Finding Your Life Purpose - 8 Questions to Find Out What Really Makes You Tick
Looking for something deeper and more meaningful in your life? Struggling to figure out your life's purpose? Ask yourself these questions to find out what you really want to do with your life.
It's a old well-worn saying but time is short.
It really is.
Who wants to waste time doing something they do not find fulfilling? 1.
WHICH SECTION OF THE BOOK STORE DO I HEAD FOR FIRST? You need to analyze, understand and appreciate your interests.
When you enter a bookstore, what section do you make a beeline for first? Or if you read a newspaper, what page do you open? Sports? Business? Lifestyle? TV? This will give you an overall feel of your interests.
If you are still stuck, think about what you think about and talk about to your friends most of the time.
2.
I JUST WON THE LOTTERY.
NOW HOW DO I WANT TO SPEND MY DAY? Imagine you have won the lottery! Nice image, huh?! How would you spend the next year of your life? Getting the car you always wanted and fiddling with it in the garage? Helping people? Spending time with family? Setting up your dream business? Becoming a full time poker player? Or run a small and community-driven bakery shop.
This question will help give you a specific visualization of your dream life.
3.
WHAT ARE MY TRUE VALUES? What values are important to you? Honesty? Integrity? Love? Contribution? Respect? See if your values fit your dream life as pictured in Question Two.
4.
WHAT IS STOPPING ME? What excuses are you making for yourself? Fear of failure, fear of rejection, lack of savings, lack of courage, uncertainty that this is your true life's calling? Are there negative people around you saying it can't be done.
Just write them down for now and move onto Question Five.
5.
WHAT ARE THE BEST RESPONSES FOR ALL THESE EXCUSES? "It doesn't matter where you're coming from; all that matters is where you're going" --Brian Tracy, Author and Personal Development expert Look at your roadblocks and excuses from Question Four.
Now come up with the perfect retort for them.
Too old? Of course not, check out this story about the retired widow who retrained as a BRICKLAYER at the age of 85.
By the way, she's also a Radio DJ, qualified decorator and is just about to start on Polish language classes.
And then there's Ivy Bean, who signed up for a Twitter account at the age of 104.
Too poor? What about the successful thinkers and shakers who started out in extreme poverty such as Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
Whatever your excuse, come up with at least one defiant reply.
6.
WHAT IS MY FIRST STEP? Figure out the very first step you need to take in order to start your new life.
It might be very simple, such as sign up with a career adviser, or send your CV out to a few employment agencies.
Or maybe you want to go down to your local college and see what part-time bakery courses are on offer.
Perhaps you know someone in your ideal job and you are going to call them up for a casual chat about how they got started.
Do not over-think this, just take one action.
7.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO THIS MONTH TO HELP ME TOWARDS MY GOAL? Now plan out the month ahead.
Write down the action steps and put them into a schedule.
Again, do not over-analyze.
Your plans and thoughts might change as you go along but do not worry about that now.
8.
HOW AM I GOING TO CELEBRATE MY MINI-SUCCESSES? Write down ways you will celebrate your little accomplishments.
No matter how small.
It's a old well-worn saying but time is short.
It really is.
Who wants to waste time doing something they do not find fulfilling? 1.
WHICH SECTION OF THE BOOK STORE DO I HEAD FOR FIRST? You need to analyze, understand and appreciate your interests.
When you enter a bookstore, what section do you make a beeline for first? Or if you read a newspaper, what page do you open? Sports? Business? Lifestyle? TV? This will give you an overall feel of your interests.
If you are still stuck, think about what you think about and talk about to your friends most of the time.
2.
I JUST WON THE LOTTERY.
NOW HOW DO I WANT TO SPEND MY DAY? Imagine you have won the lottery! Nice image, huh?! How would you spend the next year of your life? Getting the car you always wanted and fiddling with it in the garage? Helping people? Spending time with family? Setting up your dream business? Becoming a full time poker player? Or run a small and community-driven bakery shop.
This question will help give you a specific visualization of your dream life.
3.
WHAT ARE MY TRUE VALUES? What values are important to you? Honesty? Integrity? Love? Contribution? Respect? See if your values fit your dream life as pictured in Question Two.
4.
WHAT IS STOPPING ME? What excuses are you making for yourself? Fear of failure, fear of rejection, lack of savings, lack of courage, uncertainty that this is your true life's calling? Are there negative people around you saying it can't be done.
Just write them down for now and move onto Question Five.
5.
WHAT ARE THE BEST RESPONSES FOR ALL THESE EXCUSES? "It doesn't matter where you're coming from; all that matters is where you're going" --Brian Tracy, Author and Personal Development expert Look at your roadblocks and excuses from Question Four.
Now come up with the perfect retort for them.
Too old? Of course not, check out this story about the retired widow who retrained as a BRICKLAYER at the age of 85.
By the way, she's also a Radio DJ, qualified decorator and is just about to start on Polish language classes.
And then there's Ivy Bean, who signed up for a Twitter account at the age of 104.
Too poor? What about the successful thinkers and shakers who started out in extreme poverty such as Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
Whatever your excuse, come up with at least one defiant reply.
6.
WHAT IS MY FIRST STEP? Figure out the very first step you need to take in order to start your new life.
It might be very simple, such as sign up with a career adviser, or send your CV out to a few employment agencies.
Or maybe you want to go down to your local college and see what part-time bakery courses are on offer.
Perhaps you know someone in your ideal job and you are going to call them up for a casual chat about how they got started.
Do not over-think this, just take one action.
7.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO THIS MONTH TO HELP ME TOWARDS MY GOAL? Now plan out the month ahead.
Write down the action steps and put them into a schedule.
Again, do not over-analyze.
Your plans and thoughts might change as you go along but do not worry about that now.
8.
HOW AM I GOING TO CELEBRATE MY MINI-SUCCESSES? Write down ways you will celebrate your little accomplishments.
No matter how small.