How to Live a Full Life by Finding a Sense of Purpose

A satisfying existence is one that is “full.” You must have the correct sense of purpose to have a full life. There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

You must first comprehend the genuine meaning of having a sense of purpose, as well as its significance and how to discover it.

What Is a Sense of Purpose?

Whatever you believe in, you have a sense of purpose. It is your driving force, motivation, and guiding light as you strive for a life that you believe would fulfill you.

Your sense of meaning is inextricably related to your life’s purpose. The only difference is that you have a single goal in life. However, a sense of purpose is not the same in every part of life. They are, however, all aligned.

Your feeling of purpose motivates you to attain your objectives. It is entirely tailored to your preferences and lifestyle. It’s what keeps you on track in every part of your life. As a result, having a defined purpose will assist you in properly planning your career goals.

Similarly, having a different sense of purpose for your relationships will motivate you to keep them up to date.

Different aims in different elements of life maintain a clear difference among themselves while making things logical. Your defined purposes can help you maintain the line if you have completely different work ethics than how you intend to be with your family.

Your sense of purpose is also heavily influenced by your ideas and values.^[1] You may have a distinct sense of purpose at a young age if you have defined values in the early stages of your life.

When it comes to finding a purpose, there is no age limit. Some people are only able to do it after the majority of others have finished.

Related: What Is Life’s Purpose?

How to Find a Sense of Purpose?

To make the most of your life and maximize your potential, you must first establish a sense of purpose. It’s a procedure that’s well worth the time you put into seeking it.

At first, you should start with a broad goal. This is a more general sense of direction for your life. The first thing you should do is determine your life mission. This will help you to maintain everything else in your life in line with this broad goal for coherence.

For example, if your overall life goal is to be more peaceful, you’ll endeavor to achieve that goal in all elements of your life. You’ll want to maintain positive relationships with your family. You’ll want anything that will help you advance your career.

A steady source of wealth will also be a vital part of your goals and hence, it will translate to your purpose as well.

After that, you tackle all life aspects one by one. Here are the life aspects that you should go through:

Physical Health
Relationships, Family, and Social Life
Work and Career
Wealth and Money
Spiritual Wellness
Mental Strength

In each of these aspects, you need to look beyond what’s apparent. To find the true purpose in each regard, you have to look for the hidden opportunities so that you can identify your true driving force.

After that, you should invest your time and energy in this direction to reap good results. To do so, you can implement the following methods that will ease the whole journey for you.

1. Incorporate the 5 Whys

The five whys is a technique for self-inquiry. When it comes to discovering your sense of purpose, they are really useful. The five whys ensure that whatever you end up with is in line with your goals.

You can obtain all of the answers you’re seeking by using the 5 whys. The best aspect is that you’re the only one involved in the process, so whatever you learn is completely accurate. This is why it’s a terrific strategy to employ if you’re looking for a sense of purpose that will last a lifetime.

This strategy can help you begin on the right track to discovering your true calling. In reality, this is where you’ll do the majority of the work.

2. Listen to Yourself

Your mind will most likely reveal your mission to you on its own. All you have to do is pay attention to yourself. Shifting your focus to what’s on your mind is one simple approach to do so.

What are the first thoughts that come to mind when you wake up every morning? Similarly, what are the last things that cross your mind before you retire to your bed? Or when you get caught up in a thought flurry at work?
All of these thoughts are your mind’s attempt to reach out to you. To give oneself a direction to work in, look for what they have in common.

3. Meditate

Meditation is not only a terrific technique to order your thoughts, but it also gives your mind a boost in terms of defining a feeling of purpose.^[2]

Even a 5-minute workout crammed into your morning or evening routine would suffice. It offers your mind the breathing room it requires to organize its thoughts. Once you’ve done that, you’ll find it much easier to comprehend them.

With the help of meditation, extracting meaning from what previously appeared meaningless will be a piece of cake. You must, however, be consistent.

4. Distinguish the Do’s From Don’ts

Make a list of the things you want to do in life vs the things you would never want to do. You can make it as large or as narrow as you wish. Make a list of everything you want to avoid and write it down.

These are the things that your goal will be far removed from. Your feeling of purpose, on the other hand, will be tightly linked to the things that you are naturally drawn to.

It will be easier for your mind to construct a notion that suits your life choices if you have a mental picture of the dos and don’ts clarified.

All of these thoughts are your mind’s attempt to reach out to you. To give oneself a direction to work in, look for what they have in common.

How to Strengthen Your Sense of Purpose

If you follow these steps to discover your sense of purpose, you will be able to maintain it for the rest of your life. However, it’s possible that, while your goal seemed obvious at first, you’ve become disoriented.
This isn’t something to be concerned about. Life’s ups and downs can sway your circumstances, as well as your purpose.

You can quickly refocus your attention on your well-stated goal. You can also find a new purpose that is more appropriate for your current situation.

Don’t feel like you’ve failed in life if this is the case. It’s fine if you lose your focus.

Re-Evaluate Your Life

Begin by reminding yourself of the sense of direction you had previously. Consider that for a moment. Consider how it influenced your life and choices. This isn’t a simple task to think through. It will take you days, if not weeks, to reach a decision.

You’ll need to think about your intended outcomes, short- and long-term objectives, and, most crucially, your past. Examine all of the details of your life.
Then, ask yourself if your life choices are still aligned with your original goal.

If Yes

If you answered yes to the question, you have a good sense of purpose. All you need is a little bit of motivation to put it into practice. You must remind yourself of the numerous advantages of having a clear sense of purpose.

Everything you’ve accomplished as a result of your sense of purpose, as well as everything you want to accomplish, will act as a source of motivation. To reframe your perspective, you can also try these other motivation-boosting techniques.

If No

If you think your sense of purpose has done you no good or will no longer be of any use, you require a new sense of purpose.

This is possible in case you went through major changes in life. Your sense of purpose can also get hazy if you failed to define a strong one initially.

Final Thoughts

Having a feeling of purpose is a surefire way to live a happy and fulfilled life. It helps you prioritize more easily, enhances your morals and beliefs, aligns all of your life goals, and keeps you focused. Life clarity is only achievable if you have a clear sense of purpose.

As a result, get started right away. Once you’ve defined your purposes in all facets of life, you’ll have a well-organized existence in no time!