Discover Your Life’s Purpose: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself

Finding your life’s purpose can be a daunting task. Some people spend years searching, while others never quite figure it out. It’s ok if you don’t know why you’re here or what you’re supposed to be doing with your life. But if you can’t wait that long, here are some questions to help you get on the path to finding your purpose.

1. Am I doing what I love?

This question pertains to your life as a whole. Are you doing what you love in all aspects of your life? Do you love your family, friends, and job? Are you doing things outside of work that you love, such as drawing, writing, or any other creative pursuit? If you’re not doing what you love, think about why and start incorporating those things into your life.

2. Am I surrounded by people that I care about?

Your circle of friends, family, and co-workers should all be people who support you in your quest to find real purpose. Not having those types of people around you could harm your progress in finding meaning. When I pursued writing, my loved ones played an important role in encouraging me to do it. Even if I didn’t think an article I wrote was good, they still knew it made me happy to write. That type of positive reinforcement does wonders.

3. Am I happy with where I am?

Look at every aspect of your life. Ask yourself if you’re happy with what you’ve accomplished. Are you going in the direction you want for your life? If not, what can you do to get there? It’s hard not to compare our lives to our peers to measure our success, but try not to get caught up in what others have. The true measurement of happiness is whether we’re doing what we want and are happy with the journey that lies ahead.

4. Is there more I can do?

There is always more to do in life. But think of what you want to contribute to society and what impact you want to have. There are countless issues in our society that need people looking to make an impact. Consider what social issues trigger you emotionally. Start there and find ways to get involved with organizations that focus on those issues.

5. Do I feel satisfied?

We often equate satisfaction with work or material possessions. If we don’t like our job, we are not satisfied. If we don’t have a big house, nice cars, or wealth, we are quick to call ourselves failures. What we need to do is take a real look at what we define as success for our own lives, rather than what others call it.

6. How do I want to be remembered?

This question puts things into perspective. When my time has come, what will people remember about me? It may seem extreme, but it’s a great way to think about the big picture.

7. What makes me happy?

If you don’t know what makes you happy, that’s okay. A good start is asking yourself what makes you miserable. We know what we don’t like doing, so identifying these things now is a great start to working towards the things that do make us happy.

8. How do I look at today?

When you wake up in the morning, how do you approach the day? Your view on today affects your outlook on life. If you think negatively first thing in the morning, you will have no sense of optimism. Changing your perception will help guide you in finding purpose in your life. Ask yourself what you want to do today and put it into action.

9. Can I have an impact?

You can always have an impact if you choose to do so. But what you choose to do is a different story. You don’t have to be a visionary who creates a game-changing product or a spiritual guru. Sometimes, the real measure of impact is the effect you have on a single person’s life.

10. What am I waiting for?

This question cuts to the chase. What are you waiting for? Life is too short to delay finding your purpose. Don’t let fear, doubt, or indecision keep you from taking action.

Conclusion

Finding your life’s purpose is an ongoing journey. Asking yourself these questions can start you down the right path. It’s important to be patient with yourself and not stress over finding your purpose by a certain age or timeframe. It’s a unique journey and one worth taking.