, one reason why you don’t know how to find purpose in your life is because you get tunnel vision. Those who only care about a certain aspect, such as money or social status, don’t get to enjoy everything. They can be experts in one field, but that leaves them unbalanced. The key to life isn’t to excel in everything but to balance it all out. Unless you discover how to find purpose in your life, you could be successful in one area and still feel unhappy.

You constantly compare and adjust to others.

Keeping up with the Joneses is never a wise move. While culture can change and trends come and go, it shouldn’t be how you define your life. You can’t live just to satisfy the expectations and rules of other people. Remember, this is about learning how to find purpose in your life, not to satisfy other people’s requirements. If you only care about how you seem to others, you only lose time to focus on the most important person: you.

You avoid reflecting on your life.

Studies show that 95% of people believe that they are self-aware. However, according to psychologist Tasha Eurich, only about 15% are truly self-aware. In other words, most people are either lying to themselves about being self-aware or do not understand what that means. If you’re not in the 15%, it’s easy to see why you struggle to understand how to find purpose in your life.

If you want to know how to find purpose in your life, remember that it requires plenty of self-reflection. Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses can push you to grow. However, if you don’t take time to reflect on yourself, you might not be able to see the way ahead. It’d be like getting blindfolded, only to claim that you look good in the mirror. Even if it’s true, you will never be sure.

What should I ask to help me find purpose in life?

The best way to learn how to find purpose in your life is to understand yourself better. These questions can help you determine who you are and how you operate. The best part is that there isn’t a right or wrong answer. As long as you believe in your answer, you’ll discover how to find purpose in your life and make it meaningful!

1. Are you a builder or a maintainer?

Have you ever wondered what kind of career you should have? If not, that might be why you don’t know how to find purpose in your life. Careers aren’t only about work and pay. It’s how you establish your identity and focus, both for yourself and for the community.

To start understanding how to find purpose in your life, ask yourself if you are a “builder” or a “maintainer”. Each type shows off a specific talent or focus when you handle your career. Builders are people who thrive on creating something new, whether it’s a project or an idea. Maintainers are those who like to supervise and optimize existing systems and things. Once you know which side you prefer, learning how to find purpose in your life becomes easier!

2. Do you want to work with your current skills or gain new ones?

Once you know the type of career individual you want to be, it’s time to look at your skills. Do you think you are equipped enough to do work and do you think that there are other skills you need to learn? Part of understanding how to find purpose in your life is knowing what you can do, after all.

The reality is that both answers aren’t mutually exclusive. You could have skills you want to perfect and skills you want to learn. The key is to choose which of these comes first. A person who learns new skills is open to exploring different pathways. Meanwhile, someone who focuses on honing their current skills is all about practice and perfection. Knowing which option takes priority can show you how to find purpose in your life through your talents.

3. What level of freedom do you want to have?

Knowing what kind of freedom or control you want over your life and career is crucial. Some people like to be in charge of their affairs. Others might prefer having a structure or system in place to control what they do and how they do it. Sometimes, learning how to find purpose in your life means knowing how much control you want to have.

4. How much interaction do you prefer?

The amount of interaction you have with others can show what kind of person you are. Some people like to isolate themselves or limit their interaction with people to a minimum. Others prefer being surrounded by like-minded folks, both at work and in their personal lives. The key to knowing how to find purpose in your life can also depend on how you choose to socialize. Keep in mind that it’s okay to want alone time in either scenario.

5. What level of authority are you comfortable with?

Learning how to find purpose in your life doesn’t mean calling the shots for yourself. It can also depend on how you exert your influence on other people. Are you someone who prefers to take charge and drive others to excel? Or do you see yourself as a collaborative mind? Understanding this can show how you approach a situation.

For example, imagine that you and two of your close friends are going to make dinner together. Do you want to suggest and cooperate on what dish to make? Or do you want to take charge and choose a dish you know that everyone will like? If you want to know how to find purpose in your life, you might need to consider how you shape your authority.

6. Do you want to be in the spotlight?

This question might seem misleading, especially if your job doesn’t seem glamorous. However, being in the spotlight isn’t necessarily about fans or paparazzi. Generally speaking, different jobs offer different levels of attention and recognition. Some have you stepping out into the open, while others put you behind the scenes. Knowing how to find purpose in your life can depend on how much attention you want on yourself.

7. Do you have a work-life balance?

Whatever lifestyle you choose, remember that knowing how to find purpose in your life relies on balance. Everything should be in order, especially the connection between work and life. Contrary to popular belief, the most successful people aren’t mindless workaholics. For example, Bill Gates knows how to divide his time between leading Microsoft and raising his children. It’s not a mutually exclusive issue: for Bill, both sides are important to him.

For this last question, the key to learning how to find purpose in your life is to understand if everything is balanced. A good life isn’t about being rich or having lots of family time. It should always be about balancing your work and your personal needs together. That’s when you can truly understand who you are.

Takeaways

Feeling lost or directionless can stem from a lack of purpose in life.
Understanding your purpose can lead to healthier habits and greater satisfaction.
Many Americans frequently wonder about how to find purpose in their lives.
Dissatisfaction with your life, even when it's good, can indicate a lack of purpose.
Feeling trapped or stuck can be a sign of not knowing your purpose.
Focusing too much on one aspect of life can prevent you from finding a balanced purpose.
Constant comparison to others can distract you from learning how to find purpose in your life.
Avoiding self-reflection can make it harder to identify your purpose.
There are key questions you should ask yourself to understand how to find purpose in your life. These are:
Are you a builder or maintainer?
Do you want to work with your current skills or gain new ones?
What level of freedom and interaction do you want?
What level of authority are you comfortable with?
Do you want to be in the spotlight?
Do you have a work-life balance?

The key to understanding how to find purpose in your life is through reflection and balance. By understanding yourself and what you want, you can discover your path in life and the various aspects it contains.

Article Sources

Ali, M. (2022, November 16). Lost? Here’s What To Do With Your Life Right NOW [Video].
Earls, A. (2021, April 6). Americans’ Views of Life’s Meaning and Purpose Are Changing. Lifeway Research.
Gordon, C. (2019, February 1). The Importance of Self-Awareness with Tasha Eurich. Blanchard LeaderChat.
JenniferLion. Accessed on April 19, 2023. 6 Reasons Why You Haven’t Found Your Life Purpose Yet. JenniferLion.
McCraw, M. (2017, February 2). Builder or Maintainer? LinkedIn.
Provost, S. (2013, August 29). 5 Reasons Why Most People Never Discover Their Purpose: Living and working with purpose is a process of self-discovery–and one most of us never let ourselves undergo. Inc.
Tao, W., Zhao, D., Yue, H., Horton, I., Tian, X., Xu, Z., & Sun, H.-J. (2022). The Influence of Growth Mindset on the Mental Health and Life Events of College Students. Frontier Psychology, Volume 13, 2022.
WellBe. (2020, November 9). Internal Reasons Why You’re Feeling A Lack of Purpose. Medium.