The Unique Shape of Your Life Purpose
When we ask ourselves the question, “what is my life purpose?,” it’s far too easy to get overwhelmed and overthink it.
When I was in high school and college, I remember feeling a lot of pressure to find that one special, perfectly aligned thing.
It felt like I was searching for a treasure chest that was buried deep, and that I’d either find it one day, or not. This created a lot of fear for me, because I didn’t want to make it to 70 years old and feel like I “missed the point.”
But the truth is, that description is a major oversimplification of the beauty of purpose. And thinking about it that way actually makes it HARDER to find your unique purpose.
Over the last several years of studying what experienced life coaches have to say about life purpose (and pursuing my own purpose rather mercilessly), I’ve learned a few things about what life purpose actually looks like in practice.
Something you might assume is “too small” or “too simple” to be purposeful could be the very thing that adds unbelievable richness to your life.
Self Love Atlas Coaching
So In this post, I’ll describe 5 things I’ve learned about the shape of life purpose, so when you seek out yours, you can alleviate some of the pressure, see where it is already present in your life, and calmly start pulling more of it towards you.
1. Life purpose isn’t a one time deal
Life purpose isn’t the kind of thing that you achieve or complete. It’s not like a goal: something you strive towards, and then once you finish it, it’s over.
Life purpose is different. Finding, fulfilling, and living it out is a journey, not a destination.
This is great news, because no matter what you do or how much you achieve, there’s always more meaning and fulfillment to be had (if you’re up for it!).
There will never be a moment of your life where you’ll be “purposeless.” You might have moments where your existence feels more or less (and sometimes not at all) purposeful, but there’s always purpose to be lived and had.
You could be feeling the lowest you’ve ever felt, and then get an opportunity to offer someone else the words you wish someone would have told you, the chance to give something you once really needed, or a moment to enjoy something you couldn’t enjoy before.
Each of these things are a glimmering piece of your ongoing purpose on this earth.
2. Your purpose isn’t static
Sometimes when people talk about finding their purpose, they’re imagining one thing that is consistent throughout their entire lifetimes. They assume that there is only one thing like that, and if they miss it, they’ll never know what it was (this is certainly what I believed). But like you, your purpose can grow and change over time.
For some people, this means that their method of fulfilling their purpose takes different forms over the years.
For example, we might cycle through different projects that are meaningful in different ways. We might join or move through different groups or networks. (both of which can be pieces of our purpose).
For others, this could mean that they find purpose in wildly different lifestyles in each of the phases of their lives.
I know of a woman who switched to totally different careers, locations, hobbies, and even social circles every decade. She followed her heart, lived multiple lives in one, and equally found meaning and purpose in each of those wildly different phases.
In short, the ways of fulfilling your purpose really are diverse and can change anytime you choose!
3. Your job/career isn’t the only place you can fulfill it.
Purpose can be present in any (and possibly all) areas of your life. If all anybody asks about during small talk is your “job,” that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s where 100% of your purpose is supposed to be derived. It just means they don’t know what else to talk about.
Besides, while it’s nice to feel like your career aligns with your purpose, it’s very unlikely that the full breadth or your purpose could ever be fully encompassed by a job. You can also get purpose out of your relationships, hobbies, social roles, a side hustle, volunteer work, personal or alone time, you name it.
Some people get their purpose entirely from their non-work lives, and find that it’s more than enough for them.
For me, life coaching definitely aligns with my purpose and is more fulfilling than I ever could have imagined. But that is one of many things that feel purposeful to me. So instead of only focusing on making my career purposeful, I’m regularly seeking out additional ways to live “on purpose” through other areas of my life.
4. The things that connect you to your purpose can be as simple as rocks
Some people think their interests have to be clearly profitable or valued by society to be purposeful. This is also not true.
Let’s take Peter Juhl for example. Peter Juhl is a data analyst and rock balancing artist from Minnesota. And over the last 20+ years, he has spent thousands of hours balancing rocks.
When he began this hobby, there were probably people who joked about how this man was spending so much of his life and time just “playing with rocks.” Some might’ve called it a “waste of time” or “odd” or “weird.”
But to Peter, it was nothing short of fascinating and enjoyable. So nevertheless, he allowed himself to be himself, and enjoy it.
He did it so much that he got exceptionally good at it, took stunning photos of his work, and became a part of a community of rock balancers, teaching hundreds if not thousands of other people how to enjoy the simple yet thoughtful art. (He even wrote a book about it!!!)
So if some guy can get purpose out of balancing rocks (which I love), there’s no telling what you might get a sense of purpose from!
Something that you might assume is “too small” or “too simple” to be purposeful could be the very thing that adds unbelievable richness to your life.
And it’ll happen just because you had the courage and the openness to pursue it.
5. Your purpose is inherently tied up with who you uniquely are.
Your purpose is as unique, complex, and beautiful as you are. This means you’re the only person who can identify it for yourself. (And therefore, it doesn’t make sense to try to get anyone else to tell you what it is.)
So, in order to discover it, you’ll have to allow yourself to be yourself.
And don’t just say “I already am myself.” No no no, I mean, wherever you can, do it more often, and more unapologetically and openly than you ever have before.
If you want to uncover your purpose, you’ll have to do whatever work you need to do to be your true self first. You’ll have to find the things that you’re hiding or muting about yourself and find spaces where those pieces of you are allowed to shine (Even if it’s just with a friend you trust, or when you’re by yourself to start).
So as you go out and pursue your purpose, remember…
- Your purpose isn’t a one time deal, it’s never ending
- Your purpose is not static, it grows and changes over time
- Purpose can be found in any area of your life, not just in a job.
- Your purpose can be sparked by the simplest things
- Your purpose is inherently tied up with who you uniquely are
I hope these 5 descriptors help you get a clearer picture of what life purpose looks like in practice. Ultimately, your purpose always exists and is present within you. It is complex, beautiful and changing, just like you. And all you really need to do to find it is to build up the courage to express it.
Did this post resonate with you? If so, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send me a message to share your thoughts. For more uplifting content, check out some other posts on my blog, follow me on instagram @morgan_barbret, or sign up for the Self Love Atlas Newsletter!
Cheers,
Morgan Rita Barbret
