Sooner or later, you’re going to have to figure out your life purpose. It’s a lot of pressure, I know.
I spent most of my twenties freaked out about lacking purpose, but it all became clear in time.
With that said, I took some necessary steps and worked hard along the way, and I continually studied philosophy and experienced as much of life as possible.
To help you make sense of this and get on track with your purpose sooner than later, here are 5 truths about PURPOSE I have discovered for myself.
1. Purpose is Presence
Right now, my purpose is to write this article, word by word, line by line. I write to share my story, to broadcast a message, and ultimately improve the world while enriching my own experience.
The very act of writing is imbued with purpose, because I give it that purpose. I am 100% present, channeling my energy and my spirit in full to every sentence I write, and you can tell.
However, my purpose isn’t writing ALL THE TIME, obviously (although I do write a ton). It’s also to be in great shape, build positive social connections, see the world, sharpen other skills, and have a good time while I’m at it.
All those things require presence, just like your passions and connections do. Without being absorbed in the moment and focusing, you’ll never find the path in the first place.
The point is that my purpose is determined by my PRESENCE, and where my attention is allocated. The things I do every day determine my life purpose over time as the weeks, months, and years go by.
That’s why it’s hard to have a purpose in your teens and twenties. Just not enough time has passed. When you tap into presence, your purpose will be revealed, so start there.
2. Experimentation is Key
You’re not going to figure out your purpose by thinking, meditating, and just waiting for reality to gift you a revelation out of nowhere.
There is a very practical component to finding your purpose that can’t be forgotten, and that’s embracing the process of experimentation.
I don’t mean experimenting with drugs, booze, and sexual partners. I mean trying your hand at various crafts and aptitudes that might suit your personality and inner spirit.
I knew that reading and writing were strong suits early on, but I didn’t link them to my broader purpose until more recently.
It was only through experimentation, repetition, and a healthy dose of failure that I figured out what motivated me on a spiritual level – while also meeting my material needs in the physical realm.
Be okay with trying, with failing, with not knowing. As long as you’re putting in the work in some capacity, your purpose will become clear.
3. Guidance Only Goes So Far
I made the mistake of trying to find my purpose via intellectual discussion with other people in my youth. I asked around about the meaning of life and what others were doing to fulfill themselves spiritually.
As you might imagine, I wasn’t given much insight, especially from the NPCs and cardboard cutouts who lived in my town growing up. They were basically all on the corporate track or destined to be townies forever.
Unfortunately, this had the effect of shrinking my worldview early on and preventing me from seeing a world of possibilities at my fingertips.
My options were basically: accountant, doctor, lawyer, coder, salesman, etc.
That was how people defined purpose around me: an occupation.
Thankfully, I’ve realized it’s way more complex and beautiful than that, and so I feel grateful for those early days when my natural curiosity set me on this path.
Don’t shrug off advice from others or be a dick. Just take it with a few scoops of salt, especially if the guidance is coming from someone you don’t admire or want to emulate.
4. The Compound Effect is Real
For most people, the early days of discovery are challenging and usually unpleasant. I’m talking about the teenage years and the first part of your twenties when you have no idea what’s going on.
Just be aware that the compound effect applies when seeking your life purpose, and every miserable experience is adding up to something better in the future – provided you’re putting in the work.
Yes, those fake friendships, failed relationships, dead-end jobs… They’re guiding you towards your purpose, even if they seem unbearable at the moment.
That’s why my late twenties and early thirties have been so transformative and why it’s all happening so fast. Those years I spent in the trenches of self-discovery and character building are finally paying off.
Just remember that the compound effect doesn’t work in life if you’re spending years distracted by technology, cheap and fleeting pleasure, or hiding from yourself through other means of instant gratification.
You’ve got to work, you’ve got to try, and you can’t be afraid. Only then will you reap the benefits of the compound effect and unlock your purpose.
5. Be Careful With Comparison
Comparison isn’t inherently evil, and it isn’t necessarily the “theft of joy” as it’s called by many. It can be quite useful, actually, but only when looking at surface-level lifestyle and career choices.
When it comes to finding your purpose, comparison doesn’t really play a role beyond basic metrics like income, time and resource allocation, relationships, and other material stuff.
This is why comparison is limiting when thinking about purpose, and why you need to look on a deeper, spiritual level to get to the core.
For example, why would you compare yourself to an athlete or a banker if you’re an artist or a musician? Even when comparing your journey to others in your field, there are innumerable differences in your ability and attributes that can’t be quantified, so don’t get caught up in the details.
The worst thing you can do is get caught up in the comparison game and end up in a life situation that makes you miserable, despite achieving all the material furnishings you thought you wanted.
Use comparison as a general source of motivation, as fuel to get better, and to make an impact on the world. In that sense it’s useful. The actual details of how you achieve those goals and realize your broader purpose – that’s up to you, my friend.
In Peace and Power,
CJ