How to Find Your Purpose & Design The Life You Want
Find your purpose by living a life that is authentically you. Design a life that makes you say, “Pinch me, I must be dreaming!”
Free Wheel of Life Worksheet, so you can find your purpose & design the Life You want!
Finding your purpose in life is not an easy task (if it were, you’d know by now). Living in a society with its own set of “rules” makes it even more of a daunting task. We all want to be able to look back on our lives and say we lived with a purpose.
You’re not alone; many individuals struggle with belonging, having a sense of purpose, and living a life that’s authentically theirs. The good news? You don’t have to stay in a state of panic.
There are methods for figuring out your purpose and living your life with intention. My favorite ways are planning, designing, and auditing.
This post is about how to find your purpose & design the life you want.
Finding your purpose
Finding your purpose and designing the life you want takes effort. You cannot coast by and expect to wake up in your dream life. But what does your higher life even look like?
Creating your life and defining your purpose starts with a vision. Start with a life audit and ask yourself these questions:
Are you currently happy?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What kind of relationships would you like to have? Family, romantically, and/or platonically.
How are your current finances, and what would you like them to be?
Are you happy with your career, or are you looking to pivot?
Are you happy with the amount of money you bring home?
What is your current mental state and where would you like it to be?
Take a weekend to sit down and review your life, organizing your thoughts. This is not the time to critique yourself; it’s all about being honest with yourself. This will allow you to gain clarity and help find your purpose.
There are 8 areas of your life that you should audit:
Personal Growth
Physical Wellbeing
Mental/Spiritual Wellbeing
Home
Career
Finances
Relationships
Recreation
Rate these on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most satisfied and 1 being the least satisfied.
This is the foundation to start planning your authentic, purpose-driven life.
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How to plan your life with a life audit
Starting with a life audit allows you to meet yourself where you are and to have a clearer picture of where you want to go. Once you have your 8 areas rated, focus on 2-3 areas to improve. We do not want to become overwhelmed and quit before we start.
The goal is not to have perfect tens (as that is unrealistic) but to make intentional choices in each area of our lives. This is a journey to self-discovery, so approach this process with a sense of fun, excitement, and an open mind. This is a chance to create a life of your wildest desires.
Personal Growth
There are many books on personal development, spiritual development, and expansion. Humans thrive when constantly learning and expanding. Knowledge truly is power.
Take courses on productivity or budget planning, manifestation, or even Greek and Roman Mythology. You can read books on confidence, becoming a leader, or how to manage your expectations with others. This is how you can shake up a rut and get closer to being authentically you.
Find a mentor or even a role model who has a life that you are “jealous” of. Let that be the fuel to make purposeful choices for the future you deserve.
Physically Wellbeing
This is where you take note of your eating habits, the quality of your movement and rest, and invest in your sense of style.
What do you want to look like? Is there a version of you that excites you? This is where you can create the version of yourself that brings you happiness. Pinterest is a perfect place to draw inspiration for starting to curate your higher self.
Mental Wellbeing
How do you feel on a day-to-day basis? Take slow mornings or days where nothing happens. Resetting your life can begin with indulging in a guilty pleasure or reading a good book. Whatever you do, put the phone or outside noise away and calm your nervous system.
Therapy is also a good option. There is a lot of trauma and behaviors we need to unlearn to move on. Unhealed trauma can lead to self-sabotage, fear of failing, or even stagnation. All of which can create unhappiness and disconnection.
Recreation
Do you have fun? Seriously, are you having fun in your life? Figure out some of your passions, hobbies, and what brings joy. We all need something that is not monetized or meant to be monetized.
Pursue new ideas and become childlike in your passions. Collect trinkets, read more fictional books, or build Legos. Take courses that have nothing to do with your career or business.
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Creating Meaningful Relationships
Life has a way of creating unwanted space in your relationships. Bills, differing schedules, and various other responsibilities all make maintaining relationships hard. From marriage to friendships, to even your own family members, start to take a back seat to life.
Start by reflecting on what relationships you want to strengthen, cut loose, or change. Make an effort to maintain relationships by starting a group text, making weekly or monthly dates, or simply texting/calling more often. You deserve connections with people who add to your life and uplift you.
Home
Nothing feels better after a stressful day than being home in your own personal space. From the decorations to who you allow in your space. Home is truly magical. Home is a safe place. Your home should be where you can detox and draw inspiration.
If you don’t feel safe, remove yourself from that environment as quickly (and safely) as possible. If it’s a matter of not feeling comfortable, try to find ways to make it cozy. What patterns (or lack of) make you happy? What colors are you naturally drawn to? Or maybe you like crystals all over your home.
Whatever it is, your home is your sanctuary and should be designed as such.
Navigating Your Career Goals
You need to be satisfied with your career or know when to pivot if you’re dissatisfied. We are the happiest when our work aligns with our purpose or overall goals. What work sparks joy or a sense of purpose?
We all have to work for an income, so you must enjoy what you do. Your career can either be your passion or fund your passions. Neither is right nor wrong; it’s what you can handle.
You might want to dine at the fanciest restaurants and wear designer clothes, but you may end up working a corporate job. You aren’t passionate about it, but it funds what you are passionate about. Or maybe you take up woodworking because you’ve always wanted to work with your hands and create timeless home decor. You now started your own business, and it pays modestly.
Find a career path that aligns with your goals and the vision you have for yourself.
Finances
How does your bank account look? This is where you would figure out if you are earning your goal income and brainstorm changes.
Are you saving the amount you want to?
Do you have a budget?
What are your spending habits?
What are your investment goals?
If you are dissatisfied in this area, here is your opportunity to make changes. Does your career align with your financial goals? Does your current lifestyle support your goals? How would future you handle their paychecks?
Living with a Purpose
Living with a purpose is a lifestyle. It is a practice of living intentionally. You are making a conscious effort to make choices that align with your core values. By following your plan, you are in control of your life.
You will have a life that people will see and say, “Man, she’s blessed.” When in reality you are living with intention. You’re not just letting life pass you by and dictate your next move.
It doesn’t feel good at first to realize you probably haven’t been living authentically. However, once you finally take inventory of your life, you’ll feel so empowered. This is your only life; you deserve an authentic, purpose-driven one.
