We spend most of our lives searching for purpose. A scary little word that tends to haunt us, consume us, and makes us question ourselves, our choices and the direction we’re heading. It’s a unique and individual phenomenon that makes for a beautiful journey, yet the road to discovery continues to be a source of great anxiety for most (I know it used to be for me). We live life with this intuitive sense that we’re meant to do "more" yet we do absolutely nothing about it - mostly because figuring out what our purpose in life is seems like an impossible task.

Living a life with purpose has always been of great importance to me, and I’ve spent a lot of time and energy trying to decipher what this is. I’ve read on the subject, explored different career paths, picked the brains of professors, guidance counselors, elders, bosses -you name it! They’ve all offered me insight and advice that have been very useful throughout my journey, but not necessarily the answer to my question: How do I find my purpose in life? I did not want time to fly by and settle fora life that wasn’t 100%, and a small part of me was beginning to feel that that 100% was a figment of my imagination. 

Finding your purpose and following your dreams is not an easy task, but it’s not an impossible one either. Here are 4 things you can begin working on today that I have found helpful in my journey: 

1) It’s OK to ask for help

Even though purpose is very unique, others can definitely help provide guidance. Often times it takes talking to somebody to experience a breakthrough. You can’t and shouldn’t carry all the weight of the world on your shoulders - it’s OK to share your dreams, ideas, concerns and fears with somebody you trust. Learning to openly talk about these things will force you to evaluate, reflect and truly embrace yourself.

2) It’s the journey, not the destination

There is so much truth behind this “bumper sticker / feel good” quote. The quicker we begin to focus on the journey and accept that there is no final destination - the quicker we can eliminate the fear, anxiety and stress that comes with figuring “it” all out. Your energy should be spent in truly getting to know yourself and allowing yourself to follow whatever tugs at your heart because once you do this - your only job is to continue moving. There isn’t “one way” or “one thing” or “one grand purpose” in life because we are all “fluid” - constantly changing, learning, and achieving. Your final destination is actually an incredible journey of endless possibilities.

3) Be flexible & forgiving towards yourself and others

Ok – people make mistakes. The greatest gift you can ever give yourself is forgiveness.

To forgive yourself and to forgive others is a choice - and it is one that you should make, asap. The moment that you forgive is the moment that you begin to live in the NOW, and this is crucial when it comes to self-growth and finding your purpose in life. Truth is, you need to learn to forgive yourself before you learn to forgive others, but once you do -you’ve officially given yourself EMOTIONAL FREEDOM and trust me, you’ll need that in your journey to self-discovery.

4) Embrace and accept yourself - FYI: You’re multi faceted & you’re awesome/perfect. Make some time for introspection- Daniel Goleman (In his book Emotional Intelligence) describes introspection as “an ongoing attention to one’s internal states.” It’s the ability to see how your emotions and perceptions are influencing your thinking and behavior - There is a difference between living life and living life intentionally. Knowing yourself, embracing yourself and accepting yourself takes a great deal of courage and  a deep level of understanding. It’s the only way you can truly look outward with clarity and patience. This is key in discovering your life purpose.

Purpose is the catalyst for self-growth and it’s never too early or too late to discover yours.

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