Confused When You Google "Life Purpose"?

Google "find my life purpose" and you'll come up with lots of coaches, blogs, youtube videos and websites offering you lots of questions to ask yourself to get closer to your life purpose.  And they're not wrong, but here's the thing: you can answer so many questions that you just end up feeling confused. 

We're complex beings and we don't always like the same things all the time: you might love to drive, but after 1,000 miles or so you might find it's not as appealing as it used to be.  Or you can enjoy two seemingly contradictory things at the same time: have you ever been on an extended holiday only to find yourself looking forward to getting back home (or even, getting back to work).  So, there might not just be one answer to the questions that you ask yourself.

The other problem with seeking your life purpose is the answer that you might come up with.  You might love to work as a carer, but if you're earning higher rate wages, that might not be a viable option.  So it's time to get creative.

One way to get closer to your life purpose is to ask what you like about a particular activity or what it gives you.

For example, one of the jobs I loved doing most was waitressing, but it's really hard work for not great wages and I was qualified to get more money for less cash, so the waitressing had to stay a part-time/uni break occupation.

However, when I break down WHY I loved waitressing so much and WHAT it gave me,  there was a lot of really useful information there:

• Restaurants don't normally hold a huge amount of people and the people who are there are out for a good time.  So I like to work somewhere that's fun.
• It can get very busy and I liked the challenge of multi-tasking - good waiting staff are thinking at least 3 tables ahead.
• It's a small team and there might be falling outs from time to time, but generally people work as a team.
• You're expected to get on with the job, so there's a huge amount of autonomy - you're responsible for your tables and making sure customers are looked after.
• It's a support and service environment - and the better your service the better the tips (usually).
• The tips give you instant feedback on how you are performing as does the response from customers.
• The organisational structure is very flat, and it's usually easy to make suggestions for improvement and have then acted upon, so the possibility for influence  and impact is high.
• It's a very visual environment - you're constantly looking to see what needs done and responding to how you see customers react.  (I really didn't like working in a call centre).
• The area of responsibility is very specific – you know exactly what you’re supposed to do, so there are very clear boundaries to your work.
• There is a routine – same menu, same table layout and work stations – but the people are constantly changing.  So there is lots of variety within a very stable environment.

 
I could go on, but I think this demonstrates what I mean about going deeper.  And that waitressing job did have substantial bits missing – no opportunity for learning or growth – which for me would have been a deal-breaker over the longer term.
 
So look at the things you like to do and ask yourself WHY do you like doing them and WHAT feelings do they provide that you respond to in a positive way.
 
And if you’re still feeling a bit lost, you can sign up for the 7 Day Life Purpose Programme.  Or book some Life Purpose Mentoring Sessions.
 
The right questions will give you the answers to uncover your life full of purpose and meaning.

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