by Dr. D Ivan Young, ICF Master Certified Coach
Finding your life purpose may feel overwhelming.
It sounds like you need to have everything figured out. But it’s a gradual process that requires taking consistent steps to aid your development.
Like you, your life purpose can grow and evolve over time.
Obstacles will arise, testing your commitment. You have to remember that life’s struggles facilitate personal growth and provide opportunities for self-improvement.
It’s always a good idea to revisit your life vision, whether you’re starting a new business, becoming a parent, transitioning into a new phase of your relationship, or ending one.
I have worked with many clients who have gone through challenging transitions. I’ve helped them shed unproductive beliefs and behaviors using evidence and research-based coaching approaches. Through collaboration and dedication, I’ve successfully helped them turn those changes into positive outcomes.
It is important to acknowledge the advantages and challenges that come with each stage of life and respond accordingly. Every phase has a distinct purpose, including the one you are currently in.
In order to benefit, you have to recognize the importance of having a life purpose and pursuing it.
How Does Having a Purpose Benefit You?
Those in tune with their life purpose are typically more likely to take care of themselves, physically and mentally. One study even found that those connected to their life purpose were more likely to seek preventative healthcare measures such as a mammogram or colonoscopy³.
Despite the limitations of the study, there’s no doubt that life purpose has a profound effect on happiness, and in turn, one’s ability and desire to care for themself.
But there’s a catch. Self-care is necessary to position yourself to determine and pursue your life purpose.
And before you can accomplish your life purpose, you have to know what it is.
What Does Life Purpose Include?
Life purpose consists of several thigs. It’s influenced by your desires, needs, goals, and values.
These are intricately related. Your goals are usually focused on fulfilling your desires and needs. They’re essentially the delivery method for your values and vision¹. Your values keep you from straying and doing things the “wrong” way.
If the pursuit of your goals doesn’t align with your values, it’s time to rethink your method. Or the goal itself.
Life purpose usually starts with a general goal. From there, you can break it down into small, actionable steps that help you achieve that goal.
For example, maybe you’ve felt fulfillment when helping others who are going through a difficult time. You determine your life’s purpose is to be a caretaker. You can carry out your life purpose in many ways:
- You choose a career as an end-of-life care provider.
- You take care of your family at home.
- You volunteer at a food pantry.
There’s no one way to fulfill your purpose.
You can carry out your purpose in one or all of these ways. You can also take smaller daily actions that improve your life and the lives of those around you.
While it sounds simple, most of us struggle with pinpointing and fulfilling our life purpose.
So how do you make sure you’re on the right path?
How to Live In Alignment With Your Life Purpose
Living your purpose requires consistent action and self-evaluation.
You, as well as every other person, are constantly changing and evolving. So you can’t proclaim your life purpose and assume everything will fall into place.
Your life purpose consists of your desires, needs, and values – areas of your life that can change over time. So your life purpose will likely evolve as these do.
Your goals are likely to change based on which season of life you’re in and how you handle it. So whether your life is being uprooted or you’re going through a quiet and uneventful season, there are several things you can do to make sure you’re moving toward your life purpose.
- Examine what your current situation is teaching you – about yourself and your vision.
Revisiting what you think and why you think it gives you an edge over thoughts and actions that don’t serve your long-term goals.
It helps to keep the big picture in mind when you’re being pushed to your limits.
- Revamp your relationship with resources.
This doesn’t mean just money. Resources can include your relationships, skills, and willingness to adapt.
Evaluate what you’ve been doing and if it’s not working – get rid of it, especially if it includes a toxic relationship.
Maybe it’s time to find new ways to do old things. Find a good business partner, move to a different location, or explore new tools. That’s not to say you should make thoughtless decisions. Take a well-calculated risk.
- Take care of yourself.
It goes without saying. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t accomplish your goals and stick to your values. You have to be in a good place mentally and physically to stay consistent, push past obstacles, and avoid compromising your success.
We’re going to talk about this one more.
Before we do, it’s important to realize all of these steps focus on examining, reevaluating, and restructuring in your personal and professional life.
Your Purpose Is Calling
When your journey becomes difficult, you’ll be tempted to give up and pursue something else.
When we move on from our primary purpose in life and go after a secondary or tertiary purpose that isn’t as emotionally or physically challenging, it usually leads to dissatisfaction and self-doubt². It’s easier to get bogged down by negative imposing thoughts at this point.
And when your quality of life is weakened, you can begin experiencing physical symptoms as well.
Abandoning your purpose has mental and physical consequences.
If you persevere, your health, relationships, and overall well-being will be better.
An ICF Master Certified Coach Can Help With Your Purpose
It’s clear that following your life purpose can greatly improve your quality of life.
Living up to your life’s purpose isn’t easy and it’s not all fun. But it’s more motivating than building someone else’s dream or walking through life with no direction.
If you’re struggling to find your life purpose, or you’ve found it but you’re not sure how to go after it, book a call with me.
We’ll explore your values and goals, as well as how you’re living your purpose in your relationships, career, and day-to-day life. There’s no reason you can’t find fulfillment and happiness.
Bio – Dr. D Ivan Young is an expert on human behavior and relationships. He’s a Master Credentialed expert on personality type, an ICF credentialed Master Certified Coach, a Certified Professional Diversity Coach, and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Dr. Young is also a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council.
3. PDF: https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2003/817143.pdf
https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.1414826111