The 5Ws. They often appear in the questions we ask. Why are we here? What’s our purpose in life? Where are we supposed to fit in the future? Who am I, really? When am I gonna know who I am? I have certainly had these questions myself, and I’m sure you have had them too. Discovering our purpose is one of the hardest things we’ll ever have to do, but also one of the most rewarding. I, myself, struggled with finding my purpose, but after several instances of deep reflection, it appeared to me! I knew that my reasoning for being placed on earth was seeded in the underlying draw that I had to leave people and places better than when I found them, contributing to the overall goodness in the world. Through the actions listed below, I recognized that my purpose was to make a significant change that benefits the world and relieves it from its overshadowing injustice. Gaining this knowledge placed me on the path I desired for the rest of my life, changing my life’s trajectory drastically. Therefore, I wish to utilize this knowledge given to me by helping others like me who want to discover their purpose do so. If that sounds like you, continue reading!
LEGEND:
Recognize your passion!
When you’re made aware of what you enjoy doing in your spare time, you can begin to build up from there. One of my favourite hobbies is figure skating! There are no words that even come close to describing the feeling that rushes over me when I’m on the ice. Through my love for this sport, I discovered two incredibly important things about me. One, I love a good challenge. No matter how hard a skill is to master, I will never shy away due to fear. Instead, I allow it to motivate me. With this mindset, I knew that there was nothing me and my skates couldn’t overcome! The skills that were once thought to be impossible were made possible through my determination. Looking back, I recognized that it was only through the acknowledgement of my strengths that I was able to have the courage to understand my purpose. I knew that no matter how hard things would get, I would always carry a determined heart and complete my mission. Changemakers are so vital in our current world. By being aware of what I’ve learned through skating, I know I will never let anything lead me astray from my goal in life. As I continued on with this mindset, I eventually reached a certain level in my skating abilities that allowed me to begin volunteering at my skating club, leading me to realize a second thing about me: I loved it! It wasn’t because it made me feel entitled, but rather because of the change I saw in the students that I helped teach. Seeing each and every single one of them improve and develop in areas they’re passionate about filled my heart with joy as well as gratitude. Acknowledging this enabled me to realize that this is what I want to do with my life. I didn’t want to just be a part of the world, I wanted to truly live in it by contributing and making a change. Where do your passions lie?
Discover what being the best you looks like!
Ask yourself who you want to be and be who you want to be because if you aren’t being your true authentic self, who will? You deserve to live your life the way you want it to be lived because it’s your life. If your purpose contradicts your happiness, it’s not your purpose and you shouldn’t allow it to take control of your life. Don’t let what others want for you eclipse what you want and who you are. For instance, my natural talent for singing led my friends to encourage me to pursue a career in that area. While I love singing and greatly appreciate the joy my voice brings to others, I don’t see it as my future focus, and if that’s the case, it’s not my true purpose. By understanding this, I was able to discover my dream job, which truly excites me! My dream is to become a lawyer. I want to use the gifts that I have to restore justice to its rightful owner, and that is the change I want to make in the world. Being able to fulfill this dream is what I envision when I think of the best version of myself. Who do you want to be?
How do you want to be remembered?
When reflecting on our life's purpose, we must be made aware of the kind of life we want to live because it is the core of what will guide the path for the rest of our lives. We must ask ourselves what we want our lives to have meant. When we are brought up hundreds of years from now, what do we want people to say about us? Through acknowledging this key concept, I realized that the answer had been in me all along. I hope that I'll be remembered for not only who I was, but what I had done to contribute to the goodness of the world. I don’t just want meaningless compliments; I hope that there is existing evidence of the change I have made to our world. I wish that the things I do in the short years I’m on earth can leave a significant impact on the following many years to come. The actions I’m willing to take are in order for the people of our future to be well equipped with what they need to lead a better life! This is what I found from my own reflection, but for you, it can be anything! Take a moment to ponder what kind of legacy you want to leave.
Journal!
Journaling has always been something I’ve enjoyed, not only because it allows for my memories to be stored in a safe space, but because it also enables deep reflection for those important instances. From Harvard Health, we learn that our memories significantly influence who we are and who we become. Memories also reveal many things, like who we’ve built relationships with, the people we have impacted in the duration of the relationship, and those that have made an everlasting impression on us. By acknowledging this, it provides us with the needed direction we aspire for our lives to take. There are bound to be pivotal moments in our lives that help us reach our end goal: discovering our purpose. Through journaling, we can be made aware of these pivotal and impactful moments. As I look back on my memories, I recognize that reflection goes a long way when we desire to unravel a mystery that lies within us. Our purpose will not come to us naturally if we do not take the initiative and find it ourselves. We mustn't shy away from self reflection with the fear of being vulnerable, but dig deep into our vulnerabilities because we have to understand ourselves fully in order to understand what we should do with the rest of our lives.
Prayer!
Growing up in a Christian family, I’ve always been taught that when faced with struggles, I must pray. I didn’t understand this, not really, until this teaching was put to the test. Throughout my life, I have had my share of hardships, just as I’m sure many of you have. The good news is that prayer does work! It worked for me, and I’m certain it will work for you too.
There is one sentence that constantly surrounds my thoughts, allowing for an anxiety-free fix for all of my struggles. The quote goes: "Let go and let God. Let Him take over your life and run it. He knows how." Please don’t ever feel like you’re doing anything on your own because you aren’t! God knows when you’re going through hard times and all you have to do is take your hardships to Him! I can’t guarantee an overnight solution for your struggles, but don’t ever lose faith in God because He will deliver you and guide you as He wants what is best for you. Finding my purpose certainly did not happen quickly, but God provided me with the people that I needed for it to happen, and eventually, everything fell into place! Let go and let God.
Note: This is NOT AT ALL meant to defame your religion. It is simply a snapshot of my own testimony that I hope will help others! I hope it helps you someday too :)
Thank you so much for reading and I hope that these pieces of advice help you just like they helped me! Don’t hesitate to reach out to me through my email (@everythingnanything321@gmail.com) or social media platforms on TikTok and Instagram (@everyth1ngnanyth1ng). I’m just a message away 😉! Before I end off, I want to leave you with a quote from John Wooden in which he says, “Good things take time, as they should. We shouldn’t expect good things to happen overnight...” You might not be aware of your purpose right now, but that’s okay! Life is so beautiful because it’s a never ending path filled with large quantities of excitement and discovery. I know your purpose will be discovered through time, and when that happens, I will be so proud to have been a part of that journey. Lastly, please don’t forget to shower yourself with the love you deserve because you’re worthy of all the love this world has to give. Have an amazing day or night wherever you are! See you soon!
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Nice! Very constructive advice indeed!