3 Signs You’re Living a Life of Purpose

Lisa Franchi September 16, 2014

Are you living a life of purpose? Even the best mental health practitioners and experts won’t be able to give you the answers to your life purpose. It is something you seek within you.

Here are three important signs that you are living your real purpose now.

YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE.

“Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman

You might wonder – what does your passion have to do with your life’s purpose? Basically, your passion will lead you to it. Doing what you love makes your life more meaningful and gives you a great sense of satisfaction. Without knowing what you want, you will feel confused and stuck because you feel like you lack direction. By not pursuing your passion, you could end up living your life with regrets, filled with the ‘what ifs’.

So, are you doing what you love? If yes, you are near to finding your purpose. You know you are passionate about something when you find yourself enjoying it and having fun; you’re pretty good at it, and really want to get better; you generally would rather do it more than anything else; it resonates so deeply inside; and most of all – it makes you happy. When you feel drawn about something, let’s say a craft (painting, writing, cooking, etc.), don’t dismiss it just yet. That’s because such interest is there for a reason. Don’t rush things out. Again, you might think what you’re doing now is your true passion, but it may change.

YOU’RE HAPPY WITH WHERE YOU ARE NOW.

Living your purpose gives you a deep sense of happiness. It makes you feel motivated, inspired and energised enough to carry on with your everyday life, despite the difficulties you could be experiencing. Look at every aspect of your life – your work, family, social relationship, spiritual – and ask yourself if you’re happy about it. If yes, there’s a good chance that you are living your life according to your purpose. That also means you are going in the direction you want for your life. Otherwise, ask yourself – what can you do to get there? The true measure of happiness is doing what make you happy.

And when there is happiness, there is satisfaction. You know you are living your purpose when you find fulfilment with everything you do. You are not discouraged about failures, mistakes and the risks you have to take because you know it is part of your journey. Many people attribute satisfaction to material things. So if one doesn’t have a beautiful house, a car, and enough savings in the house, they feel less satisfied. But happiness is more than the material possessions we gain. Study after study shows that happiness is intrinsic – meaning, it comes from within. Money, fame and fortune only give us temporary joy. True happiness is lasting and you get it from things money can’t buy – love, spiritual fulfilment, social relationship, your passion, and so on.

If you don’t know what makes you happy, that’s ok. A good way to find what makes you happy is asking yourself what makes you miserable. You’ll sure to find an idea of what you are looking for.

YOU AFFECT OTHERS IN POSITIVE WAYS.

You don’t have to be a visionary, a priest, or the Prime Minister to have an impact to others and influence them positively. You can make an impact by touching the life of even just one person. You can inspire others by living life with goodness, honesty and compassion. You can be a role model to your family, your kids and siblings, your friends, and your colleagues at work. You can motivate them to do better, and encourage them to find their own purpose too.

Harness optimism. Help your friends or family members when they are having a problem. Say a few kind words to someone who’s having a bad day, even just flashing a smile will do. You can also be a blessing to others by volunteering. Join a community service. It’s a win-win situation – you make others happy, and you become happier too.

Finding our purpose in life is not an easy thing to do. It often takes years before we realise what it really is. We may think we are already living our purpose but after some time, we realise we aren’t. So don’t feel bothered if you haven’t found yours yet. Instead, try to incorporate the following suggestions so you can make your journey much easier and faster.