Inspirit Personal Growth

We often talk about “finding” our life purpose, however this is misleading because it’s something you already have.   It’s not something that you have to go out and “find,”  but rather something you need to turn within and claim.  Your life purpose is something that matches the essence of who you are.  It will always be something you feel passionate about and that you feel is important.  It will be something you love to do and that you are naturally good at, utilising your talents and interests.  

By identifying your passions, you can discover your true life purpose.  Take a worksheet and fill in some ideas under the headings:  things I feel passionate about; things I love to do, things I am good at.  There may only be a few – that’s okay.  Focus on those that have been in your thoughts a lot, or already a major part of your life.  Look at the lists – do you see any patterns or connections between them? When these things come together, you’ve got a virtual explosion of passion, meaning, fulfillment, empowerment – and purpose!

Every item you’ve written on the lists offer a possibility and each of those possibilities contain still more possibilities!   You may not be able to follow all of them right away, but choose one that speaks to you powerfully and makes you feel excited and joyful, then incorporate others later if you want to.

But . . . what if you still don’t know what your purpose is?  If you found yourself struggling to come up with items to write on the worksheets, take comfort in the knowledge that you’re probably not alone! You may have spent your life doing what was expected of you and you never had the freedom to explore your passions before. Maybe you are so saddled with responsibilities that even now you can’t find time to do the things you love – even if you knew what they were!

The good news is that it’s not going to be difficult to find out. And once you get that ball rolling, your only challenge is going to be choosing between the many choices you have available. To discover your passions, talents, interests and important issues, try one or more of the suggestions that follow.

Think Back to a More Magical Time -  What did you like and dislike when you were a child? What types of television shows did you watch? What toys were your favourites? What costumes did you favour for holidays and special events? Who did you dream of being when you grew up?  These memories hold clues to your authentic self. Even though your actual activities have changed since childhood, it’s likely that you still gravitate toward the same preferences.

Windows to Other Worlds -  Go to the bookshelves in your home. What types of books do you have and what topics? Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?  Which have you read over and over again until they are well-loved and dog-eared? If you’re not a big reader or don’t have any books of your own, take a trip to your local library and walk around.  Which categories make you want to stop and browse some more? Take notes on the types and subjects of books that seem to capture your attention most. You can also use this same technique with magazines, music CDs, and videos/DVDs you have around your home.

The world wide web – Take a look at your Favorites folder. What types of websites do you visit frequently? Do you belong to any forums or groups? You can also visit large, general-interest websites and browse their topics. Click on things that catch your attention and keep a running list so you can explore the topics further later on.

Social Clues – Also be sure to take a closer look at your social life. What do you like to do with friends? What types of activities do you enjoy, with friends and by yourself? Most of us do have a social life, even if it is limited to a few outings a year!

If these don’t yield any clues, try making a list of activities you always WISH you had time to explore. Have you always been fascinated by photography? Do you feel a twinge of longing when you walk through an art museum? Do you have a hard time tearing your gaze away from a gorgeous garden? Keep a running list of activities and subjects you feel even the slightest interest in, and little by little they may blossom into full-blown passions!